Meaning & Origin
A female given name from English or Irish.
Colleen is a girl's and boy's baby name of Irish origin, from the Irish cailín simply meaning 'girl' — making it one of the few names whose meaning is its own definition. It was adopted as a given name primarily by Irish-Americans in the 20th century.
Colleen peaked in the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in communities with Irish heritage. It carries a warm, familiar quality that speaks to heritage and home. Actress Colleen Dewhurst, a two-time Tony Award winner, gave the name theatrical gravitas.