Kathleen

femaleStatistical record

What official birth registration shows about Kathleen: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.

No researched meaning or origin yet — what that means.

Pronunciation

Community-contributed pronunciation recording

A Dutch pronunciation, as its file is labelled. Recording by Marcel Coenders. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source

VerifiedSource: Wikidata.Confidence: medium.

5registrars recorded it
173times a registrar ranked it
74years from first to last
#18highest recorded position
28groupings it qualifies for
26names it appears alongside

Region

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

How to read this chart

A rank is a position in one registrar's list for one year.
Ranks from different countries are separate scales, so compare shapes, not numbers.
A rise in rank can be a small change in births, especially far down a list.

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#227
1997	#288
1998	#276
1999	#319
2000	#337
2001	#399
2002	#380
2003	#435
2004	#488
2005	#465
2006	#494
2007	#578
2008	#650
2009	#738
2010	#616
2011	#714
2012	#801
2013	#676
2014	#715
2015	#809
2016	#938
2017	#701
2018	#920
2019	#1063
2020	#807
2021	#983
2022	#796
2023	#962
2024	#1036
2025	#997

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Republic of Ireland in every year from 1964 to 2025.

In 2025: #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #997 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 5 national registrars across 5 regions, 1952–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Year-by-year storyFirst recorded, most recent, each country and each decade

Popularity journey

First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Kathleen appears in 5 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Girls, with 62 ranked years and 6,266 births registered; the earliest is New South Wales, Australia · Girls, from 1952.

Kathleen across 5 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Kathleen's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#23 (1964)	#18 (1965)	#352 (2025)	62 of 62	6,266 (1964–2025)	319 (1965)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#29 (1952)	#29 (1952)	#94 (1990)	36 of 39	6,041 (1952–1990)	329 (1952)
New Zealand · Girls	#31 (1954)	#31 (1954)	#100 (1984)	20 of 31	2,503 (1954–1984)	200 (1954)
England and Wales · Girls	#227 (1996)	#227 (1996)	#997 (2025)	30 of 30	2,013 (1996–2025)	179 (1996)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#112 (1997)	#112 (1997)	#407 (2024)	25 of 28	196 (1997–2024)	20 (1997)

Kathleen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Kathleen in Republic of Ireland · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960sbusiest	1,741	6 of 10	290
1970s	1,873	10 of 10	187
1980s	1,215	10 of 10	122
1990s	710	10 of 10	71
2000s	337	10 of 10	34
2010s	271	10 of 10	27
2020s	119	6 of 10	20

Across Republic of Ireland · Girls, the 1960s were its busiest decade — the 6 years of it this list covers, averaging 290 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 1970 and 1971, when recorded births fell by 55, from 251 to 196.

See the names Republic of Ireland has recorded the most births with →

Kathleen appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

Full data tableEvery published rank and count

Popularity data

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1952 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #18 in Republic of Ireland in 1965.

