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At a Glance: Name: Collins – Meaning: descendant of Coileán (Irish, from cuileán 'pup/whelp', sometimes glossed 'darling'); alternatively a diminutive of Colin (Nicholas) or from Welsh collen 'hazel grove' / French colline 'hill' – Origin: Irish/English (surname, disputed origin) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: KAH-linz
Collins is a vintage-leaning, gender-neutral name pronounced KAH-linz. Its roots trace to the Irish surname Ó Coileáin, 'descendant of Coileán'—from cuileán, meaning 'pup' or 'whelp,' sometimes softened to 'darling'—though it's also linked to a diminutive of Colin or to Welsh/French words for 'hazel grove' and 'hill,' since the exact origin is genuinely disputed. Some baby-name lists claim Collins means 'son of the follower of St. Columba,' but that isn't backed by Wiktionary or Wikipedia; the better-documented root is that Irish 'pup/whelp' lineage.
Meaning & Origin of Collins
Meaning: Descendant of coileán (irish, from cuileán 'pup/whelp', sometimes glossed 'darling'); alternatively a diminutive of colin (nicholas) or from welsh collen 'hazel grove' / french colline 'hill'.
Origin: Irish/English (surname, disputed origin).
A common claim: Collins is often claimed on baby-name lists to mean 'son of the follower of St. Columba.' Actually: Collins is best explained as Irish Ó Coileáin, 'descendant of Coileán' (from cuileán, 'pup' or 'whelp,' sometimes glossed 'darling'). It can also be a diminutive of Colin (from Nicholas), or come from Welsh collen ('hazel grove') or French colline ('hill') — not from a follower of St. Columba.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Collins
Phonetic: KAH-linz IPA: /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
Popularity of Collins
Collins ranked #257 in 2024 with 1,237 babies given the name, just a step down from its peak of #238 in 2023, when 1,271 babies received it.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Collins mean?
Descendant of coileán (irish, from cuileán ‘pup/whelp’, sometimes glossed ‘darling’); alternatively a diminutive of colin (nicholas) or from welsh collen ‘hazel grove’ / french colline ‘hill’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Collins)
How do you pronounce Collins?
Collins is pronounced KAH-linz (IPA: /ˈkɑːlɪnz/).
Is Collins a popular name right now?
Collins is near its all-time peak (#238 in 2023), ranked #257 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
📊 How popular is Collins? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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