Colin

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Origin, Meaning And History of Colin

Colin is a masculine given name that originated as a diminutive of Colle, which itself is a short form of the Old French name Nicolas (Nicholas). Nicolas has Greek origins and is derived from a combination of the words ‘nike,’ meaning ‘victory,’ and ‘laos,’ meaning ‘people.’ Therefore, Colin’s meaning can also be interpreted as ‘people’s victory.’ Colin is also considered an anglicized short form of the Scottish name Cailean, which means ‘young dog’ or ‘whelp.’

Notably, Cailean Mór, a 13th-century Scottish lord and ancestor of Clan Campbell, was a prominent bearer of the name Colin. Since then, the name has become popular in Scotland and beyond and has been used by many notable individuals throughout history.
Colin is also related to the Irish surnames Ó Coileáin and Ó Cuilinn, which mean ‘descendant of Cuillean’ and ‘holly,’ respectively. These surnames have been anglicized into modern forms such as Collins and Cullen.

The name Colin has spread worldwide through migration and cultural exchange, leading to the development of several variants, such as Coileán or Cailean (Gaelic), Colino (Spanish), and Collin (French). Due to its use in different languages, Colin can be pronounced in various ways, including ‘KAHL-in,’ ‘KOL-in,’ ‘KAHL-in,’ and ‘KOL-in.’

Although predominantly a boy’s name, Colin has feminine forms, such as Collyn, Cleon, Coilin, Colyn, Nikolai, Niklaus, Nikolaus, Nicola, Nicole, Colline, Colynn, Nikolie, Nikolai, Nichols, Nicodemus, Colet, Kaelynn, Caitlynn.

In addition to its wide use in history, the name Colin appears in various works of literature and media, contributing to its recognition and popularity. For instance, in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel The Secret Garden,Colin Craventransforms a sickly, bedridden boy into a healthy and joyful child through the power of nature and friendship.

In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series,Colin Creeveyis an enthusiastic fan of Harry Potter, always taking pictures of Harry and his friends. Other notable fictional characters named Colin includeColin Singletonfrom John Green’s book An Abundance of Katherines andColin Arian, a skilled fighter in the TV series Teen Wolf.

Colin

heart image
The triumph or victory of the people against the enemy
Boy
Christianity,Greek
Greek,Scottish Gaelic
C..Ch..Cha..Che..Chu..Cae..

How To Pronounce Colin?

English

Famous People With The Name Colin

  • Colin BeanEnglish actor, best known for his performance as Private Sponge in the BBC comedy series Dad’s Army
  • Colin PowellAmerican politician and statesman, the first African-American State Secretary
  • Colin ThubronBritish travel writer and novelist, awarded with the Thomas Cook Travel Book and the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen awards
  • Colin McRaeScottish rally driver, the youngest to win the World Rally Championship Drivers’ title
  • Colin BlakemoreA British neuroscientist and Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit awardee

Colin On The Popularity Chart

According to the US Social Security Administration, Colin experienced a surge in popularity from 1980 to 2004 but subsequently began to decline steadily after reaching its peak in that year.

Popularity Over Time

The name Colin saw a significant increase in popularity, rising from 1197 babies per million in 1980 to 5122 babies per million in 2004. However, its popularity declined steadily after that. Refer to the graph below for more details.

Source:Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

Colin was ranked at 12,367 in 1980 after which it saw a steady decline towards 20,691 in 2007. This was followed by a rise in ranking which reached 17,733 in 2020.

Source:Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Colin

The name Colin is pronounced as koh-lin. Here are some names with a similar sound that you may consider for your beloved infant.

Popular Sibling Names For Colin

Other Popular Names Beginning With C

Names With Similar Meaning As Colin

If you are looking for a name with a similar meaning to Colin, consider these suggestions.

Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-colin-boy

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

colin

In Sign Language

colin

In Braille Alphabet

colin

In Morse Code

colin

名称数字命理学科林


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Colin ?

The name colin means and The triumph or victory of the people against the enemy

2. What is the origin of the name Colin?

Colin originates from the Greek, Scottish, United States word .

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