Colleen
Colleen is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Girl or young woman.
Origin and history
Colleen is derived from the Irish word 'cailín', which simply means 'girl'. It became popular as a given name in the English-speaking world during the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States. Although its usage has declined in recent years, it remains a classic mid-century American favorite.
Popularity in the United States
162,754 babies in the United States have been named Colleen since 1880. It ranks #247 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1708.
States where it is most popular
- NY (11.7 %)
- PA (9 %)
- CA (8.6 %)
- IL (7.1 %)
- MI (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 72 |
| 1910-1920 | 413 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,080 |
| 1930-1940 | 7,428 |
| 1940-1950 | 10,473 |
| 1950-1960 | 35,913 |
| 1960-1970 | 40,673 |
| 1970-1980 | 23,759 |
| 1980-1990 | 19,468 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,927 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,881 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,274 |
| 2020-2029 | 393 |
Famous people named Colleen
- Colleen Dewhurst: Actress
- Colleen Atwood: Costume Designer
- Colleen Hoover: Author
Nicknames
Coll, Leenie, Colly
Fun facts
- In Ireland, 'cailín' is the everyday word for 'girl' rather than a traditional given name, but it was adopted as a proper name in English-speaking countries.
- Colleen peaked in popularity in the United States between the 1950s and 1970s.