NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Collin

A masculine name of Scottish origin meaning "victor" or "victorious people".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Collin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Collin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3996, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 7 births.

This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 63 living people in the UK are called Collin. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Collin ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 7 boys were registered as Collin.
  • About 63 living people in the UK are estimated to have Collin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3996

2017

Births in 2017

4

Latest year

Peak year

2012

7 births

Estimated living

63

2026

Meaning

What does Collin mean?

The given name Collin has its origins in the ancient Gaelic and Irish cultures, dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Irish word "coll," which means "youthful" or "young." In its early days, the name was primarily used in areas that are now modern-day Ireland and Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Collin can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle that documents events from the 5th to the 16th century. The Annals mention a man named Collin, who was a notable chieftain in the year 671 AD.

Collin gained further recognition during the Middle Ages, particularly in Britain. In the 12th century, Collin FitzGerald, an Anglo-Norman nobleman, served as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1177 to 1180. FitzGerald played a significant role in the Norman invasion of Ireland and was a prominent figure in the country's history.

Another notable bearer of the name was Collin de Plancy, a French historian and author born in 1642. He is best known for his work, "Dictionnaire Infernal," which is a comprehensive encyclopedia of demonology and occultism.

During the 16th century, Collin Calmady, an English merchant and sailor, embarked on several voyages to the West Indies and the Americas. His accounts of these voyages provide valuable insights into the early exploration and trade ventures of the era.

In more recent times, the name Collin has been borne by several prominent individuals. Collin Wilcox, an American actress, and author, was born in 1935 and is known for her work in the horror and thriller genres. Collin Raye, an American country music singer, born in 1960, has had several hit singles and albums throughout his career.

The name Collin has also been used in various literary works, further solidifying its place in history. In John Steinbeck's novel "East of Eden," one of the main characters is named Collin Trask, highlighting the name's enduring presence in popular culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Collin over time

The chart below shows babies named Collin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Collin, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2017, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Collin
02457199620062017

Decades

Collin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Collin was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #3224 33 6
2000s #3650 18 5
1990s #2370 13 3

Related

Names similar to Collin

FAQ

Collin: questions and answers

How popular is the name Collin in the UK right now?

In 2017, Collin was ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Collin most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 7 babies registered as Collin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Collin?

A masculine name of Scottish origin meaning "victor" or "victorious people".

How many people are called Collin in the UK?

A total of 64 babies have been registered as Collin across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.