Kathleen's recorded popularity observations by year, region and administrative category, including rank, registered births, source confidence and when each region's data was last reviewed.
Year	Region	Category	Rank	Births registered	Confidence	Status
2025	England and Wales	female	#997	34	High	Verified
2024	England and Wales	female	#1036	33	High	Verified
2023	England and Wales	female	#962	36	High	Verified
2022	England and Wales	female	#796	45	High	Verified
2021	England and Wales	female	#983	35	High	Verified
2020	England and Wales	female	#807	45	High	Verified
2019	England and Wales	female	#1063	32	High	Verified
2018	England and Wales	female	#920	40	High	Verified
2017	England and Wales	female	#701	58	High	Verified
2016	England and Wales	female	#938	39	High	Verified
2015	England and Wales	female	#809	47	High	Verified
2014	England and Wales	female	#715	55	High	Verified
2013	England and Wales	female	#676	59	High	Verified
2012	England and Wales	female	#801	48	High	Verified
2011	England and Wales	female	#714	54	High	Verified
2010	England and Wales	female	#616	62	High	Verified
2009	England and Wales	female	#738	49	High	Verified
2008	England and Wales	female	#650	57	High	Verified
2007	England and Wales	female	#578	62	High	Verified
2006	England and Wales	female	#494	77	High	Verified
2005	England and Wales	female	#465	79	High	Verified
2004	England and Wales	female	#488	69	High	Verified
2003	England and Wales	female	#435	80	High	Verified
2002	England and Wales	female	#380	88	High	Verified
2001	England and Wales	female	#399	79	High	Verified
2000	England and Wales	female	#337	100	High	Verified
1999	England and Wales	female	#319	106	High	Verified
1998	England and Wales	female	#276	140	High	Verified
1997	England and Wales	female	#288	126	High	Verified
1996	England and Wales	female	#227	179	High	Verified
1990	New South Wales, Australia	female	#94	92	Insufficient	Not yet available
1989	New South Wales, Australia	female	#98	83	Insufficient	Not yet available
1988	New South Wales, Australia	female	#91	82	Insufficient	Not yet available
1987	New South Wales, Australia	female	#75	102	Insufficient	Not yet available
1986	New South Wales, Australia	female	#85	93	Insufficient	Not yet available
1982	New South Wales, Australia	female	#87	91	Insufficient	Not yet available
1981	New South Wales, Australia	female	#94	85	Insufficient	Not yet available
1980	New South Wales, Australia	female	#90	85	Insufficient	Not yet available
1979	New South Wales, Australia	female	#80	97	Insufficient	Not yet available
1978	New South Wales, Australia	female	#87	92	Insufficient	Not yet available
1977	New South Wales, Australia	female	#83	91	Insufficient	Not yet available
1976	New South Wales, Australia	female	#71	100	Insufficient	Not yet available
1975	New South Wales, Australia	female	#74	101	Insufficient	Not yet available
1974	New South Wales, Australia	female	#78	105	Insufficient	Not yet available
1973	New South Wales, Australia	female	#76	104	Insufficient	Not yet available
1972	New South Wales, Australia	female	#67	133	Insufficient	Not yet available
1971	New South Wales, Australia	female	#75	137	Insufficient	Not yet available
1970	New South Wales, Australia	female	#59	162	Insufficient	Not yet available
1969	New South Wales, Australia	female	#65	154	Insufficient	Not yet available
1968	New South Wales, Australia	female	#60	152	Insufficient	Not yet available
1967	New South Wales, Australia	female	#48	173	Insufficient	Not yet available
1966	New South Wales, Australia	female	#42	198	Insufficient	Not yet available
1965	New South Wales, Australia	female	#46	198	Insufficient	Not yet available
1964	New South Wales, Australia	female	#46	200	Insufficient	Not yet available
1963	New South Wales, Australia	female	#38	265	Insufficient	Not yet available
1962	New South Wales, Australia	female	#41	260	Insufficient	Not yet available
1961	New South Wales, Australia	female	#47	239	Insufficient	Not yet available
1960	New South Wales, Australia	female	#38	277	Insufficient	Not yet available
1959	New South Wales, Australia	female	#39	253	Insufficient	Not yet available
1958	New South Wales, Australia	female	#39	249	Insufficient	Not yet available
1957	New South Wales, Australia	female	#42	225	Insufficient	Not yet available
1956	New South Wales, Australia	female	#37	252	Insufficient	Not yet available
1955	New South Wales, Australia	female	#41	230	Insufficient	Not yet available
1954	New South Wales, Australia	female	#39	251	Insufficient	Not yet available
1953	New South Wales, Australia	female	#33	301	Insufficient	Not yet available
1952	New South Wales, Australia	female	#29	329	Insufficient	Not yet available
1984	New Zealand	female	#100	50	High	Verified
1977	New Zealand	female	#89	61	High	Verified
1974	New Zealand	female	#99	62	High	Verified
1971	New Zealand	female	#99	68	High	Verified
1969	New Zealand	female	#78	85	High	Verified
1968	New Zealand	female	#87	80	High	Verified
1967	New Zealand	female	#67	98	High	Verified
1966	New Zealand	female	#59	111	High	Verified
1965	New Zealand	female	#64	104	High	Verified
1964	New Zealand	female	#56	130	High	Verified
