Collins
Collins is a given name, a transferred use of the English surname, Collins, which is ultimately derived from multiple sources. It could be derived from Coll or Colin, an English diminutive of the Greek name Nicholas, or from the Irish word cuilein, meaning "darling", from the Welsh collen, referring to a grove of hazel trees, or of the French Colline, meaning hill.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Collins
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Collins is a given name, a transferred use of the English surname, Collins, which is ultimately derived from multiple sources. It could be derived from Coll or Colin, an English diminutive of the Greek name Nicholas, or from the Irish word cuilein, meaning "darling", from the Welsh collen, referring to a grove of hazel trees, or of the French Colline, meaning hill.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Collins
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Collins as a girl name dates back to 1982, when 6 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 1,390 newborns named Collins — #225 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 68% of all recorded Collinss. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #225 among girl names with 1,390 births, rising sharply (+74% over the past five years). In total, more than 12K Collinss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Collins as a boy name dates back to 1881, when 8 babies received it. 2023 was its biggest year on record, with 62 newborns named Collins — #2,275 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,407 among boy names with 58 births, gradually rising (+12%). In total, more than 4K Collinss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Collins
Phonetically similar names — useful when Collins is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Colons
- Collings
- Cullins
- Colleens
- Colins
- Callens
- Columns
- Callings
- Cullens
- Collin
- Killings
- Colognes
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Collins
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About the name Collins
Collins is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1982 and has accumulated 12K births in the dataset. Collins's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #225. Use the chart and map above to compare Collins's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.