Colin
Say it: KOL-in/ˈkɒlɪn/
BoyMeans a pet form of Nicholas, or from the Irish Coileán (pup, cub)5 letters2 syllables
#348
in Ireland (2025)
#336 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#38
best rank (1985)
6,714
babies since 1964
Down 97
10-year rank change
Colin through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #336 |
| 2024 | 13 | #293 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 7 | #438 |
| 2021 | 8 | #400 |
| 2020 | 21 | #224 |
| 2019 | 19 | #241 |
| 2018 | 24 | #223 |
| 2017 | 17 | #272 |
| 2016 | 16 | #283 |
| 2015 | 22 | #239 |
| 2014 | 26 | #220 |
| 2013 | 30 | #199 |
| 2012 | 40 | #169 |
| 2011 | 41 | #165 |
| 2010 | 51 | #144 |
| 2009 | 61 | #123 |
| 2008 | 73 | #105 |
| 2007 | 64 | #112 |
| 2006 | 71 | #88 |
| 2005 | 48 | #117 |
| 2004 | 99 | #69 |
| 2003 | 75 | #81 |
| 2002 | 42 | #110 |
| 2001 | 58 | #92 |
| 2000 | 70 | #78 |
| 1999 | 71 | #79 |
| 1998 | 70 | #70 |
| 1997 | 114 | #65 |
| 1996 | 93 | #75 |
| 1995 | 135 | #57 |
| 1994 | 130 | #57 |
| 1993 | 124 | #60 |
| 1992 | 130 | #58 |
| 1991 | 141 | #56 |
| 1990 | 147 | #55 |
| 1989 | 141 | #53 |
| 1988 | 179 | #44 |
| 1987 | 196 | #44 |
| 1986 | 232 | #41 |
| 1985 | 249 | #38 |
| 1984 | 269 | #41 |
| 1983 | 220 | #47 |
| 1982 | 198 | #49 |
| 1981 | 190 | #53 |
| 1980 | 260 | #47 |
| 1979 | 245 | #45 |
| 1978 | 223 | #45 |
| 1977 | 224 | #47 |
| 1976 | 186 | #51 |
| 1975 | 203 | #50 |
| 1974 | 193 | #51 |
| 1973 | 203 | #49 |
| 1972 | 187 | #49 |
| 1971 | 204 | #47 |
| 1970 | 102 | #68 |
| 1969 | 106 | #63 |
| 1968 | 96 | #61 |
| 1967 | 79 | #69 |
| 1966 | 74 | #68 |
| 1965 | 48 | #86 |
| 1964 | 37 | #89 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Colin mean?
A pet form of Nicholas, or from the Irish Coileán (pup, cub)
Two sources: Old French Colin, a pet form of Nicholas, and an English form of Irish Coileán and Scottish Cailean.
Say it right
KOLin
KOH-lin is also heard, especially in Britain and the US.
The story of Colin
Colin has two separate roots that happen to meet in the same spelling. One is French: Colin was a pet form of Colle, a medieval short form of Nicholas, with the same small ending as Robin. The other is Gaelic: Colin has long been used as an English form of the Irish Coileán and the Scottish Cailean, both from an old word cuilén, meaning a pup or cub.
In Scotland the Gaelic form is very old, and it is closely linked to Clan Campbell, whose chiefs were known as MacCailean. In Ireland, the actor Colin Farrell is probably the best-known bearer today.
Colin was a steady favourite in Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s. It reached number 38 in 1985, and its busiest year was 1984, with 269 boys. It has become much rarer since, and in 2025, 11 boys were named Colin.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Colin (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Colin (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Colin | 11 | 6,714 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #96 (1997); 162 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.