Colin is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'Cumhall', which means 'challenging' or 'uniform'. It was initially introduced to England by Norman-French settlers in the 11th century and has since become a popular choice in English-speaking countries. The name Colin gained prominence in literature through characters such as Colin Clout, a poetic persona created by Edmund Spenser, and Colin Firth's character in the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'. It is typically used for boys and has also been embraced as a girl's name in some regions. The name Colin is often paired with other names like Colin the Cuckoo Bird from traditional English nursery rhymes, further enriching its cultural heritage. Some notable individuals bearing this name include British actor Colin Firth, Scottish footballer Colin Hendry, and American musician Colin Hay.
The name Colin experienced significant popularity from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, with notable spikes in births occurring between 1976 and 1984. During these years, Colin was among the top names for newborn boys, reaching its peak in 1984 with 19 births that year. However, since the early 1990s, the name Colin has seen a steady decline in popularity, with fewer than 10 births reported annually from 1992 onwards. In recent years, Colin remains relatively uncommon, with only 5 births recorded each year from 2014 to 2021. Overall, between 1960 and 2021, there were a total of 445 newborn boys named Colin in the United States.