Home › Baby Names Directory › Collins

Collins

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAHL-ihnz /ˈkɑl.ɪnz/Medium

Meaning: son of Colin (a diminutive of Nicholas)Medium

In 30 seconds: Collins is an English surname-name meaning 'son of Colin', itself a pet form of Nicholas.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
Meaningson of Colin (a diminutive of Nicholas)
U.S. rank (2024)#2524 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births53 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,638

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202318812024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Collins grew from the English surname meaning 'son of Colin', and Colin was a medieval diminutive of Nicholas. So behind the modern name lies the long lineage of Nicholas, meaning victory of the people, filtered through generations of family naming. Kenyan cricket captain Collins Obuya is among its bearers.

The trailing '-s' gives it the patronymic surname feel that has made it work as a first name. Its roots in Colin and Nicholas tie it quietly to one of the most enduring names in European tradition.

Did you know? Collins reached first-name use as a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Colin', a medieval English diminutive of Nicholas ('victory of the people').
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Collins — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Collins — meaning/etymology

Variations

—

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Collins Obuya (1981–present)
    Kenyan cricketer and former national team captain.

If you like Collins…

Colin— the medieval pet form of Nicholas that Collins is built directly upon.
Nicholas— the original name behind Collins, reached through the diminutive Colin.
Cole— a short English name in the same sound family as the Colin root of Collins.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Collins mean?

Collins is an English patronymic name meaning 'son of Colin', where Colin is a medieval diminutive of Nicholas.

How do you pronounce Collins?

It's commonly said KAHL-ihnz /ˈkɑl.ɪnz/.

Is Collins a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Collins is used as a boy name.

How popular is Collins?

In 2024, Collins ranked #2524 in the U.S. for boys, with 53 births recorded.