Colin
/K-AA-L-IH-N/
From Gaelic cailean, a pup or young dog; also a medieval short form of Nicholas, victory of the people
See Colin scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Colin:
Yes — Colin is a Christian boy name of English origin, meaning “From Gaelic cailean, a pup or young dog; also a medieval short form of Nicholas, victory of the people”.
How well does Colin fit your family?
This page tells you what Colin means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Colin's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Colin is a boy's name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "From Gaelic cailean, a pup or young dog; also a medieval short form of Nicholas, victory of the people" and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among British, American, European families, Colin carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Colin look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Colin carries. No two are alike.
See Colin's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Colin's baby portrait →What does Colin's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Colin resonates in either tradition.
Colin's destiny number is 8 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Colin's full reading →
Does Colin go with your family's names?
Colin breaks into 5 sounds: /K-AA-L-IH-N/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Colin sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Colin beside your family's names →
Names similar to Colin
If Colin resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in British families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Colin
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Colin — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Colin
What does the name Colin mean?
Colin means "From Gaelic cailean, a pup or young dog; also a medieval short form of Nicholas, victory of the people." It is a boy name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Colin a boy or girl name?
Colin is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Colin?
Colin is of English origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among British, American, European families.
Is Colin a Christian name?
Yes. Colin is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of English origin.
What does Colin mean in English?
Colin originates from English, where it means "From Gaelic cailean, a pup or young dog; also a medieval short form of Nicholas, victory of the people."
What is the numerology of Colin?
Colin has a Pythagorean destiny number of 8 — material mastery and executive power.
See how Colin scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Colin is waiting.
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