b babynamesuggestion
Menu

Your Shortlist

0 names saved

Colin

Quick answerColin derives from the Latin name Nicolaus, which comes from the Greek elements "nike" (victory) and "laos" (people), literally meaning "victory of the people." The name entered English through French diminutive forms (Colin, Collin) during the medieval period.

Scottish · Boy · 2 syllables

C
Top 500

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#343
TrendStable
Peak year2004
Syllables2
OriginScottish
LanguageScottish
CultureScottish, English
Letters5
Numerology8 Chaldean 1
Global rank#46

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Colin

Colin derives from the Latin name Nicolaus, which comes from the Greek elements "nike" (victory) and "laos" (people), literally meaning "victory of the people." The name entered English through French diminutive forms (Colin, Collin) during the medieval period.

Cross-referenced with Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

Colin derives from the Latin name Nicolaus, which comes from the Greek elements "nike" (victory) and "laos" (people), literally meaning "victory of the people." The name entered English through French diminutive forms (Colin, Collin) during the medieval period.

The name is primarily used in English-speaking, French, and Scottish cultures, with particular prominence in Scotland where it became a standard given name; it has been borne by numerous historical figures including Scottish kings and is associated with no specific religion, being used across Christian denominations and secular contexts.

Colin currently ranks #343 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2004.

Variants & nicknames

Contribute to this name

Help improve this page with a meaning, origin, or correction—and get credited as a contributor.

Login to contribute

We use Google & Facebook login — no password needed.

AdvertisementAd — responsive (after data block)

Sibling name ideas

Scottish, English names that sit beautifully beside Colin

Similar names you might like

Names starting with C

Names that sound like Colin

Phonetic match, not just spelling
Cillian
Unisex Irish

"Cillian derives from the Irish name Cillíán, a diminutive form of Ceallach, which means "war" or "strife" from the Old…"

Global rank #9 View name
Callan
Unisex English

"The given name 'Callan' means "rock" or "battle" and derives from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Cathaláin, meaning "descendant of…"

Global rank #36 View name
Celine
Unisex German

"The name Céline derives from the Latin "Caelina," a feminine form of "Caelius," which is related to "caelum" meaning "heaven"…"

Global rank #41 View name
Caelan
Unisex English

"The given name 'Caelan' is derived from the Latin word 'caelum,' meaning 'heaven' or 'sky,' and is often associated with…"

Global rank #43 View name
Callum
Unisex Scottish

"The given name 'Callum' is derived from the Gaelic word 'calleam', meaning 'dove', and is of Celtic linguistic root."

Global rank #49 View name
Celina
Unisex Polish

"Celina is derived from the Latin name Caelina, which comes from the word "caelum" meaning "heaven" or "sky." The name…"

Global rank #49 View name
Caolan
Boy Irish

"Caolan derives from the Irish Gaelic word "caol", meaning "slender" or "thin", with a diminutive suffix — traditionally interpreted as…"

Global rank #99 View name
Calum
Boy Scottish Gaelic

"The given name 'Calum' is derived from the Gaelic word 'colum,' meaning 'dove,' and is related to the Latin word…"

Global rank #178 View name
Coline
Girl French

"Coline is a French feminine diminutive of Nicolette, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), meaning "victory of the people"…"

Global rank #206 View name
Callahan
Unisex English

"The given name 'Callahan' is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname 'Ó Ceallaigh', meaning 'descendant of Ceallach', a…"

Global rank #227 View name
Cailean
Unisex Scottish Gaelic

"The given name 'Cailean' is of Gaelic origin, meaning 'slender' or 'fair' and derived from the Gaelic word 'cailleach', which…"

Global rank #243 View name
Caolain
Boy Irish

"Caolain is an Irish name derived from the Irish word "caol," meaning "slender" or "narrow," with the diminutive suffix "-áin"…"

Global rank #271 View name
AdvertisementAd — between sections

Names trending right now

Rising names for Boys

Help us make this better for every parent

Found a mistake · Know a name we’re missing · Have a different or better meaning for a name · Any question or recommendation — your insight helps families worldwide choose with confidence.

Share your feedback →
Scroll to Top
Follow & Connect