1963	New Zealand	female	#52	143	High	Verified
1962	New Zealand	female	#49	146	High	Verified
1961	New Zealand	female	#52	146	High	Verified
1960	New Zealand	female	#44	160	High	Verified
1959	New Zealand	female	#46	159	High	Verified
1958	New Zealand	female	#43	169	High	Verified
1957	New Zealand	female	#41	162	High	Verified
1956	New Zealand	female	#34	186	High	Verified
1955	New Zealand	female	#33	183	High	Verified
1954	New Zealand	female	#31	200	High	Verified
2024	Northern Ireland	female	#407	3	High	Verified
2023	Northern Ireland	female	#391	3	High	Verified
2020	Northern Ireland	female	#333	4	High	Verified
2019	Northern Ireland	female	#336	4	High	Verified
2018	Northern Ireland	female	#273	6	High	Verified
2016	Northern Ireland	female	#353	4	High	Verified
2015	Northern Ireland	female	#312	5	High	Verified
2014	Northern Ireland	female	#439	3	High	Verified
2013	Northern Ireland	female	#284	6	High	Verified
2012	Northern Ireland	female	#203	9	High	Verified
2011	Northern Ireland	female	#311	5	High	Verified
2010	Northern Ireland	female	#366	4	High	Verified
2009	Northern Ireland	female	#282	6	High	Verified
2008	Northern Ireland	female	#212	9	High	Verified
2007	Northern Ireland	female	#190	10	High	Verified
2006	Northern Ireland	female	#238	7	High	Verified
2005	Northern Ireland	female	#193	9	High	Verified
2004	Northern Ireland	female	#183	9	High	Verified
2003	Northern Ireland	female	#185	8	High	Verified
2002	Northern Ireland	female	#162	10	High	Verified
2001	Northern Ireland	female	#165	10	High	Verified
2000	Northern Ireland	female	#143	13	High	Verified
1999	Northern Ireland	female	#146	13	High	Verified
1998	Northern Ireland	female	#129	16	High	Verified
1997	Northern Ireland	female	#112	20	High	Verified
2025	Republic of Ireland	female	#352	11	High	Verified
2024	Republic of Ireland	female	#197	22	High	Verified
2023	Republic of Ireland	female	#202	22	High	Verified
2022	Republic of Ireland	female	#174	28	High	Verified
2021	Republic of Ireland	female	#198	24	High	Verified
2020	Republic of Ireland	female	#336	12	High	Verified
2019	Republic of Ireland	female	#162	32	High	Verified
2018	Republic of Ireland	female	#200	25	High	Verified
2017	Republic of Ireland	female	#219	23	High	Verified
2016	Republic of Ireland	female	#217	22	High	Verified
2015	Republic of Ireland	female	#177	32	High	Verified
2014	Republic of Ireland	female	#169	34	High	Verified
2013	Republic of Ireland	female	#232	23	High	Verified
2012	Republic of Ireland	female	#221	25	High	Verified
2011	Republic of Ireland	female	#220	24	High	Verified
2010	Republic of Ireland	female	#194	31	High	Verified
2009	Republic of Ireland	female	#204	28	High	Verified
2008	Republic of Ireland	female	#164	38	High	Verified
2007	Republic of Ireland	female	#163	37	High	Verified
2006	Republic of Ireland	female	#169	29	High	Verified
2005	Republic of Ireland	female	#188	23	High	Verified
2004	Republic of Ireland	female	#140	32	High	Verified
2003	Republic of Ireland	female	#132	35	High	Verified
2002	Republic of Ireland	female	#117	41	High	Verified
2001	Republic of Ireland	female	#134	32	High	Verified
2000	Republic of Ireland	female	#106	42	High	Verified
1999	Republic of Ireland	female	#99	41	High	Verified
1998	Republic of Ireland	female	#120	33	High	Verified
1997	Republic of Ireland	female	#74	74	High	Verified
1996	Republic of Ireland	female	#90	60	High	Verified
1995	Republic of Ireland	female	#70	78	High	Verified
1994	Republic of Ireland	female	#66	83	High	Verified
1993	Republic of Ireland	female	#64	89	High	Verified
1992	Republic of Ireland	female	#74	85	High	Verified
1991	Republic of Ireland	female	#89	76	High	Verified
1990	Republic of Ireland	female	#76	91	High	Verified
1989	Republic of Ireland	female	#67	103	High	Verified
1988	Republic of Ireland	female	#63	116	High	Verified
1987	Republic of Ireland	female	#78	95	High	Verified
1986	Republic of Ireland	female	#87	81	High	Verified
1985	Republic of Ireland	female	#72	110	High	Verified
1984	Republic of Ireland	female	#68	123	High	Verified
1983	Republic of Ireland	female	#62	141	High	Verified
1982	Republic of Ireland	female	#62	146	High	Verified
1981	Republic of Ireland	female	#60	150	High	Verified
1980	Republic of Ireland	female	#62	150	High	Verified
1979	Republic of Ireland	female	#60	152	High	Verified
1978	Republic of Ireland	female	#58	160	High	Verified
1977	Republic of Ireland	female	#65	142	High	Verified
1976	Republic of Ireland	female	#58	151	High	Verified
1975	Republic of Ireland	female	#46	186	High	Verified
1974	Republic of Ireland	female	#44	195	High	Verified
1973	Republic of Ireland	female	#43	203	High	Verified
1972	Republic of Ireland	female	#35	237	High	Verified
1971	Republic of Ireland	female	#45	196	High	Verified
1970	Republic of Ireland	female	#26	251	High	Verified
1969	Republic of Ireland	female	#25	275	High	Verified
1968	Republic of Ireland	female	#25	261	High	Verified
1967	Republic of Ireland	female	#23	273	High	Verified
1966	Republic of Ireland	female	#19	312	High	Verified
1965	Republic of Ireland	female	#18	319	High	Verified
1964	Republic of Ireland	female	#23	301	High	Verified

