Colman: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Colman is an Irish boy's name meaning “little dove.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Little dove
- Gender
- Boy
How do you pronounce Colman?
Colman is pronounced KOL-man. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KUL-a-mawn.
What does Colman mean?
From the same root as Colm, it means “little dove” and has developed into a separate name from Colm and there are said to be 350 saints of the name. St. Colman of Kilmacduagh, lived as a recluse until his meeting with the king of Connacht. As the king was sitting down to dinner on an Easter Sunday the feast was miracously whipped from in front of his eyes and when he and his servants followed it they found Colman, weak after his Lenten fast, devouring the food.
How popular is Colman in Ireland?
Colman wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2023, when 3 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1964, when 17 baby boys were named Colman, No. 125 that year. The most babies got the name in 1972: 23. The records go back to 1964, when 17 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | No. 770 |
| 2021 | 3 | No. 755 |
| 2020 | 4 | No. 637 |
| 2016 | 6 | No. 491 |
| 2012 | 4 | No. 616 |
| 2009 | 4 | No. 604 |
| 2008 | 3 | No. 698 |
| 2007 | 3 | No. 629 |
| 2005 | 3 | No. 518 |
| 2003 | 3 | No. 500 |
| 2002 | 6 | No. 313 |
| 2001 | 4 | No. 347 |
| 2000 | 3 | No. 390 |
| 1999 | 3 | No. 379 |
| 1998 | 3 | No. 369 |
| 1996 | 6 | No. 276 |
| 1995 | 5 | No. 281 |
| 1994 | 5 | No. 263 |
| 1993 | 4 | No. 302 |
| 1992 | 4 | No. 298 |
| 1991 | 8 | No. 216 |
| 1990 | 5 | No. 256 |
| 1989 | 4 | No. 278 |
| 1988 | 3 | No. 319 |
| 1987 | 10 | No. 197 |
| 1986 | 5 | No. 256 |
| 1985 | 8 | No. 207 |
| 1984 | 9 | No. 205 |
| 1983 | 14 | No. 178 |
| 1982 | 3 | No. 330 |
| 1981 | 7 | No. 239 |
| 1980 | 10 | No. 213 |
| 1979 | 8 | No. 228 |
| 1978 | 9 | No. 212 |
| 1977 | 13 | No. 184 |
| 1976 | 15 | No. 181 |
| 1975 | 10 | No. 210 |
| 1974 | 14 | No. 185 |
| 1973 | 11 | No. 200 |
| 1972 | 23 | No. 143 |
| 1971 | 23 | No. 140 |
| 1970 | 9 | No. 197 |
| 1969 | 16 | No. 146 |
| 1968 | 15 | No. 146 |
| 1967 | 11 | No. 164 |
| 1966 | 12 | No. 150 |
| 1965 | 16 | No. 129 |
| 1964 | 17 | No. 125 |
Colman in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Colman, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- OOnn, gorse
- LLuis, rowan
- MMuin, vine
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Colman
Questions about Colman
- How do you pronounce Colman?
- Colman is pronounced KOL-man. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Colman mean?
- Colman means “little dove.”
- Is Colman a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Colman is a boy's name.