Given name & surname · also Old French
Robin
“one who is bright with fame”
In English use, Robin is an affectionate form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Robin is an affectionate form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old French.
How it developed
In English use, Robin is used as an affectionate form of Robert. Robin is used as a form of Roberta.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Robin is an affectionate form of Robert. The history of Robert gives this family its wider story. Robert’s historical associations include three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Robin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 338,913
- 46,952 boys · 291,961 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 17,505 babies
- 2025
- 782
- #704 for girls · #705 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +37%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 47% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 400 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 704 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 30.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 15,653 in 1961. It also appeared in 382 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (50). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 284,371 as a first name in 2020; 5,289 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Robin’s family of names
In French usage, Robin is a diminutive of Robert. Robin has a surname derivative in Robinson. Robin is a form of Roberta.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Robin has relatives in 16 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 42
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Robertfull form · French, English
- Rubenvariant · German
- Robynvariant · English
- Robinsonvariant · English
- Rubinvariant · German
- Robynnvariant
- Robdiminutive · English
- Robinnlikely variant
Show 34 moreShow fewer
- Robbinvariant · English
- Robbynvariant
- Robsonvariant
- Robbinsvariant
- Robinsvariant
- Robenvariant
- Robbenvariant
- Robinettavariant
- Robynnevariant
- Robinettevariant
- Robinevariant
- Robinavariant
- Robivariant
- Robeniavariant
- Robenavariant
- Dunbabinpet form · English
- Hobdiminutive · English
- Robbodiminutive · English
- Roibenvariant
- Roibinvariant
- Robbynsonvariant
- Robynsonvariant
- Robbinsonvariant
- Rohinavariant
- Rohinevariant
- Robynettavariant
- Robynettevariant
- Robynavariant
- Robiniavariant
- Robinettvariant
- Robinetvariant
- Robenevariant
- Robeevariant
- Robinekdiminutive · Czech
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 16
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Robin
- Robin WilliamsAmerican actor and comedian (1951–2014)
- Robin van PersieDutch association football player and managerborn 1983
- BanksyEnglish graffiti artist, political activist, and painterborn 1973
- Robin WrightAmerican actressborn 1966
- Robin TunneyAmerican actressborn 1972
- Robin GibbBritish singer (1949–2012)
- Robin GosensGerman footballerborn 1994
- Robin SöderlingSwedish tennis playerborn 1984
- Robin Le NormandSpanish-French footballer (born 1996)
Characters named Robin: Robin Hood (heroic outlaw in English folklore, a highly skilled archer and swordsman), Nico Robin (One Piece), Robin Scherbatsky (the American television series How I Met Your Mother).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Robin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Loren
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
40% boys · 60% girls
Brook
“from the running stream”
26% boys · 74% girls
Ripley
“from the noisy meadow”
30% boys · 70% girls
Ridley
“from the meadow of reeds”
43% boys · 57% girls
Leighton
“from the town near the meadow”
26% boys · 74% girls
Hollis
“near the valley of the holly bushes” · “from the holly tree”
56% boys · 44% girls
Linden
“from the hill of lime trees” · “from the lime tree”
58% boys · 42% girls
Oakley
“from the field of oak trees” · “from the meadow of oak trees”
35% boys · 65% girls