Collett
A feminine French name derived from Nicolas, meaning "victory of the people".
Name Census estimates that about 36 living Americans carry the first name Collett. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Collett today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Collett births was 1982 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Collett. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Collett. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
36
~ 1 in 9,520,954 Americans
Peak year
1982
7 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1998 SSA rank
#12,793
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Collett: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Collett from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 17 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Collett remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Collett by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Collett during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Collett
The name Collett is an English name with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as a diminutive or pet form of the name Nicholas, which was derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people." The first recorded use of the name Collett can be traced back to the late 13th century in England.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Collett was Sir Collett Waleraund, a knight who lived in the 14th century and served under King Edward III of England during the Hundred Years' War against France. He was mentioned in historical records for his bravery and service to the crown.
In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Collett Cawdron was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, England. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributions to the local community.
During the 16th century, a notable individual named Collett Dobson lived in Yorkshire, England. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
In the 17th century, Collett Mawhood was a prominent figure in the English Civil War, serving as a captain in the Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell. He fought in several key battles and was commended for his military service.
Another notable bearer of the name Collett was Sir Collett Mulleneux, a British naval officer who lived in the 18th century. He served with distinction in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Collett, showcasing its longstanding tradition and significance in English culture and history.
People
Collett + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Collett as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Collett: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Collett?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 36 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Collett going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 9,520,954 US residents.
Is Collett a common name?
We classify Collett as "Very Rare". It ranks above 49.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 41 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Collett most popular?
The single biggest year for Collett was 1982, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Collett is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Collett a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Collett in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.