How to say it
COL · in
ˈkɒl.ɪn
Masculine
Colin
Young pup, or victory of the people
What it means
From the Scottish Gaelic Cailean ('young pup, whelp'), and separately a medieval English short form of Nicholas.
Colin has two roots that landed on the same spelling. One is the Scottish Gaelic Cailean, 'young pup' or 'whelp,' an old Highland name. The other is a medieval English pet form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people.' Both have kept it in steady use for centuries, behind figures like Colin Powell and Colin Firth. Britons and Irish say KOL-in; many Americans say KOH-lin.
How to spell Colin
The standard spelling is Colin. Common variants include Collin, Colan, Cailean, but Colin is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #85 in 2004, currently #343 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
KOL-in in the UK and Ireland; KOH-lin is common in the US.
- Spelling
Colin and Collin are both used.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Colin Powell US general and Secretary of State
- Colin Firth English Academy Award-winning actor
Spelling variants
- Collin
- Colan
- Cailean
Names with the same feeling
See Colin from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Colin mean?
- From the Scottish Gaelic Cailean ('young pup, whelp'), and separately a medieval English short form of Nicholas.
- What does Colin mean in Scottish Gaelic?
- In Scottish Gaelic, Colin means "Young pup, or victory of the people." Colin has two roots that landed on the same spelling. One is the Scottish Gaelic Cailean, 'young pup' or 'whelp,' an old Highland name. The other is a medieval English pet form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people.' Both have kept it in steady use for centuries, behind figures like Colin Powell and Colin Firth. Britons and Irish say KOL-in; many Americans say KOH-lin.
- Is Colin short for Nicholas?
- Yes. Colin is a short form of Nicholas, and it carries the same meaning, "Young pup, or victory of the people." These days many parents use Colin as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Colin?
- Colin is pronounced ˈkɒl.ɪn. Say it as COL-in, with the stress on the "col" syllable.
- How do you spell Colin?
- The standard spelling is Colin. Common spelling variants include Collin, Colan, Cailean.
- Is Colin a boy or girl name?
- Colin is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Colin?
- Colin ranked #343 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.