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Help[Facts] Origins of Colin
Do you see the origins of the name Colin as leaning more toward a Gaelic word for "young whelp", a form of "Columba", or a diminutive of Nicholas? Online resources reference all three. We have a son named Malcolm and are wonderfing whether Colin would be appropriate for a brother, or if both names are too closely linked to Columba. Thanks for any helpful background you can provide.
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This is sort of an opinion question. It depends on who uses it and what they intend it to refer to, and for you it depends more on how much you know and care about these connections. Personally, I think the Columba connection seems weak for both names, and brothers Colin & Malcolm are no more connected to St Columba than sisters Molly and Madeline are connected to Mary Magdalene.
This message was edited 8/28/2015, 1:33 PM
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The modern name, COLIN, arose in three or four different places, for as many reasons. Outside of those locations, one origin is no more prominent than the others. As the parent, you get to decide which of those origins apply to your COLIN (if so-named). (Not every parent will strive to choose a preferred meaning.)
If you choose a meaning other than its roots in COLUMBA, it will be unrelated to MALCOLM. (I am not sure why a shared root would be a problem, though.)
If you choose a meaning other than its roots in COLUMBA, it will be unrelated to MALCOLM. (I am not sure why a shared root would be a problem, though.)
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