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Home › Baby Names Directory › Cullin

Cullin

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Cullin

Pronounced KUL-in /ˈkʌl.ɪn/High

Meaning: Cullin is a variant of Cullen, an Irish surname with two likely roots: Ó Cuilinn, from cuileann ('holly'), and Ó Coileain, from coilean ('young dog, whelp,' figuratively a young warrior). As a given name it carries whichever of these the family tradition preferred; both are genuine Irish origins.Low

In 30 seconds: Cullin is a variant of the Irish surname Cullen, meaning 'holly' or 'young dog.' It saw a small modern uptick (said KUL-in).
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Origin MediumIrish
MeaningCullin is a variant of Cullen, an Irish surname with two likely roots: Ó Cuilinn, from cuileann ('holly'), and Ó Coileain, from coilean ('young dog, whelp,' figuratively a young warrior). As a given name it carries whichever of these the family tradition preferred; both are genuine Irish origins.
U.S. rank (2020)#12418 ↘ Falling
2020 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 403

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200119172020

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cullin is a variant spelling of the Irish surname Cullen used as a first name. It appears in United States records from about 1917 but, unlike most names of this cohort, reached its small high around the year 2000, riding the modern taste for Irish surname names. It stayed rare in this spelling, given to only a couple dozen boys a year even at its peak.

That late peak makes Cullin unusual among early-century rarities: it reads less as a vintage name than as a modern surname-style choice alongside Colin and Cullen. The standard Cullen is far more common; Cullin remains a minority spelling for parents who prefer the look of the double-l form.

Did you know? Cullen, and so Cullin, may mean 'holly' - the evergreen - or 'young hound,' depending on which Irish family the surname came from.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Cullin — Variant of Cullen; Irish Ó Cuilinn 'holly' / Ó Coilean 'young dog'

Variations

CullenCullanCollin

Nicknames

CullLin

Famous Bearers

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If you like Cullin…

Cullen— the standard spelling of this same surname name
Collin— a like Irish-flavored surname name
Colin— a close cousin in sound and origin
Cavin— echoes that soft -in sound
Cobain— shares Cullin's Irish roots

Explore names like Cullin

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cullin mean?

It is a variant of Cullen, an Irish surname from either cuileann ('holly') or coilean ('young dog, whelp').

How do you pronounce Cullin?

It's said KUL-in /ˈkʌl.ɪn/, two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cullin a boy or girl name?

Cullin is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Cullin?

It has always been rare, an Irish surname name that saw a small uptick around the turn of the millennium, given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak.

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