Unisex name · Germanic
Robin
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: bright fameRobin is a gender-neutral name that comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Bright fame
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #704 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Robin
As a gender-neutral name, Robin comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It is used in English.
As a boy's name, Robin comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It is used in English.
Its meaning puts Robin on our names that mean light list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Robin on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Robin on 5 lists.
“A red-breasted songbird and a classic name”
From Bird names, human names that are also birds
“A medieval nickname for Robert, and a bird of spring”
From Bunny names, spring and Easter bunny names
“Bright fame; Germanic via Robert, and a cheerful songbird”
From Cute boy names, cute nature names for boys
“Bright fame; Germanic, a pet form of Robert, and a songbird”
From Gender neutral names, classic and vintage unisex names
“From a pet form of Robert”
From Pretty last names, cute surnames
How popular is Robin?
In 2025, 400 girls and 382 boys in the US were named Robin.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #704
- 400 babies, 249 per million girls
- Best rank
- #25 in 1962
- Most babies: 15,653 in 1961
- Babies since 1904
- At least 291,961
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 4 per million |
| 1910s | 11 per million |
| 1920s | 25 per million |
| 1930s | 67 per million |
| 1940s | 426 per million |
| 1950s | 4,285 per million |
| 1960s | 6,478 per million |
| 1970s | 2,973 per million |
| 1980s | 1,321 per million |
| 1990s | 472 per million |
| 2000s | 140 per million |
| 2010s | 125 per million |
| 2020s | 207 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,086 | #1,014 | #978 | #986 | #901 | #918 | #860 | #788 | #800 | #704 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #705
- 382 babies, 224 per million boys
- Best rank
- #143 in 1956
- 2,247 babies that year
- Babies since 1881
- At least 46,952
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 20 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 22 per million |
| 1900s | 33 per million |
| 1910s | 30 per million |
| 1920s | 44 per million |
| 1930s | 87 per million |
| 1940s | 248 per million |
| 1950s | 753 per million |
| 1960s | 563 per million |
| 1970s | 277 per million |
| 1980s | 208 per million |
| 1990s | 119 per million |
| 2000s | 61 per million |
| 2010s | 91 per million |
| 2020s | 179 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,129 | #1,005 | #1,017 | #864 | #874 | #900 | #795 | #786 | #799 | #705 |
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.
Other forms of Robin
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- BobbieBright fame (Germanic, girl)
- BobbyBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- LopakaBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RabBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RabbieBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RaibeartBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobbieBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobertaBright fame (Germanic, girl)
- RobertoBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobinaBright fame (Germanic, girl)
- RoibeárdBright fame (Germanic, boy)
Names spelled like Robin
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- RomanRoman, from Rome (Latin, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
- RowanLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- RainRain (Old English, unisex)
- RaminPeace, joy (Persian, boy)
- RinDignified; bell (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- RocíoMorning dew (Spanish, girl)
- RodinaFamous ruler (Germanic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- MurielBright sea (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- HubertBright heart (Germanic, boy)
- RoxanaBright, shining (Persian, girl)
- BertBright (Germanic, boy)
- BerthaBright (Germanic, girl)
Middle names for Robin
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Germanic
- EmmaWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- AlinaShort form of Adelina, Albina and names ending in -alina (Germanic, girl)
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- AliceNobility, of noble kind (Germanic, girl)
- CharlotteFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AdaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdelaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdeleNoble one (Germanic, girl)
Robin: common questions
What does the name Robin mean?
Robin comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Robin a boy or girl name?
Robin is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 400 girls and 382 boys in the US were named Robin, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Robin come from?
Robin comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Robin?
Robin ranked #704 in the US in 2025, with 400 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Robin?
Forms of Robin with the same meaning and origin include Bobbie (English), Bobby (English), Lopaka (Hawaiian), Rab (Scottish) and Rabbie (Scottish).
What middle names go with Robin?
Middle names that flow well with Robin include Bernard, David, Lamar, Louisa and Maximilian. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.