Colin
Colin: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɒlɪn/ · /ˈkəʊlɪn/
Meaning and origin of Colin
- A male given name
- A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas, from Ancient Greek.
- A male given name from Old Irish
- A male given name from Irish
Etymology
(given name): * Coll + -in. Diminutive of Coll, a medieval short form of Nicholas. * It has also been used to anglicize Irish Coileán and Scottish Gaelic Cailean.
How popular is Colin?
Since 1880, 445 girls and 133,706 boys in the U.S. have been named Colin (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4030 in 1984. Its highest rank for boys was #85 in 2004. In 2025 it ranked #343 for boys, with 950 babies given the name.
Names similar to Colin
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Irish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Colin
Sister and brother names that share Colin's Irish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Colin FAQ
What does the name Colin mean?
A male given name A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas, from Ancient Greek. A male given name from Old Irish A male given name from Irish (given name): * Coll + -in. Diminutive of Coll, a medieval short form of Nicholas. * It has also been used to anglicize Irish Coileán and Scottish Gaelic Cailean.
What is the origin of the name Colin?
Colin is listed as a name of Irish origin.
How popular is the name Colin?
Since 1880, 445 girls and 133,706 boys in the U.S. have been named Colin (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4030 in 1984. Its highest rank for boys was #85 in 2004. In 2025 it ranked #343 for boys, with 950 babies given the name.
Is Colin a boy or girl name?
Colin is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 445 girls and 133,706 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.