England and Wales hub — collected by Office for National Statistics
New South Wales, Australia hub — collected by NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
New Zealand hub — collected by NZ Department of Internal Affairs
Northern Ireland hub — collected by NISRA
Republic of Ireland hub — collected by CSO Ireland

See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.

Where Kathleen is officially recorded

5 official registrars have recorded Kathleen, between 1952 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Each mark is a year the registrar recorded the name; the diamond is that registrar's highest position. Gaps can mean a year was not published, not that the name went unused.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
New South Wales, Australia	1952–1990	36	#29 in 1952
New Zealand	1954–1984	20	#31 in 1954
Republic of Ireland	1964–2025	62	#18 in 1965
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#227 in 1996
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	25	#112 in 1997

Its high point came 45 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (1952) than in Northern Ireland (1997).

Names measured beside itNeighbours, comparisons, related names and shared trajectories

Comparisons involving Kathleen

Existing comparison pages where Kathleen and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Kathleen in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Kathleen vs Carmel
In 1964 they stood at #23 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2015 they were #177 and #896.
Kathleen · Carmel · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2015 Republic of Ireland ranking
Deirdre vs Kathleen
In 1964 they stood at #14 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #162.
Deirdre · Kathleen · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2019 Republic of Ireland ranking
Sandra vs Kathleen
In 1964 they stood at #16 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #736 and #197.
Sandra · Kathleen · 57 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2024 Republic of Ireland ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Kathleen within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Dianne vs Kathleen
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Dianne and Kathleen averaged 10.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #67.
Dianne · Kathleen · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1972 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Kerry vs Kathleen
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kerry and Kathleen averaged 13.2 places apart, ending at #97 and #71.
Kerry · Kathleen · 25 shared years, 1952–1976 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1976 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Patricia vs Kathleen
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Patricia and Kathleen averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #87.
Patricia · Kathleen · 28 shared years, 1952–1982 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1982 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Kathleen and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Tania vs Kathleen
In New Zealand · Girls, Tania moved into the top 50 at #19 in 1963 as Kathleen fell out of it to #52, having been #49 the year before.
Tania · Kathleen · 12 shared years, 1962–1984 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 1963 New Zealand ranking
Kylie vs Kathleen
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kylie moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1968 as Kathleen fell out of it to #60, having been #48 the year before.
Kylie · Kathleen · 22 shared years, 1965–1989 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 1968 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Nicola vs Kathleen
In New Zealand · Girls, Nicola moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1961 as Kathleen fell out of it to #52, having been #44 the year before.
Nicola · Kathleen · 17 shared years, 1957–1984 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 1961 New Zealand ranking

Kathleen was ranked #18 in Republic of Ireland · Girls in 1965. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Kathleen and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,576 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Kathleen without appearing here.

Kathleen moved ahead of

Shannon
In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #1063 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #807 and #1846.
Taylor
In 2024 they stood at #1036 and #795 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2025 that had become #997 and #1512.
Brittany
In 2000 they stood at #337 and #275 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2001 that had become #399 and #871.
Fiona
In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #955 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #807 and #1267.

Moved ahead of Kathleen

Harper
In 2011 they stood at #714 and #858 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2012 that had become #801 and #284.
Frida
In 2017 they stood at #701 and #740 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2018 that had become #920 and #568.
Deborah
In 2022 they stood at #796 and #857 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2023 that had become #962 and #657.
Bridget Compare
In 2020 they stood at #807 and #992 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2021 that had become #983 and #709.

Moved the opposite way to Kathleen

Hannah
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 while Hannah went from #91 to #21.
Kate
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 while Kate went from #300 to #52.
Lucy
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 while Lucy went from #154 to #16.
Tara
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 while Tara went from #327 to #166.

Moved the same way as Kathleen

Audrey
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 and Audrey from #85 to #885.
Eileen
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 and Eileen from #17 to #443.
Elaine
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 and Elaine from #58 to #608.
Ida
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Kathleen went from #23 to #352 and Ida from #372 to #885.

What is known about Kathleen

How to read this

How often it is registered: Official record; 5 official registrars, 1952–2025.
Meaning: Not established; Not researched yet.
Origin: Not established; Not researched yet.
Pronunciation: Reported; A recorded pronunciation is available.

A claim marked not established does not mean the name lacks a meaning or is not widely used — only that Namewise has not sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1952 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #18 in Republic of Ireland in 1965. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.

Kathleen

Pronunciation

Kathleen at a glance

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Kathleen across 5 official records

Kathleen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Kathleen appears in

Popularity data

Where Kathleen is officially recorded

Comparisons involving Kathleen

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Names published alongside Kathleen

Kathleen and the names beside it

Kathleen moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Kathleen

Moved the opposite way to Kathleen

Moved the same way as Kathleen

What is known about Kathleen

Kathleen at a glance

Kathleen across 5 official records

Kathleen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Kathleen appears in

Comparisons involving Kathleen

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Names published alongside Kathleen

Kathleen and the names beside it

Kathleen moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Kathleen

Moved the opposite way to Kathleen

Moved the same way as Kathleen