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GirlIrish & Scottish Gaelic

Kathleen

From Irish Caitlín, itself derived from the English and French Catherine, which comes from the Greek Katharinē (meaning "pure").

Meaning and origin

Kathleen is the anglicised form of the Irish name Caitlín, which developed when Catherine entered Irish tradition through English influence and the Catholic Church.

How to pronounce Kathleen

Irish (Ireland)KAYT-leen /ˈkaːtʲlʲiːn/

About this entry

Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.

The sources behind this entry are listed in the app.