Colin
- Meaning
- Meaning depends on the name family
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What does Colin mean?
Colin means “Meaning depends on the name family”.
Colin can develop from a medieval short form of Nicholas, carrying that family’s victory connection. It can also represent a separate Gaelic name associated with a young hound or pup. These different routes explain why meaning lists give apparently unrelated definitions for the same spelling.
Actors Colin Firth and Colin Farrell are familiar bearers, while Colin Craven appears in The Secret Garden. Collin is an alternative spelling. English pronunciation can vary in the first vowel, as the name of Colin Powell illustrates. A family’s intended historical connection is more useful than treating every Colin as part of one uniform origin.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Nicknames for Colin
Short forms for everyday use.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Colin?
United States · 2025Explore how often Colin is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US boys rank
- #343 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Boys named Colin
- 950 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 8.5% Fewer than 2024
Colin over time
United States · Boys
Recorded births
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Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights boys, the most common recorded usage in 2025. Use the chart’s usage selector to explore both categories.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | #343 | 950 |
| 2024 | Boys | #335 | 1,038 |
| 2023 | Boys | #334 | 1,004 |
| 2022 | Boys | #293 | 1,170 |
| 2021 | Boys | #269 | 1,289 |
| 2021 | Girls | #15,766 | 5 |
| 2020 | Boys | #287 | 1,177 |
| 2020 | Girls | #15,643 | 5 |
| 2019 | Boys | #260 | 1,394 |
| 2018 | Boys | #249 | 1,479 |
| 2017 | Boys | #228 | 1,666 |
| 2016 | Boys | #198 | 2,052 |
| 2015 | Boys | #172 | 2,424 |
| 2015 | Girls | #17,030 | 5 |
| 2014 | Boys | #142 | 2,883 |
| 2014 | Girls | #17,148 | 5 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Colin
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Nicholas
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Victory of the people
Listed as a related name to Colin.
Collin
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Victory of the people, through Nicholas
Listed as a related name to Colin.
Liam
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Resolute protection
Shares an origin with Colin.
James
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Supplanter
Shares an origin with Colin.
Jack
Mostly boys- Meaning
- God is gracious
Shares an origin with Colin.
Hudson
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Hugh's son
Shares an origin with Colin.
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