Colston is an uncommon male given name of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Cuthbert, which means "bold" and "bright". It was popularized by a 17th-century Bristol merchant and philanthropist named Edward Colston, who made significant contributions to his city's infrastructure and education. The name has been used sporadically since the Middle Ages but is not considered traditional or well-known today.
The name Colston experienced a notable increase in popularity between 1994 and 2010, with a significant spike in births reaching over 90 in the year 2010. However, it has since seen a decline, with fewer than 60 births recorded annually from 2013 onwards, including a recent low of 40 births in both 2022 and 2023. Overall, there have been 1121 babies named Colston born between 1994 and 2023.