Collins

Collins is a given name of English origin, derived from the English and Irish surnames Collins 1 and Collins 2. These surnames have multiple possible origins: from Colin, an English diminutive of Nicholas; from the Irish cuilein meaning "darling"; from the Welsh collen referring to a grove of hazel trees; or from the French Colline, meaning "hill."

Usage and Popularity

Traditionally masculine in the Anglosphere, Collins has seen a significant rise in use as a girls' name after the 2009 movie The Blind Side, featuring a character named Collins Tuohy. Since 2012, it has ranked among the top 1,000 names for girls in the United States, entering the top 250 by 2022. For boys, Collins was also popular in the U.S. until about 1915, after which it declined. Currently, it is most common as a masculine name in parts of English-speaking Africa.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals named Collins include Collins Mbesuma (born 1984), a Zambian footballer; Collins Obhiambok, a Kenyan pastor and motivational speaker; and Collins Faaiuaso, a Samoan footballer. On the women's side, Collins Tuohy is known from the memoir The Blind Side.

• Meaning: Darling (Irish), hazel grove (Welsh), hill (French), or diminutive of Nicholas
• Origin: English (surname transfer)
• Type: Unisex (increasingly popular for girls)
• Usage Regions: United States, Africa, general Anglosphere