Girl name
Kathleen name meaning
“pure, in the traditional interpretation”
Kathleen traditionally means “pure.” It is the English rendering of Irish Caitlín and belongs to the Catherine name family. Its traditional meaning reflects a historical association with Greek katharos, meaning “pure.” Used for girls in Türkiye, it is related to Catherine and Caitlín.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity
- #1,899
What does Kathleen mean?
Pure, in the traditional interpretation
In Turkish: geleneksel yorumla saf, arı
Kathleen illustrates the English rendering of an Irish name and is related to Caitlín, Catherine and Katherine. In Irish literature, Cathleen ni Houlihan appears as a female personification of Ireland. That literary association adds a cultural layer distinct from the name's traditional lexical interpretation.
Origin of the name Kathleen
Kathleen is an anglicized form of Irish Caitlín and belongs to the Catherine family. Its ultimate origin is uncertain; 'pure' reflects the historical association with Greek katharos.
| Linguistic origin | European languages |
|---|---|
| Is Kathleen in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | K · Ka |
How to pronounce Kathleen
| Syllables | 3 · 8 letters · 8-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /kathleen/ |
Is Kathleen a girl’s name?
Yes, Kathleen is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Kathleen does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Names with related meanings
- Duru♀Clear, pure
- Azra♀Virgin
- Melek♀Spiritual being regarded as a divine messenger
- Betül♀Virgin
- Beyza♀White, fair and bright
- Beyzanur♀White light, bright and radiant illumination
- Berrak♀Clear, transparent
- Azranur♀Name combining untouched purity and light
- Zelal♀Clear, limpid, transparent
- Müberra♀Blameless, cleared of fault, pure
- Akça♀Whitish, rather white
- Safiye♀Pure, clear
Famous people named Kathleen
- Kathleen M Akgün
FAQ about the name Kathleen
What is the meaning of Kathleen?
Kathleen means “pure, in the traditional interpretation”. Kathleen is an anglicized form of Irish Caitlín and belongs to the Catherine family. Its ultimate origin is uncertain; 'pure' reflects the historical association with Greek katharos.
Is Kathleen a girl’s name?
Yes, Kathleen is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Kathleen in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Kathleen nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Kathleen?
Kathleen is of European languages origin.
How many syllables does Kathleen have?
Kathleen has 3 syllables and 8 letters.
How popular is the name Kathleen?
Kathleen does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Kathleen?
Notable people named Kathleen include Kathleen M Akgün.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11595 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake