Collins

How to say it

/ˈkɑl.ɪnz/

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.

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

• Hudson Son of Hudd
• Kennedy Helmeted head
• Harper Harp player
• Sutton Southern settlement
• Presley Priest's meadow

See Collins from another angle