Find out how popular the first name Kateleen has been for the last 23 years (from 1993 to 2015) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kateleen by gender

Based on the last 23 years of data, Kateleen is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2015, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kateleen.

The history of the first name Kateleen

The name Kateleen has its origins in the Gaelic language and culture, with roots dating back to the early medieval period in Ireland and Scotland. It is a feminine form of the name Cathleen, which is derived from the Irish Caitlín, a diminutive of the name Caitríona. The name Caitríona itself is believed to have evolved from the older Irish Gaelic name Cáit, a pet form of the name Caitir, which means "pure."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kateleen can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the late 15th century. In this text, a woman named Kateleen Ní Dhomhnaill is mentioned as the wife of a chieftain from County Donegal in the year 1422.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Kateleen gained popularity among Irish noble families, particularly in the provinces of Connacht and Ulster. Notable historical figures bearing this name include Kateleen Ní Dhochartaigh (1552-1631), a renowned poet and musician from County Donegal, and Kateleen Ní Raghallaigh (1610-1673), a celebrated harpist and composer from County Mayo.

As the Irish diaspora spread across the world, the name Kateleen traveled with them. In the late 18th century, Kateleen MacNamara (1760-1843), an Irish immigrant to the United States, became a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a spy and messenger for the Continental Army.

In the 19th century, the name gained a foothold in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as Kathleen or Catleen. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Kateleen Macpherson (1820-1897), a pioneering journalist and women's rights advocate from Inverness.

Moving into the 20th century, the name Kateleen continued to be used, albeit less commonly than its variants Kathleen and Caitlin. However, it still found its way into the historical record, such as with Kateleen O'Callaghan (1905-1988), an Irish-American actress and singer who performed on Broadway and in Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kateleen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kateleen, please contact us.

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