Kathleen is an Irish name meaning "of heavenly bodies" according to a name book that I have from when my kids were little. Other meanings include pure, chaste and sweet. It is the name that my parents bestowed on me when I was born. I have alternately loved it and hated it at the same time.
Why do I love it? I was named after my Grandmother's neighbour, Kathleen Hill. She was the most wonderful, sweetest English woman you could ever meet. I treasured her friendship, as did my Grandmother. She had a lovely sense of humour, and a gentle way about her but was incredibly intuitive. I also love the fact that it is Irish and makes me things of fairies and other fey beings. As a child, I had a hugely overactive imagination and the name suite me to a T.
What did I hate about my name? The only time, other than at school the first day, I was called Kathleen as a child was when I was in trouble. I always knew I was in for it when my mother started her sentence with Kathleen. I literally inwardly cringed, and still do, when people call me Kathleen. Try as I might to kick this, I cannot, lovely name or not.
In high school, my friends called me Kat. I like that. It was short and to the point. Most everyone calls me Kathy and I like that as well. Whether I am called Kat, Kathy or Kathleen I am now fine with them all now that I am an adult.
