Robin Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROH-bin //ˈrɒb.ɪn//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: bright fame; Latin: redbreast (referring to the robin bird)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Robin has its roots in the Old French name "Robinet," which is a diminutive form of "Robert." The name Robert itself originates from the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "fame," and "beraht," meaning "bright." This etymological journey traces back to the Proto-Germanic *hrōþiz and *berhtaz, which evolved into the Old High German "Hruodpert" and the Old Norse "Hróðbertr." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where the name was adopted and adapted into various forms, including Robin. Historically, the name Robin has been associated with notable figures and cultural milestones.
In medieval England, Robin Hood emerged as a legendary figure, often depicted as an outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor. This character, first recorded in the 13th century, became a symbol of social justice and resistance against tyranny.
Additionally, the name appears in various literary works, including the famous poem "A Gest of Robyn Hode" from the late 15th century, which solidified Robin's place in English folklore. The name also appears in the King James Bible, where it is sometimes used in translations to refer to a type of bird, further embedding it in the cultural lexicon.
Culturally, the name Robin has been associated with themes of nature and renewal, particularly due to its connection with the robin bird, which is often seen as a harbinger of spring. This association has contributed to the name's enduring appeal in various artistic and literary contexts.
The diminutive "Robbie" is also historically relevant, offering a more affectionate form of the name that has been used in various cultures. Overall, Robin carries a rich tapestry of historical significance and cultural resonance, reflecting both its linguistic origins and its evolution through time.
Famous people named Robin
In this section, you will find notable people named Robin. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Robin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Robin who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Robin Williams is an actor and comedian best known for Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Jumanji.
Robin Wright is an actress best known for The Princess Bride, House of Cards, and Forrest Gump.
Robin Thicke is a singer and songwriter best known for Blurred Lines, Lost Without U, and Magic.
Robin Roberts is a television broadcaster best known for Good Morning America and ESPN's SportsCenter.
Robin Gibb was a musician best known as a member of the Bee Gees, known for hits like Stayin' Alive and How Deep Is Your Love.
Robin van Persie is a former professional footballer best known for his time with Arsenal and the Netherlands national team.
Fictional characters named Robin
The following list of fictional characters named Robin is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Robin Hood is a fictional character from English folklore and various adaptations. He is a legendary outlaw known for 'robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.'.
Robin is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. They are a superhero sidekick, primarily associated with Batman, and have taken on various identities over the years.
Robin is a fictional character from the animated series Teen Titans. He is the leader of the Teen Titans and is known for his combat skills and intelligence.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Robin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Robin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Robin was first seen in the United States in 1904.
Robin has ranked as high as #56 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Robin has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Robin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Robin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Robin (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 52 | |
| TX | 47 | |
| NY | 18 | |
| WA | 16 | |
| NC | 15 | |
| VA | 13 | |
| GA | 13 | |
| IN | 11 | |
| MA | 11 | |
| PA | 11 | |
| IL | 9 | |
| FL | 9 | |
| OH | 8 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| LA | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Robin.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 351 |
| 2023 | 358 |
| 2022 | 324 |
| 2021 | 291 |
| 2020 | 292 |
| 2019 | 262 |
| 2018 | 271 |
| 2017 | 256 |
| 2016 | 239 |
| 2015 | 260 |
| 2014 | 226 |
| 2013 | 190 |
| 2012 | 175 |
| 2011 | 146 |
| 2010 | 158 |
| 2009 | 178 |
| 2008 | 188 |
| 2007 | 214 |
| 2006 | 226 |
| 2005 | 214 |
| 2004 | 253 |
| 2003 | 255 |
| 2002 | 271 |
| 2001 | 359 |
| 2000 | 423 |
| 1999 | 462 |
| 1998 | 496 |
| 1997 | 596 |
| 1996 | 719 |
| 1995 | 727 |
| 1994 | 799 |
| 1993 | 998 |
| 1992 | 1,056 |
| 1991 | 1,233 |
| 1990 | 1,414 |
| 1989 | 1,800 |
| 1988 | 1,765 |
| 1987 | 1,911 |
| 1986 | 2,266 |
| 1985 | 2,012 |
| 1984 | 2,111 |
| 1983 | 2,387 |
| 1982 | 2,768 |
| 1981 | 2,867 |
| 1980 | 2,808 |
| 1979 | 3,208 |
| 1978 | 3,440 |
| 1977 | 3,429 |
| 1976 | 3,623 |
| 1975 | 4,328 |
| 1974 | 4,525 |
| 1973 | 4,805 |
| 1972 | 5,368 |
| 1971 | 6,213 |
| 1970 | 7,004 |
| 1969 | 7,502 |
| 1968 | 8,181 |
| 1967 | 7,693 |
| 1966 | 9,440 |
| 1965 | 11,995 |
| 1964 | 14,329 |
| 1963 | 14,434 |
| 1962 | 15,129 |
| 1961 | 15,651 |
| 1960 | 13,972 |
| 1959 | 12,854 |
| 1958 | 11,548 |
| 1957 | 12,579 |
| 1956 | 11,621 |
| 1955 | 10,217 |
| 1954 | 9,044 |
| 1953 | 6,038 |
| 1952 | 3,641 |
| 1951 | 2,891 |
| 1950 | 1,991 |
| 1949 | 1,281 |
| 1948 | 1,094 |
| 1947 | 936 |
| 1946 | 773 |
| 1945 | 621 |
| 1944 | 375 |
| 1943 | 333 |
| 1942 | 310 |
| 1941 | 239 |
| 1940 | 206 |
| 1939 | 131 |
| 1938 | 104 |
| 1937 | 80 |
| 1936 | 69 |
| 1935 | 65 |
| 1934 | 65 |
| 1933 | 58 |
| 1932 | 58 |
| 1931 | 37 |
| 1930 | 50 |
| 1929 | 46 |
| 1928 | 36 |
| 1927 | 38 |
| 1926 | 19 |
| 1925 | 42 |
| 1924 | 30 |
| 1923 | 24 |
| 1922 | 33 |
| 1921 | 15 |
| 1920 | 20 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1918 | 19 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1915 | 17 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 8 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1904 | 6 |