The first name Colin
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈkɑlɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
(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.
Colin is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 17 boys were named Colin, making it the 1,538th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 79 births (#311).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Colin with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Colin at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 950 boys born in the United States were named Colin, the 343rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2004, when 5,122 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Colin
168 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Colin PowellAmerican general and diplomat (1937–2021)
- Colin FirthEnglish actor and producer, born 1960
- Colin HanksAmerican actor (born 1977)
- Colin GreenwoodBass player for rock band Radiohead.Bass player for Nick Cave and the Bad Seed., born 1969
- Colin KaepernickAmerican football player (born 1987)
- Colin DexterBritish writer (1930-2017)
- Colin ChapmanEnglish design engineer (1928–1982)
- Colin BellEnglish professional footballer (1946–2021)
- Colin DavisBritish conductor (1927–2013)
- Colin FordAmerican actor, born 1996
- Colin WilsonBritish writer and philosopher (1931–2013)
- Colin JostAmerican comedian, actor, and screenwriter, born 1982
Questions
- What does the name Colin mean?
- (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 the name Colin?
- In 2025, 17 boys born in England and Wales were named Colin, ranking 1,538th. Its peak was 1997, with 79 births.
- What are nicknames for Colin?
- Common nicknames for Colin include Col.
- Is Colin a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 134,151 US babies named Colin since 1880 were boys.
- When was Colin most popular?
- 2004 in the United States, when 5,122 babies were named Colin, its highest rank at 85th.
- How do you pronounce Colin?
- Colin is /ˈkɑlɪn/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Colin?
- Collen and Collin.
- Is Colin also a surname?
- Yes. Colin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.