Cathleen: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#9,581

among girls · ↓1,024 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Cathleen

How common

1 in 160,727

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1958

1,159 babies

All-time total

29,933

#835 all-time among girls

First recorded

1896

in Social Security records

Cathleen popularity over time

29,933 babies have been named Cathleen since 1896, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	16	–	16	2	–	#1,189
1900s	124	–	124	12	+675%	#821
1910s	345	–	345	35	+178%	#833
1920s	641	–	641	64	+86%	#828
1930s	599	–	599	60	-7%	#740
1940s	3,541	–	3,541	354	+491%	#285
1950s	9,464	5	9,469	947	+167%	#251
1960s	8,289	5	8,294	829	-12%	#288
1970s	3,461	–	3,461	346	-58%	#375
1980s	1,760	–	1,760	176	-49%	#794
1990s	956	–	956	96	-46%	#1,265
2000s	461	–	461	46	-52%	#2,638
2010s	202	–	202	20	-56%	#4,348
2020s (to 2025)	64	–	64	11	-47%	#8,129

The story of Cathleen

Cathleen is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,581 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1896, 29,933 American babies have been named Cathleen. Its peak came in 1958, when 1,159 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cathleen stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cathleen?

The median living Cathleen is about 63 years old; half are between 55 and 70. An estimated 25 thousand people named Cathleen are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cathleen year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	10	#9,581	–	–
2024	12	#8,557	–	–
2023	7	#12,402	–	–
2022	13	#8,129	–	–
2021	11	#9,090	–	–
2020	11	#9,062	–	–
2019	8	#11,577	–	–
2018	13	#8,243	–	–
2017	18	#6,596	–	–
2016	16	#7,327	–	–
2015	21	#6,069	–	–
2014	27	#5,053	–	–
2013	33	#4,348	–	–
2012	16	#7,523	–	–
2011	29	#4,830	–	–
2010	21	#6,225	–	–
2009	46	#3,522	–	–
2008	44	#3,658	–	–
2007	45	#3,613	–	–
2006	38	#3,942	–	–
2005	42	#3,523	–	–
2004	43	#3,452	–	–
2003	43	#3,365	–	–
2002	52	#2,860	–	–
2001	52	#2,816	–	–
2000	56	#2,638	–	–
1995	72	#1,922	–	–
1990	129	#1,265	–	–
1985	189	#853	–	–
1980	186	#840	–	–
1975	261	#608	–	–
1970	636	#375	–	–
1965	886	#301	–	–
1960	950	#304	–	–
1955	1,008	#268	–	–
1950	759	#280	–	–
1945	311	#403	–	–
1940	116	#645	–	–
1935	61	#885	–	–
1930	57	#971	–	–
1925	73	#871	–	–
1920	51	#1,042	–	–
1915	33	#1,200	–	–
1910	27	#833	–	–
1905	11	#1,173	–	–
1900	6	#1,758	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Cathleen

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Cathleen Nesbitt English actress (1888–1982) 19th century
2 Cathleen Synge Morawetz Canadian mathematician (1923–2017) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cathleen, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cathleen?

The median living Cathleen is about 63 years old. Half of all living Cathleens are between 55 and 70 years old.

How many people named Cathleen are alive today?

An estimated 25 thousand people named Cathleen are alive in the United States, based on 29,933 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Cathleen in 2025?

Cathleen ranked #9,581 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Cathleen?

29,933 babies have been named Cathleen in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cathleen most popular?

Cathleen peaked in 1958, when 1,159 newborns received the name.

Is Cathleen a boy or girl name?

Cathleen is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cathleen rising or falling?

Cathleen is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Cathleen?

Well-known people named Cathleen include Cathleen Nesbitt (actor), Cathleen Synge Morawetz (mathematician).

Names like Cathleen

Names that sound and feel close to Cathleen: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cathleen with similar names → More names starting with C →