Colin
Boy name · #343 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Colin? In official American birth records, Colin has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 950 baby boys were named Colin, placing it at #343 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #172, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,895 boys born in 2025 was named Colin.
The 145-year story
Colin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 5,122 boys were named Colin — good for #85 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Colin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Colin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Colin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Colin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Colin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Colin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Colin is most common in MA (2.7 per 1,000), NH (2.4 per 1,000), CT (2 per 1,000), NJ (1.5 per 1,000), PA (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Colin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Colin
Statistically, parents drawn to Colin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Collin, Cesar, Gavin, Clayton, and Cristian.
CollinCesarGavinClaytonCristianDevinCorbinDamien
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Colin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 950 | #343 |
| 2024 | 1,038 | #335 |
| 2023 | 1,004 | #334 |
| 2022 | 1,170 | #292 |
| 2021 | 1,289 | #269 |
| 2020 | 1,177 | #287 |
| 2019 | 1,394 | #260 |
| 2018 | 1,479 | #249 |
| 2017 | 1,666 | #228 |
| 2016 | 2,052 | #198 |
| 2015 | 2,424 | #172 |
| 2014 | 2,883 | #142 |
| 2013 | 3,041 | #125 |
| 2012 | 3,022 | #124 |
| 2011 | 3,265 | #121 |
| 2010 | 3,489 | #111 |
| 2009 | 3,657 | #113 |
| 2008 | 3,732 | #114 |
| 2007 | 3,608 | #119 |
| 2006 | 3,861 | #111 |
| 2005 | 4,532 | #95 |
| 2004 | 5,122 | #85 |
| 2003 | 4,876 | #88 |
| 2002 | 3,315 | #116 |
| 2001 | 3,170 | #125 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Colin?
In official American birth records, the name Colin first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Colin a popular boy name?
Colin ranked #343 among boys in 2025 with 950 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #172.
When was the name Colin most popular?
Colin peaked in 2004, when 5,122 American boys received the name (ranked #85 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Colin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,895 newborn American boys was named Colin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.