How to say it
COL · lins
ˈkɑl.ɪnz
Unisex
Collins
Son of Colin
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Coileáin ('descendant of Coileán,' meaning 'young dog' or 'whelp'), or the English Collins ('son of Colin'). Phil Collins (Genesis, In the Air Tonight), Joan Collins (Dynasty), and Lily Collins (Emily in Paris) anchor different generations.
Collins has two roots that converged. The Irish Collins is an anglicization of Ó Coileáin ('descendant of Coileán,' the personal name meaning 'young dog' or 'whelp'). The English Collins is a patronymic from Colin (medieval pet form of Nicholas). Michael Collins the Irish revolutionary (1890-1922) is the historical anchor through the surname. Phil Collins the singer (Genesis, In the Air Tonight, 1981), Joan Collins the actress (Dynasty, 1981-1989), and Lily Collins (Emily in Paris, 2020-) cover three generations of cultural anchors. As a US first name Collins is modern and feminine-leaning: rare before 2000, climbing since the 2010s. It entered the US top 500 in 2015. Common short: Coll or Linnie.
How to spell Collins
The standard spelling is Collins. Common variants include Collyns, but Collins is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #239 in 2023, currently #241 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #630 in 1900, currently #2684 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
- Pop culture
Lily Collins (Emily in Paris from 2020) is the contemporary feminine anchor; Phil Collins and Michael Collins are the deeper masculine ones.
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.
- Michael Collins Irish revolutionary leader, 1890-1922
- Phil Collins English musician, Genesis drummer-singer
- Lily Collins English-American actress, Emily in Paris
Spelling variants
- Collyns
Names with the same feeling
See Collins from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Collins mean?
- Anglicized Irish surname Ó Coileáin ('descendant of Coileán,' meaning 'young dog' or 'whelp'), or the English Collins ('son of Colin'). Phil Collins (Genesis, In the Air Tonight), Joan Collins (Dynasty), and Lily Collins (Emily in Paris) anchor different generations.
- What does Collins mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Collins means "Son of Colin." Collins has two roots that converged. The Irish Collins is an anglicization of Ó Coileáin ('descendant of Coileán,' the personal name meaning 'young dog' or 'whelp'). The English Collins is a patronymic from Colin (medieval pet form of Nicholas). Michael Collins the Irish revolutionary (1890-1922) is the historical anchor through the surname. Phil Collins the singer (Genesis, In the Air Tonight, 1981), Joan Collins the actress (Dynasty, 1981-1989), and Lily Collins (Emily in Paris, 2020-) cover three generations of cultural anchors. As a US first name Collins is modern and feminine-leaning: rare before 2000, climbing since the 2010s. It entered the US top 500 in 2015. Common short: Coll or Linnie.
- How do you pronounce Collins?
- Collins is pronounced ˈkɑl.ɪnz. Say it as COL-lins, with the stress on the "col" syllable.
- How do you spell Collins?
- The standard spelling is Collins. Common spelling variants include Collyns.
- Is Collins a boy or girl name?
- Collins is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Collins?
- Collins ranked #241 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.