Find out how popular the first name Colleen has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Colleen by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Colleen is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Colleen being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 83 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Colleen.

The history of the first name Colleen

Colleen is a feminine given name of Irish origin. It is the English form of the Irish Gaelic word 'cailín' which means 'girl' or 'young woman'. The name Colleen emerged in the early 19th century as a romanticized term for an Irish maiden or lass.

The earliest recorded use of the name Colleen dates back to the 1820s when it appeared in literature and poetry depicting idealized Irish rural life and culture. Some of the earliest references can be found in works by authors like William Allingham and Charles Gavan Duffy.

One of the earliest notable people with the name Colleen was Colleen Bawn (c.1815-1819), an Irish woman whose tragic story was the inspiration for Gerald Griffin's novel "The Collegians" published in 1829. The novel popularized the name further, portraying Colleen Bawn as a symbol of Irish beauty and innocence.

Another early bearer of the name was Colleen Moore (1900-1988), an American film actress who became a major star during the silent film era. She was known for her bobbed haircut style which influenced fashion trends in the 1920s.

Colleen Dewhurst (1924-1991) was a Canadian-American actress renowned for her work on stage, television, and film. She won two Tony Awards and four Emmy Awards during her illustrious career.

Colleen McCullough (1937-2015) was an Australian author best known for her novel "The Thorn Birds" which became an international bestseller and was adapted into a popular television miniseries.

Colleen Fitzpatrick (1948-2010) was an American pop singer and actress who had a successful career in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for hits like "Playboy" and "Watching the Detectives".

While the name Colleen has its roots in Irish culture, it has gained widespread popularity across various English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Colleen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Colleen, please contact us.

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