Monday Mojo - Why Am I Named Kathleen?

11:08 AM

This week's Monday Mojo topic is all about names. Your name that is. How did you get it, what does it mean etc. Maybe this is the place where I pop up and tell you that Kathleen is not my real name and I was really born Malificent. Okay, maybe not, but it sure would have been a lot cooler than Kathleen. My dad actually gave me my name and although I do have a far distant aunt who shared the same name, I was not given it because of her.


Kathleen is a name of Irish origin and is a variation of the Greek name Kathrine, although don't ever let my mom catch you calling me anything other than Kathleen. I was never allowed to abbreviate my name and now I can't stand be called any other variations of it. The name means "Pure" LOL. Not so sure I can completely live up to that, but at least it doesn't mean "swims in tar" or something.

My mom and dad had a deal that if I was a boy she would name me and if I was a girl he would get to pick the name. Needless to say, my dad won and I was named after the Irish song "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," which my dad sang to me quite often growing up.

That's about it. The lovely story of how I got my name. My dad was an Irishman who loved his Irish songs and that is really all there was to it. My sister is named Colleen, which is also Irish and he was in charge of picking her name too. Guess my mom should have voted to pick the girl names instead. Just in case you're curious, I would have been Joshua David if I was a boy.


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Kathleen is a homeschooling mom of four boys with a serious case of the Wanderlust bug. Her love of travel extends to her children, and has resulted in the family visiting 48 states to date, and traveling nearly a third of the year. She is the owner of LifeWith4Boys.com where you will find information on Family Travel, recipes, reviews, lifestyle and more.

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25 comments

  1. nicóleApril 16, 2012 at 12:08 PM

    Kathleen is so pretty!

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  2. TammyApril 16, 2012 at 3:12 PM

    I love your name. I have no idea how my parents decided on my name. I know my dad wanted to name me Dixie Lee, but mom wasn't having that.

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  3. Jennifer @TheRebelChickApril 16, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    I love your name! At least you weren't named after your dad's ex girlfriends. Yup, that would be me. LOL

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  4. KathleenApril 16, 2012 at 4:35 PM

    OMG Jennifer. I can't believe your mom let that one fly. On the other hand, it is a nice name. :)

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  5. Penelope (NYC Blogger)April 16, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    It's a beautiful name :)

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  6. Marcie W.April 16, 2012 at 5:16 PM

    I love your story! My dad chose Marcie because it was the name of the hot stewardess on his flight from NY to Vegas. (Yes, I'm serious)

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  7. Emily @FamilyNLifeLVApril 17, 2012 at 12:30 AM

    That is so sweet about your Dad singing that song!! What a great memory!

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  8. DonnaApril 17, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    I love the name Kathleen - beautiful!

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  9. Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy)April 17, 2012 at 8:59 AM

    My dad named me as well. My mom wanted to name my Harmony. So yeah, thank you to my dad for helping me dodge that bullet!

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  10. Simply Being MommyApril 17, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    I love your name.

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  11. MeganApril 17, 2012 at 4:03 PM

    So sweet that your dad sang you your song!

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  12. UnknownApril 18, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    It's a beautiful name! I love the story about how I got my name and the meaning behind it told by my late grandmother!

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  13. TheresaApril 19, 2012 at 12:46 PM

    I love your name and the story behind it!

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  14. UnknownApril 19, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    Kathleen is such a pretty name.

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  15. Canadian Mom BloggerApril 20, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    I was supposed to be Jason. But that didn't work out, so they named me after a woman who did a children's television show my sister liked. It means "beloved".

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  16. AmyApril 21, 2012 at 5:16 PM

    What a cool story

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  17. RheaApril 21, 2012 at 11:27 PM

    I think Kathleen is pretty and I couldn't imagine you being anything else!

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  18. Rachel @ Following In My ShoesApril 22, 2012 at 1:57 AM

    I adore your name ... I would have been Benjamin Paul!

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  19. HilLesha O'NanApril 22, 2012 at 12:07 PM

    Love your name! That was the name of my favorite teacher. :)

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  20. Lolo @ Crazy About My BaybahApril 22, 2012 at 5:37 PM

    Such a fun story behind your name.

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  21. UnknownApril 22, 2012 at 6:07 PM

    Love your name! I am partial to K names.

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  22. Maureen FitzgeraldApril 22, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    What a great story!!

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  23. Liz MaysApril 23, 2012 at 8:27 AM

    Swims in tar? LOL You seriously can't stand when people shorten your name? So if I call you Kath, Kathers, Kathleeney you'll hate me?

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  24. JenniferApril 23, 2012 at 1:06 PM

    Love your name! Not sure what my parents were thinking. Maybe, "Hey let's name her what 80% of baby girls are being named this year and laugh as there's at least 10 other ones in every social circle for the rest of her life!"
    :)

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  25. Stefani @ MommyEnterprises.comApril 29, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    I think my mom named me after some soap opera actress years ago. Not positive.

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