When was Colleen most popular?

The name Colleen reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Colleen Welch?

The name Colleen Welch combines two different traditions: the first name Colleen has Irish roots, while the surname Welch originates from English.

Colleen Welch — 143K & 109K bearers

Colleen Welch is a name that combines Irish origins. The first name Colleen is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Colleen is an English-language name of Irish origin. It derives from the Irish word cailín "girl/woman", the diminutive of caile "woman, countrywoman". Although it derives from the Irish language, Colleen as a given name is rare in Ireland, but far more popular in Irish-descended communities in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname Welch: Welch is a surname that comes from the Old English word welisċ, meaning ‘foreign’ (from walhaz). The first attested use of the cognomen was derived from the Old Norman French “le waleis”, meaning ‘the welshman’ and was first used as a nickname to a Cambro-Norman nobleman who witnessed a donation to the monastery of Monmouth in 1140. This nobleman was named William de la Haye and was the son of Nest ferch Rhys ap Tewdwr, he was called the ‘brother’ of Robert Fitz Stephen in a charter from “Unpublished Charters Pertaining to Ireland”. It was used to describe those of Celtic or Welsh origin. Colleen is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 143K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Colleen reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Colleen

Irish

Colleen is an English-language name of Irish origin. It derives from the Irish word cailín "girl/woman", the diminutive of caile "woman, countrywoman". Although it derives from the Irish language, Colleen as a given name is rare in Ireland, but far more popular in Irish-descended communities in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Surname: Welch

English

Welch is a surname that comes from the Old English word welisċ, meaning ‘foreign’ (from walhaz). The first attested use of the cognomen was derived from the Old Norman French “le waleis”, meaning ‘the welshman’ and was first used as a nickname to a Cambro-Norman nobleman who witnessed a donation to the monastery of Monmouth in 1140. This nobleman was named William de la Haye and was the son of Nest ferch Rhys ap Tewdwr, he was called the ‘brother’ of Robert Fitz Stephen in a charter from “Unpublished Charters Pertaining to Ireland”. It was used to describe those of Celtic or Welsh origin.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Colleen is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Colleen by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Colleen Welch

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Colleen Welch:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

6

Personality Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Colleen?: The first name Colleen originates from Irish. Colleen is an English-language name of Irish origin. It derives from the Irish word cailín "girl/woman", the diminutive of caile "woman, countrywoman". Although it derives from the Irish language, Colleen as a given name is rare in Ireland, but far more popular in Irish-descended communities in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
When was Colleen most popular?: The name Colleen reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Welch?: The surname Welch originates from English. Welch is a surname that comes from the Old English word welisċ, meaning ‘foreign’ (from walhaz). The first attested use of the cognomen was derived from the Old Norman French “le waleis”, meaning ‘the welshman’ and was first used as a nickname to a Cambro-Norman nobleman who witnessed a donation to the monastery of Monmouth in 1140. This nobleman was named William de la Haye and was the son of Nest ferch Rhys ap Tewdwr, he was called the ‘brother’ of Robert Fitz Stephen in a charter from “Unpublished Charters Pertaining to Ireland”. It was used to describe those of Celtic or Welsh origin.
What are the origins of the name Colleen Welch?: The name Colleen Welch combines two different traditions: the first name Colleen has Irish roots, while the surname Welch originates from English.