Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Collen
BoyWelsh, Irish· “uncertain, Welsh saint's name”
- Meaning
- uncertain, Welsh saint's name (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Welsh, Irish
- Pronunciation
- KAH-lihn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #2,463 (1997)
- Peak year
- 1997
Meaning and origin of Collen
Collen is often said to mean “uncertain, Welsh saint's name”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Welsh and Irish roots.
Collen is a rare boys' name with more than one possible source. In Wales, Saint Collen was a medieval holy man who gave his name to Llangollen, the town on the River Dee, and the meaning of his name is uncertain. In the US, Collen may also be a variant of Colin, which comes either from Nicholas or from the Gaelic Cailean, young pup, or of the girls' name Colleen, from the Irish cailín, girl. It is said KAH-lihn, like Colin. Because it can come from several directions, its meaning is uncertain.
Popularity over time
Collen first appears in US Social Security records in 1969. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,463 in 1997, the same year it reached its highest count of 33 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #5,654 in 1980, #3,228 in 2000, and #3,551 in 2010. Of the 661 US boys named Collen since records began, 37% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 190 babies. Since 2010, 168 more have been named Collen.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Shade, Gildardo, Dolan, Matthieu, and Kendale.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Collen is usually pronounced KAH-lihn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-en”.
Middle names for Collen
A few middle names that flow with Collen: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Collen
Similar names
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Lists that include Collen
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Collen mean?
Collen is often said to mean “uncertain, Welsh saint's name”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Welsh and Irish roots.
What is the origin of the name Collen?
Collen has Welsh and Irish roots. Collen is a rare boys' name with more than one possible source.
Is Collen a popular name?
No. Collen was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Collen a boy or girl name?
Collen is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Collen?
Collen is usually pronounced KAH-lihn. 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