Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Calin
Boy· “uncertain; variant of Colin or Romanian name”
- Meaning
- uncertain; variant of Colin or Romanian name (origin disputed)
- Pronunciation
- KAY-lin
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #6,190
- US babies 2025
- 14
- Best rank
- #2,082 (2011)
- Peak year
- 2011
Meaning and origin of Calin
Calin is often said to mean “uncertain; variant of Colin or Romanian name”; the origin is uncertain.
Calin is an uncommon name whose origin is uncertain. It may be a variant of Colin, the Scottish and Irish name related to Nicholas or to Gaelic cailean, whelp or young dog. It is also a Romanian given name, Călin, but the Romanian name has its own history and is not clearly linked to the American form. It is usually said KAY-lin in English, though KAL-in is also heard, so the family's preference matters. The KAY-lin sound puts it close to Kaylin and Caelan, which can blur whether it is heard as a boy's or a girl's name.
Popularity over time
Calin first appears in US Social Security records in 1960. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,082 in 2011, the same year it reached its highest count of 64 babies. In 2025, 14 babies were named Calin, and it ranked #6,190 nationally. That is 65% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #6,380 in 1980, #3,437 in 2000, #3,080 in 2010, and #6,190 in 2025. Of the 1,166 US boys named Calin since records began, 32% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 272 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Roshan, Ezekial, Alekzander, Keiran, and Cortland.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 94% of US babies named Calin over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Calin is usually pronounced KAY-lin, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with C and ends in “-in”.
Middle names for Calin
A few middle names that flow with Calin: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Calin
Similar names
Talin Unisex
TAH-lin
“from Talin, an Armenian town” · Armenian
#11,831
Gavin Boy
GA-vihn
“uncertain; possibly hawk” · Welsh
#303
Austin Boy
AWS-tuhn
“great, venerable” · English
#113
Colin Boy
KAH-lihn
“young dog; or a form of Nicholas” · Scottish
#343
Devin Boy
DEH-vihn
“from an Irish surname” · Irish
#548
Griffin Boy
GRIF-in
“strong lord (from Gruffudd)” · Welsh
#222
Collin Boy
KAH-lin
“victory of the people (via Nicholas)” · English
#493
Corbin Boy
KOR-bin
“little raven” · French
#512
Joaquin Boy
wah-KEEN
“God will establish” · Spanish
#355
Odin Boy
OH-duhn
“fury, inspiration” · Old Norse
#502
Jaylin Unisex
JAY-lihn
“blend of Jay and Lynn” · American (modern coinage)
#1,742
Ronin Boy
ROH-nihn
“masterless samurai” · Japanese
#504
Lists that include Calin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Calin mean?
Calin is often said to mean “uncertain; variant of Colin or Romanian name”; the origin is uncertain.
Is Calin a popular name?
Not especially. Calin ranked #6,190 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Calin a boy or girl name?
Calin is mainly a boy's name. About 94% of US babies named Calin over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Calin?
Calin is usually pronounced KAY-lin. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings