Girl name · Irish Gaelic
Collins
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname meaning descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dogCollins is a girl's name that comes from an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dog". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From a surname meaning descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dog
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #241 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Collins
As a girl's name, Collins comes from an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dog". It is used in English.
Collins is also a surname: the 60th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 317,373 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Collins on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Collins on 1 list.
“Ó Coileáin, from coileán, whelp or young hound. Also an English name”
From Irish last names, most common Irish last names
How popular is Collins?
- US rank in 2025
- #241
- 1,286 babies, 800 per million girls
- Best rank
- #239 in 2023
- Most babies: 1,286 in 2025
- Babies since 1982
- At least 10,779
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 0 per million |
| 2000s | 1 per million |
| 2010s | 220 per million |
| 2020s | 707 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #649 | #615 | #515 | #409 | #364 | #328 | #248 | #239 | #257 | #241 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- SvenBoy, young man (Old Norse, boy)
- AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
- CamilaYoung religious attendant (Latin, girl)
- CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CoraMaiden, young girl (Greek, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DoyleDescendant of the dark stranger (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- FlynnDescendant of the ruddy one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
Middle names for Collins
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
- AoifeBeauty, radiance (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- HazelHazel tree (Old English, girl)
- JaneGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JoanGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- LydiaWoman from Lydia (Greek, girl)
- MercyCompassion, forgiveness (Latin, girl)
- NiamhBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ReeseArdor, enthusiasm (Welsh, unisex)
More girl names from Irish Gaelic
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- BridgetExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BridieExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BrigitteExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- DymphnaLittle fawn (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ErinOf Ireland (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KeiraDark one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KerryCiar's people (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- LennonLover, sweetheart (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- MaeveShe who intoxicates (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- MonaLittle noble one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- MurphySea warrior (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- NeveBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- OrlaGolden ruler, from Órlaith: ór, gold, and flaith, ruler (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- QuinnDescendant of Conn (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
Collins: common questions
What does the name Collins mean?
Collins comes from an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dog". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Collins a boy or girl name?
Collins is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 1,286 girls and 48 boys in the US were named Collins, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Collins come from?
Collins comes from an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "descendant of Coileán, whelp, young dog". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Collins?
Collins ranked #241 in the US in 2025, with 1,286 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Collins?
Middle names that flow well with Collins include Aoife, Hazel, Jane, Joan and Lydia. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.