Cathleen is a feminine given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish name "Caitlín", which is a diminutive form of the name "Cait" or "Cat". The name "Cait" is derived from the Old Irish name "Caitlinn", which means "pure" or "virginal".
The name Cathleen has been popular in Ireland and among Irish communities around the world for centuries. It was brought to prominence by the Irish literary revival of the late 19th century, when it was used as a pen name by several female writers.
In literature, Cathleen ni Houlihan is a central character in William Butler Yeats' play "Cathleen ni Houlihan", which tells the story of the Irish struggle for independence. The name Cathleen has also been popularized by other works of Irish literature, such as Seamus Heaney's poem "Cathleen ni Houlihan".
Today, Cathleen remains a popular given name in Ireland and among Irish communities around the world. It is often spelled variations such as Kathleen or Caitlin, but its origins and meaning remain the same: pure or virginal.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Cathleen has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half.
In the early years of the 20th century, from 1896 to 1909, there were fewer than 30 births per year with the name Cathleen. However, starting in 1910, the number of births with this name began to increase significantly, reaching a peak of 759 births in 1950.
The years between 1946 and 1958 saw a particularly high level of popularity for the name Cathleen, with an average of over 900 births per year during this period. This is likely due to cultural influences at that time, such as popular movies or books featuring characters named Cathleen.
However, after the late 1960s, the popularity of the name Cathleen began to decline steadily. Between 1972 and 1989, there were fewer than 300 births per year with this name on average. This trend continued into the 1990s and 2000s, with only a handful of births per year being recorded.
In recent years, Cathleen has become quite rare as a baby name in the United States. Between 2010 and 2023, there were fewer than 25 births per year with this name on average. Despite this decline in popularity, it's important to note that even today, there are still some families who choose Cathleen as a meaningful and unique name for their baby girls.
Overall, the statistics show that while Cathleen was once a popular name in the United States, its popularity has waned over time. However, every child is special regardless of how common or rare their name may be.