Holding steady.
Popularity of Collie since 1881
Babies named Collie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Collie's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 25 |
| 1890s | 7 | 37 |
| 1900s | 39 | 67 |
| 1910s | 89 | 216 |
| 1920s | 79 | 216 |
| 1930s | 37 | 159 |
| 1940s | 53 | 137 |
| 1950s | 33 | 148 |
| 1960s | 12 | 68 |
| 1970s | 0 | 42 |
| 1980s | 0 | 40 |
| 1990s | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 | 7 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 10 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Collie is a rare unisex name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1881. Its peak year of usage was 1895, after which it saw a gradual decline. The name has maintained a stable but extremely low trajectory of use into the 2020s, with fewer than five annual registrations in recent decades. Despite its low frequency, Collie offers a distinct and gentle sound, reminiscent of the beloved dog breed. It has been recorded in the top states, but not with enough frequency to rank among popular names.
The name Collie likely has multiple origins. It may derive from an Irish or Scottish surname, itself from the Gaelic word 'coile' meaning 'wood' or 'forest,' or from the Old English 'col' meaning 'coal,' used as an occupational surname for a coal miner or charcoal burner. The name also gained some use in honor of the Collie dog breed, which shares the same possible Gaelic root. Recorded as a given name since the 19th century in the United States, it has always been rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Col, Lee
Sibling names for Collie
Names that share Collie's style, for a brother or sister.
