Cathleen Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cathleen is an Irish name that means 'pure'. It evolved from the name Caitlín, which is a diminutive of Catherine. The name has historical roots in the Irish language and has gained popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the 20th century. It is often associated with traits of grace and tradition. There is no biblical background linked to this name.
The name Cathleen is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cathleen has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Cathleen' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6723rd out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 977th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 689th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 304th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 453rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1143rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3288th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7286th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Cathleen' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cathleen"
Pronunciation
/kæθˈliːn/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
Cathleen is derived from the Irish name 'Caitlín', which is a diminutive form of 'Catherine', meaning 'pure'.
Meaning
pure
Language Evolution
Caitlín, Catherine, Cathleen
Historical Usage
Cathleen gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the United States and Ireland.
Variants & Derivatives
Caitlin, Katherine, Cathy, Cat
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Cathleen is viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with grace and tradition.
Famous People
Cathleen Schine, Cathleen Crowell, Cathleen McGuire
Explore More Cathleen Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cathleen"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cathleen"
"Cathleen" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6723rd of 7552 | 10 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 977th of 9107 | 981 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 689th of 9204 | 1,953 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 304th of 12526 | 16,331 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 453rd of 19264 | 7,379 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1143rd of 27321 | 2,316 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3288th of 35406 | 741 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7286th of 30306 | 189 |
Regional Popularity of "Cathleen" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Cathleen" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
88.77% 1257th/1416 |
45.18% 623rd/1379 |
51.61% 1221st/2366 |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
40.75% 630th/1546 |
28.21% 439th/1556 |
48.79% 1148th/2353 |
33.29% 515th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
11.09% 247th/2227 |
8.81% 214th/2430 |
20.47% 584th/2853 |
9.12% 253rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.18% 387th/2937 |
8.76% 305th/3483 |
21.94% 772nd/3518 |
12.17% 492nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
31.51% 1161st/3685 |
18.73% 838th/4475 |
26.90% 1397th/5194 |
20.09% 1269th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
69.03% 3163rd/4582 |
53.47% 2761st/5164 |
60.69% 4438th/7313 |
46.70% 3485th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
78.59% 4932nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cathleen"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cathleen" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.