Name meaning & stats
Cathleen
Cathleen (Irish origin). 28,208 US babies since 1940, peak 1958. Notable Cathleens are 1.9× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Irish
In US birth records
Peak year: 1958
28,208 US babies were named Cathleen between 1940 and 2025.
Where Cathleens end up
Not enough notable Cathleens yet, so this uses the spelling family: Kathleen, Cathleen.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.9× | High · 64 people |
| Actor | 0.7× | High · 41 people |
| Writer | 1.0× | High · 39 people |
| Professor | 1.4× | High · 32 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, the Kathleen family show up 1.9× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Cathleen has a surprise career: 2.4×
Spelling family
1 in 24 Kathleens spell it Cathleen
- Kathleen 94%
- Cathleen 4%
- Kathlyn 1%
- Kathlene <1%
- Kathaleen <1%
- Katheleen <1%
- Cathlene <1%
- Kathlynn <1%
- Kathyleen <1%
- Cathlyn <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1958)