Colin
Boy name · #343 in 2025 · Uniqueness 58/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Colin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Colin in class?
Colin scores 58 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. 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. In 2025 the states with the most Colins were CA (88), NY (86), MA (74), PA (67), NJ (59). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 58/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.