Kathleen in Irish: Caitlin
The Irish form of Kathleen is Caitlin, a girl's name meaning “pure, clear.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Caitlin
- Meaning
- Pure, clear
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Cathleen
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 352 for girls (2025)
How do you say Kathleen in Irish?
Kathleen in Irish is Caitlin, pronounced KOIT-leen. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KATH-leen. Other spellings: Cathleen.
What does Caitlin mean?
Caitlin means “pure, clear.” Kathleen is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Caitlin: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Kathleen in Ireland?
In 2025, 11 baby girls in Ireland were named Kathleen, which made it No. 352 that year. That's down from No. 177 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1965, when 319 baby girls were named Kathleen, No. 18 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 301 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | No. 352 |
| 2024 | 22 | No. 197 |
| 2023 | 22 | No. 202 |
| 2022 | 28 | No. 174 |
| 2021 | 24 | No. 198 |
| 2020 | 12 | No. 336 |
| 2019 | 32 | No. 162 |
| 2018 | 25 | No. 200 |
| 2017 | 23 | No. 219 |
| 2016 | 22 | No. 217 |
| 2015 | 32 | No. 177 |
| 2014 | 34 | No. 169 |
| 2013 | 23 | No. 232 |
| 2012 | 25 | No. 221 |
| 2011 | 24 | No. 220 |
| 2010 | 31 | No. 194 |
| 2009 | 28 | No. 204 |
| 2008 | 38 | No. 164 |
| 2007 | 37 | No. 163 |
| 2006 | 29 | No. 169 |
| 2005 | 23 | No. 188 |
| 2004 | 32 | No. 140 |
| 2003 | 35 | No. 132 |
| 2002 | 41 | No. 117 |
| 2001 | 32 | No. 134 |
| 2000 | 42 | No. 106 |
| 1999 | 41 | No. 99 |
| 1998 | 33 | No. 120 |
| 1997 | 74 | No. 74 |
| 1996 | 60 | No. 90 |
| 1995 | 78 | No. 70 |
| 1994 | 83 | No. 66 |
| 1993 | 89 | No. 64 |
| 1992 | 85 | No. 74 |
| 1991 | 76 | No. 89 |
| 1990 | 91 | No. 76 |
| 1989 | 103 | No. 67 |
| 1988 | 116 | No. 63 |
| 1987 | 95 | No. 78 |
| 1986 | 81 | No. 87 |
| 1985 | 110 | No. 72 |
| 1984 | 123 | No. 68 |
| 1983 | 141 | No. 62 |
| 1982 | 146 | No. 62 |
| 1981 | 150 | No. 60 |
| 1980 | 150 | No. 62 |
| 1979 | 152 | No. 60 |
| 1978 | 160 | No. 58 |
| 1977 | 142 | No. 65 |
| 1976 | 151 | No. 58 |
| 1975 | 186 | No. 46 |
| 1974 | 195 | No. 44 |
| 1973 | 203 | No. 43 |
| 1972 | 237 | No. 35 |
| 1971 | 196 | No. 45 |
| 1970 | 251 | No. 26 |
| 1969 | 275 | No. 25 |
| 1968 | 261 | No. 25 |
| 1967 | 273 | No. 23 |
| 1966 | 312 | No. 19 |
| 1965 | 319 | No. 18 |
| 1964 | 301 | No. 23 |
Caitlin in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Caitlin, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- TTinne, holly
- LLuis, rowan
- IIodhadh, yew
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Kathleen
Questions about Kathleen
- What is Kathleen in Irish?
- The Irish form of Kathleen is Caitlin, pronounced KOIT-leen. Caitlin means “pure, clear.”
- How do you pronounce Caitlin?
- Caitlin is pronounced KOIT-leen. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Kathleen a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Kathleen is a girl's name.
- How popular is Kathleen in Ireland?
- In 2025, Kathleen was No. 352 for girls in Ireland, with 11 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1965, at No. 18.