Kathleen

[lawrencecostin]

Thoughts on Kathleen?

I know it's a very Enid Blyton type of name.

I know a very cool Irish Kathleen through work. She's about 30 and exudes rock chick cool even though dressed totally appropriately for our quite stuffy job. She's known as Kat informally and Kathleen for formal work stuff.

I just find it frumpy sounding. And as a PP said, it’s just not quite old enough for old lady chic.

I feel like it's the Irish equivalent of Janet or Carol. However, with the 'Irish auntie' connotation, it's actually a really pretty name.

But I probably still wouldn't.

Sorry. without the Irish auntie connotation that should say!

I think it's quirky (now) and pretty. And it's basically the same name as Caitlin, which is so popular now with a wrong different pronunciation!

Goes great with Eileen, Valerie and Carol

Karen?

Would it be KATH-leen or Kath-LEEN?

It's my best friend's name...she hates it!

I think of it as being an older person's name- like Agnus or something. If it was shortened to 'Katy, Kate or Kitty' rather than Kathy then that's less old fashioned.

I much prefer 'Kathryn'.

Love it.
People will probably say it is dated of course.
However a lot of names popular in the past are coming back again. Kathleen is a great alternative to Katherine and Charlotte. There will only be one Kathleen in her class too. Plus it's a name people will find easy to say and spell.
Not sure about the nicknames though. Kathy, Kath...
Maybe Leena or something would be a nice modern sounding nickname.

If the kid ends up being known as Katie/Katy then just use that bloody name to start with! Why name the child Katherine/Kathleen etc?

It's one of those shortenings that irritates me.

not really my style, a bit of a mum name imo can't imagine a baby named Kathleen! I quite like the nns Kathy, Katie, Lee though. good luck x

I really like Kathy/Cathy but prefer Catherine to Kathleen.
Kathleen is a bit dated to me but if you like it then use it!

It’s my name. I have hated it all my life and use a shortening for everything unless I really really have to use the full horror.

For me it goes in the een bucket as a no. Catherine is wonderful as is Cathy.

BertrandRussell

Totally stunned. I imagined you as a Constance or a Stella or an Elizabeth.

Whenever I see the name it makes me think of "Kathleen knight" a notorious Austrslian murderer

I'm a Kathleen, shortened to Kath, or Kat in Northern Ireland for some strange reason. My (Irish) granny was also a Kathleen. People will always assume you're a Katherine or drunkenly sing Irish ditties at you but I'n definitely not a frumpy person.

It is lovely. Friends called their daughter Kathleen and everyone thinks it is lovely.

“BertrandRussell

Totally stunned. I imagined you as a Constance or a Stella or an Elizabeth”
I wish I was any of those instead!
And mine is with a C too. But I absolutely love the short form I use, so it’s OK really. But please don’t use it for your lovely baby!

“r drunkenly sing Irish ditties at you”
Oh god, this! Why would I want to go home with them again? The first time was bad enough!

My lovely and much missed nana was Kathleen and I would have used it as a second name in her memory if I had had a girl but I really don’t like it as a first name.

It makes me think of a char woman and not a very nice one. Sorry.

Frumpy, similar to Doreen, Maureen and Dierdre.

Katherine, Catriona, Karina and Kitty are all much nicer.

Bert I'm surprised too (though I did know slightly a clever Kathleen as a child, with a K though). I feel you should be Eleanor, Elizabeth or maybe Prudence.