Colin Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Colin is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Colin?
Colin is spelled C-O-L-I-N. The name has 5 letters.
Colin at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Colin is commonly associated with the meaning “young creature” or “whelp.”
- Origin
- Colin is commonly associated as a diminutive form of the name Nicholas, derived through French and English linguistic influences.
- Pronunciation
- KAH-lin · 2 syllables
Colin Popularity in 2025
Rank#343
Recorded Births950
- Boys usage fell 8 places to #343 and recorded 88 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Colin Mean?
Colin is commonly associated with the meaning “young creature” or “whelp.”
Origin: Colin is commonly associated as a diminutive form of the name Nicholas, derived through French and English linguistic influences.
How Do You Pronounce Colin?
PronunciationKAH-lin
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Colin?
- History
- The name Colin has been recorded in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages, as evidenced in various historical literature and public records.
Colin Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2007 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 950 | #343 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,038 | #335 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,004 | #334 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,170 | #292 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5 | #15,251 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,289 | #269 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,177 | #287 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,394 | #260 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,479 | #249 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,666 | #228 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,052 | #198 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5 | #16,419 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,424 | #172 |
| 2014 | Girls | 5 | #16,513 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,883 | #142 |
| 2013 | Boys | 3,041 | #125 |
| 2012 | Boys | 3,022 | #124 |
| 2011 | Girls | 7 | #13,347 |
| 2011 | Boys | 3,265 | #121 |
| 2010 | Boys | 3,489 | #111 |
| 2009 | Boys | 3,657 | #113 |
| 2008 | Boys | 3,732 | #114 |
| 2007 | Girls | 6 | #15,491 |
When Was Colin Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2004 · Boys
5,122 recorded births
National rank #85
2003 · Boys
4,876 recorded births
National rank #88
2005 · Boys
4,532 recorded births
National rank #95
2006 · Boys
3,861 recorded births
National rank #111
Where Colin Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #91 | 74 |
| DC | #107 | 8 |
| NH | #130 | 11 |
| CT | #141 | 26 |
| RI | #155 | 7 |
| NJ | #173 | 59 |
| PA | #191 | 67 |
| MT | #201 | 6 |