How Many People Are Named Kathleen?
Complete statistics for the name Kathleen: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Kathleen means 'pure' and has Irish roots, making it a classic choice. It's estimated that 1 in 641 Americans today are named Kathleen, totaling around 514,733 people. With 77% over 60, it's clear this name leans towards older generations.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life path number 4 represents stability and practicality.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 70All 715,108 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1951Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Kathleen Through the Generations
Kathleen peaked in popularity in 1951 with 26,749 births, reflecting a time when this name was widely embraced. Today, the majority of people named Kathleen are over 60, indicating a strong generational skew. The current trend shows a decline, suggesting that while it remains a beloved name, its usage is becoming less common among younger parents.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Kathleen
Kathleen is a female given name, used in English- and Irish-language communities. Sometimes spelled Cathleen, it is an Anglicized form of Caitlín, the Irish form of Cateline, which was the Old French form of Catherine. It ultimately derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, the meaning of which is highly debated. Kathleen was the 8th most popular girls' name in Ireland in 1911, but by 1965 it had sunk to number 18.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Kathleen's Irish roots
📄 About the Name Kathleen
How Many People Have the Name Kathleen?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 277 people in the United States currently share the name Kathleen. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,196,568 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Kathleen a Common or Rare Name?
Kathleen is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Kathleen Mean?
Kathleen means "pure" and comes from Irish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Kathleen in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Kathleen Most Popular?
The name Kathleen reached peak popularity in 1951, with 26,749 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Kathleen?
Approximately 277 people named Kathleen live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 277. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,196,568 Americans.
Is Kathleen a rare name?
Kathleen is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,196,568 Americans has this name.
What does the name Kathleen mean?
Kathleen means "pure" and comes from Irish origins.
Is Kathleen more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Kathleen are male and 100% are female.
When was Kathleen most popular?
Kathleen peaked in 1951 with 26,749 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.