Colin: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, & Inspiration

Skip to main content FamilyEducation
  • Parenting Resources
  • Sign up to Family Education
  • LifeSpeak Parenting Support
  • Baby Names
    • Baby Names
    • Browse All Baby Names
    • Baby Name Generator
    • First Names By Origin
    • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
    • Muslim Girl Names
    • Muslim Boy Names
    • Beautiful Girl Names
    • Gentle Boy Names
    • Water Girl Names
    • Blessing Boy Names
    • Moon Girl Names
  • Girl Names
    • Girl Names
    • Top Baby Girl Names
    • Nicknames for Girls
    • Girl Middle Names
    • Greek Mythology Girl Names
    • Anime Girl Names
    • Viking Girl Names
    • Fantasy Girl Names
    • Dark Girl Names
    • Literary Girl Names
    • Warrior Girl Names
    • Religious Girl Names
  • Boy Names
    • Boy Names
    • Top Baby Boy Names
    • Nicknames for Boys
    • Boy Middle Names
    • Greek Mythology Boy Names
    • Anime Boy Names
    • Viking Boy Names
    • Fantasy Boy Names
    • Dark Boy Names
    • Literary Boy Names
    • Warrior Boy Names
    • Religious Boy Names
  • Last Names
    • Last Names
    • Browse All Last Names
    • Last Names by Origin
    • Japanese Last Names
    • Italian Last Names
    • French Last Names
    • German Last Names
    • Spanish Last Names
    • Greek Last Names
    • Indian Last Names
    • Jewish Last Names
    • Muslim Last Names
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Tracker
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Signs & Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Health
    • High Risk Pregnancies
    • Preparing for Baby
    • Concerns & Complications
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Postpartum
  • Parenting
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Kids
    • Learning
    • Teens
    • Family Life
    • Activities
  • Games
  • NameMatchr
FamilyEducation logo
  • Parenting Resources
  • Sign up to Family Education
  1. Home
  2. Baby Names
Colin

The name Colin is of Irish origin and means "youth."

- 14% this year Masculine Common Updated: August 7, 2024 Meaning and Origin of Colin Updated: August 7, 2024 Table of contents

Boy name origins & meanings

  • Greek : Famous one
  • Irish : Youth
  • Greek : Victor; Short form of Nicholas
  • Greek : Victorious people

What does Colin mean and stand for?

The name Colin is of Irish origin and means "youth." It is the Anglicized version of the Scottish name Cailean.

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

Cleon Clem Collin Cullen Collins Colan Colyn Coilin Nicholas Nicolas Nikolas Nikolie Niko Nikolaus Nicklaus Nicola Nick Nicky Nikki Nikita Nickita Nikos Nikolai Nikola Nicholai Nicanor Nicos Nichol Nichols Nicolson Nicol Nicolo Nikolos Nicko Nicodemus Nils Niles Nixon Cole Colet Claus Klaus Klas Klaas Miklós

How Popular Is The Name Colin

Family name origins & meanings

  • French : from a reduced pet form of the personal name Nicolas (see Nicholas).
  • English : variant spelling of Collin.
  • A Colin from Brittany, France, is documented in St. Ours, Quebec, in 1669, with the secondary surname LaLiberté, which is often translated Liberty; Colin is often Americanized as <xref>Collins</xref>.

Famous people with this first name

Colin Farrell Colin Friels Colin Powell

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Paul Stanley

What Does the Name Colin Mean?

The name Colin is of Irish origin and means "pup." This one l spelling is currently very popular.

How Popular is the Name Colin?

Colin is the number 269 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. Though still popular, Colin really saw its peak between 2003 and 2005.

However, it is the 8th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Colin in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Colin was at its peak popularity in October 2021.

Colin was searched for most often in the following states:

  1. District of Columbia
  2. Mississippi
  3. Massachussetts
  4. Pennsylvania
  5. Connecticut

Famous People Named Colin and Colin in Pop Culture

This particular spelling of Colin invokes images of Colin Powell, Colin Ford, Colin Firth, Colin Quinn, and Colin Kaepernick. Tom Hanks and Kevin James even chose this spelling variation for their sons. The name also appears in Harry Potter, The Secret Garden, Bones, and Gilmore Girls.

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

Carter Gabriel Hayden Talon Xavier

Appears On

  • Pet Names as First Names
  • ​75 Baby Names Inspired by Alcohol, Cocktails, and Spirits

People who like the Name Colin also like

Adam Cedric Liam Logan Nathan

Find the Perfect Baby Name Match

Discover your perfect name match, either on your own or with a partner!

Try NameMatchr Now Parent and child reading

Parenting is Hard. You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.

Get personalized support from family-care experts who’ve been there. Discover practical answers and stress-saving guidance—all backed by research and available anytime, anywhere.

  • 150+ Trusted Experts
  • 90% Hold Specialized Credentials
  • 30+ Areas of Family Expertise
Get Expert Guidance Today Family Education Classes LifeSpeak Search

Join the Family

Your Partner in Parenting, From Baby Name Inspiration to College Planning.

Subscribe Share Search

Search

Search

Tag » What Does The Name Colin Mean