I really like names ending in -Leen and -[name_f]Lene[/name_f] and I like the sound of [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]/[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]. I am unsure about middle names and more importantly the spelling of the name.
What do you think?
I thought the name [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] died out in the 70s. It’s crazy to imagine a contemporary baby named that! That aside, though, I prefer it with a K and I think the name warrants an atypical middle name. No [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Marie[/name_f] or [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] or anything. Especially not a [name_u]Lynn[/name_u]. Makes that L sound too repetitive. But that’s all i can really say, not knowing more about your naming tastes. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you wanna freshen it up with a modern middle name like [name_u]Harper[/name_u] or throw a [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] or [name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] in there for some real baby boomer vibes?
Such a sweet, refreshing name! I prefer the K spelling. It would be adorable with an Irish middle, maybe?
I actually like [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] better, it feels much more fresher.
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I prefer [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]. I can’t stand the name “[name_f]Kathy[/name_f]”.
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I know several young girls with this name and it sounds classic rather than dated to me.
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Brigid[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Maura[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Therese[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Virginia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]
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I prefer the [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] spelling! It looks more classic to me, maybe because a lot of K names feel trendy these days. I’d pick a nature or more daring middle, but it really depends on your taste.
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[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] is my preference. I agree it’s fresher. I know some who have the K spelling and a cousin who has it as a middle name with the C . I just think [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] is prettier. [name_f]Cate[/name_f] is a change of pace too
Middle names
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] seems more like an out of favour Irish classic than simply dated. It has a homey, cosy feel to it, like hearth fires and an evening walk over fields.
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] feels smoother and fresher, as others have said. She seems much more Southern to me, probably because of [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] whatshername in Gone With the Wind who’s my main association.
I prefer [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] too, I know several older women with the K spelling, so maybe that’s why. [name_f]Cate[/name_f] or [name_f]Lena[/name_f] would be good nicknames should she decide she wanted something shorter and spunkier.
I prefer the [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] spelling, it’s more traditional and the more expected spelling, giving a child less problems. It does seem a little dated [name_f]IMO[/name_f] but other vintage names are coming back into style so I don’t think that’s a big problem - if anything, you might be ahead of the curve. I think to balance the slightly dated feel you’d want to use a more modern and unusual middle name like @papaya said. Not a fan of the nickname [name_f]Kathy[/name_f], I prefer [name_f]Katie[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], or [name_f]Lena[/name_f]. Maybe consider:
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Hadley[/name_u]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Acacia[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Layla[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Meadow[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Galilee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
I think I generally like three syllable middle names with it because it seems to flow better, but there are others I like with it too.
I think this is a lovely name with either spelling, though my preference would be [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] which feels fresher as others have said. [name_f]Cate[/name_f], Caty make great diminutives. I have a fondness for [name_f]Cathy[/name_f] because of Wuthering Heights.
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Bryony[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u]
From Nameberry:
“And if your’re wondering why all those interchangeable C’s and K’s, it’s because when the name was introduced into Anglo-[name_m]Saxon[/name_m] [name_m]Britain[/name_m], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] was spelled with a C because the letter K did not yet exist in the English alphabet.”
Interesting!
It sounds to me like you could go either way. I tend to like the English versions of the name [name_f]Katharina[/name_f] better with a C, although I’m personally considering using a Slavic version, which would be with a K. Similarly torn on which version to choose! I’d vote SLIGHTLY in favor of [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]. 
I like [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] more
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I quite like [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]! It looks more …hmm… real(?) to me than [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]. Also, for some reason spelling it [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] makes me think of catheter’s (that ones probably just me, though). I hope to see an increase in this name soon!
I like [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] better but everyone is going to spell it [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
I like both spellings. It’s a great name. I would probably use the nn [name_f]Cady[/name_f].
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Renee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] Francesa
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] Isley
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Ainslie[/name_u]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] Delrae
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Francine[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] Devereau
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Denise[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Samantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Velma[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Abbigail[/name_f] (3 syllables)
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Christine[/name_f] (nn: [name_f]CeCe[/name_f])
The comments here are swinging me toward a slight prefer for [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]. The young Cathleens I know use [name_f]Cate[/name_f] or [name_f]Kat[/name_f], but you could also use [name_u]Kit[/name_u].
I would also like to suggest [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Cece[/name_f]. I love the suggestions of [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], and [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]. I also like [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f].
Or Kathleen Maeve!
I like [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] better because I despise [name_f]Cate[/name_f] but I like [name_f]Kitty[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_f]Katie[/name_f]/[name_f]Katy[/name_f], and [name_u]Kay[/name_u]. (I don’t like either [name_f]Kathy[/name_f]/[name_f]Cathy[/name_f] but they’re much of a muchness to me).
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] could carry a more modern middle, or even an offbeat nature name as well as classics:
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Jonquil[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] (any of the more daring Celtic names in the middle and retro-Irish [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] up front works)
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
If I had to do [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] (I wouldn’t - at that point I’d do [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], which is at least more familiar) I’d do something like [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] or [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f], because [name_f]Cat[/name_f] and CC are the cutest C nicks.