Name Colleen

Colleen is a feminine name with Irish origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.

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Meaning of the name Colleen

Origins and Core Meaning

Colleen, an Irish name meaning "girl", embodies the essence of femininity and youth. It originated as a term of endearment for a young woman and has evolved into a beloved name that evokes images of innocence, purity, and charm.

Detailed Insights on Colleen

Origins

Irish: Meaning "girl".

Symbolic Representation

Colleen is often associated with the following symbols:

  • Innocence: The name represents the purity and vulnerability of young girls.
  • Youth: Colleen symbolizes the vitality and freshness of youth.
  • Beauty: The name evokes images of natural beauty and grace.

Personality Traits

The name Colleen exudes a sense of lightheartedness and playfulness. It evokes a feeling of warmth and affection, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. Its melodic sound creates a harmonious vibration that brings joy and laughter.

Key Personality Traits

Personal Meanings of the Name Colleen

  • My grandparents and parents gave me this name, they were from County Kerry and Mayo, Ireland. I was always aware that it simply meant, Irish girl. I was the first born in my family and they had picked out the name John (my father's and grandfather's name). So I guess it was like, "It's a girl!" I heard some discussion on here why someone would name their child this so I thought I would share from my story. Also, they pronounce it Cahleen, and sometimes both sets of grandparents would put different emphasis on the syllables. Perhaps because father's side were immigrants and mom's side were first generation Irish. The irony is that my middle name is Mary- which means "bitter". SO I always tell people, "I am the bitter Irish girl" haha...

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  • I think it's important to point out that the idea of using Colleen as a feminine given name doesn't seem to have originated in Ireland itself, but rather with Irish-Americans and/or Irish-Australians. In Ireland, the word "Colleen" is in everyday use as a synonym for "girl", and so in Ireland no one would have named a daughter Colleen any more than Americans would name a daughter "Girl". Many people who were raised in Ireland thought it was very odd when their relatives who were a couple of generations removed from Ireland in the USA and Australia started naming daughters Colleen. Eventually when some American and Australian Colleens like Colleen Dewhurst and Colleen McCullough became famous world-wide, a few girls were named Colleen in Ireland itself, but that doesn't seem to have happened until well after Colleen was established as a given name outside of Ireland. [noted -ed]

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  • It could be possible that the name COLLEEN is linked to the French word for hill, colline.

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Colleen Overview & Analysis

Gender statistics

Colleen is predominantly a girl's name with a strong feminine identity. Among 170,262 people named Colleen, 170,247 are female and 15 are male resulting in a 99.9912% female distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Colleen's strong feminine identity.

Data Explanation

This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Colleen's gender association.

Popularity

Colleen classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 447 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named Colleen is nearly 0.05%, or about one in 2,000+ people.

Popularity and Usage Trends for Colleen

Based on the latest data from 2021 (5), 2022 (6), 2023 (6), Colleen's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is -70.59%. The name Colleen was most popular in 1964, making up 0.12% of baby names (or about one in 800+ babies).

Country-Specific Prevalence
Colleen Popularity by Country
FlagCountryRankPopularity
New Zealand1870.14%
Australia3450.06%
United States4460.05%
Canada7080.02%
United Kingdom1,8050.005%

People named Colleen are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 0.14% of the total population.

Data Source

The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:

To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.

Additional Information on Colleen

Pronunciation and Phonetics

Name
Colleen
Pronunciation
  • kah-LEEN
  • k-ah-L-EE-N
  • kol-een
  • colleen
IPA Notation
kɑˌliˈn
Syllable
Chinese Translation of the Name Colleen
Translation
科琳
Pronunce
(PinYin) : kē lín
Feng Shui
WoodWood
Colleen in Numerology
Colleen: Name to Numerology Conversion
COLLEEN
655
3335

Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):

Colleen's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 7

  • Follow your convictions, even if they contradict the beliefs of others.
  • You possess a deep desire to become a seeker of contemplative truth, an uncoverer of life's secrets and mysteries.
  • You strive to delve into the depths of existence, seeking hidden truths. You have the potential to achieve this in fields such as science, metaphysics, technology, psychology, philosophy, religion, or other academic pursuits.

Colleen's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 5

  • You have a need to express yourself and break free from financial limitations. Your body is capable of great things.
  • You are often misunderstood, shy, or embarrassed. You should find comfortable and free jobs. The friends you hang out with feel happy, comfortable, not tied down, and not bound by rules.

Colleen's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 3

  • You are optimistic, creative, enthusiastic, romantic, and humorous, bringing joy to those around you.
  • You possess excellent creative leadership skills and have a knack for business success.
Famous People Named Colleen
  • Colleen McCullough (Australian author: "The Thorn Birds")
  • Colleen Ballinger (American YouTuber: "Miranda Sings")
  • Colleen Hoover (American author: "It Ends with Us")
  • Colleen Camp (American actress: "Election")
  • Colleen Dewhurst (Canadian actress: "Anne of the Thousand Days")

User-Submitted Information about Colleen

  • In 2018, 46 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Colleen who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 349th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.

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  • I was born in 1946, 70 years ago and I was called Colleen. It is still a popular name in New Zealand. I have always loved my name but for many years I have been called Colly.

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  • The name Colleen was given to 113 girls born in the US in 2015.

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Conclusion

Colleen is a timeless name that beautifully captures the essence of a young woman. Its rich meaning, positive emotions, and charming symbolism make it an excellent choice for parents seeking a name that reflects their daughter's innocence, joy, and grace.

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