Kathleen

Kathleen is a female given name primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Caitlín, which ultimately derives from Catherine. The name is traditionally associated with the meaning “pure,” originating from the Greek Katharos via the Latin Catharina.

Kathleen has numerous diminutives and related forms, including Kate, Katie, Cathy, Kathy, Kath, and Kat, as well as longer variants such as Katherine and Kathryn. In Ireland the Gaelic form Caitlín is common, and in other languages equivalents include Caitlin in modern Irish, and Katalin in Hungarian.

Notable people named Kathleen include Kathleen Kennedy, an American film producer and president of Lucasfilm; Kathleen Turner, an American actress; Kathleen Sebelius, an American politician who served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Wynne, a Canadian politician and former premier of Ontario; and Kathleen Blanco, who served as governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2008.

In literature and film, Kathleen appears as a given name for various characters, such as Kathleen Kelly, the protagonist in the film You've Got Mail. The name has also featured in biographies, journalism, and scholarly works as a representative feminine given name in English-language cultures.

Throughout the 20th century Kathleen was a common name in the United States and the United Kingdom, with popularity peaking in the mid-20th century. In Ireland, Caitlín remains a traditional form, maintaining ongoing usage alongside English variants.