What Does the Name Robin Mean?
Robin is a unisex name of Germanic origin meaning “bright fame.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Robin |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Meaning | bright fame |
| Variants | Robert, Robyn, Robbie, Roberta |
| Popularity | Popular for girls in the US in the 1950s-60s and long used for boys, especially in Britain and France; now a familiar unisex name. |
The meaning and origin of Robin
The name Robin means “bright fame” and has Germanic origins. Originally a medieval diminutive of Robert, from Germanic elements meaning 'fame' and 'bright.' Associated with the bird and with Robin Hood, it later became common for girls as well, especially mid-20th century.
Variants and related names
Robin is related to several other names you may recognize: Robert, Robyn, Robbie, Roberta. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Robin?
Popular for girls in the US in the 1950s-60s and long used for boys, especially in Britain and France; now a familiar unisex name.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Robin below.
Generate a fake Robin profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Robin mean?+
The name Robin means “bright fame” and is of Germanic origin.
What is the origin of the name Robin?+
Robin originates from Germanic.
Is Robin a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Robin has trended in the US over time.
Robin by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press