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The short answer
Austin is a masculine English name that Behind the Name describes as a "medieval contracted form of Augustine". The entry adds that modern use "is probably also partly inspired by the common surname Austin, which is of the same origin", and notes that it is also the name of a city in Texas. Austen, Auston and Austyn are listed as spelling variants, with Austyn also given as a feminine form. It is pronounced AWS-tin. In the United States, Austin ranked #113 for boys in 2025. The literal meaning of the parent name Augustine is not stated in the material used for this profile.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Austin as a "medieval contracted form of Augustine", the name that appears in its related-names table as Augustinus (Ancient Roman) with forms such as Agustín (Spanish), Agostino (Italian), Augustin (French, German, Czech, Romanian) and Awstin (Welsh). The gloss of Augustine is not included in the material fetched for this pass, so the literal meaning is left to that entry. The entry offers a second, reinforcing route: the common surname Austin, "which is of the same origin", probably also inspires modern use, and the Texas city carries the name too. Variants listed are Augustine, Austen, Auston and Austyn.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | Augustinus / Augustine | parent name; gloss not verified in this pass |
| Medieval English | Austin | contracted form of Augustine |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Behind the Name suggests modern use is partly inspired by the surname Austin, itself derived from the same medieval given name, rather than directly by Augustine.
Popularity
Austin ranked #113 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name lists no US ranking in the material used here.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #113 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Austen, Auston, Austyn, Augustine
Related names: Augustus, August, Agustín, Agostino, Awstin
What the name feels like
Austin has the shape of a surname name and the roots of a saint's name, and in the United States it also carries a strong place-name association with the Texas capital, which gives it a relaxed, American feel. Two syllables with a firm -tin ending make it sit comfortably alongside Justin, Dustin and the other -in names of its era.
Style tags: surname name, place name, saint's name root, two syllables, American
Editorial interpretation: The style summary is editorial opinion. Behind the Name lists no diminutives for Austin; the nicknames list is empty rather than guessed at. The comparison with Justin and Dustin is the editor's, not sourced.
If you like this name
Other names from the Augustus family, and boys' names with the same two-syllable -in shape.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Austin mean?
Austin is a medieval contracted form of Augustine. Behind the Name does not gloss it in the Austin entry; see Augustine for the underlying meaning.
Is Austin named after the city in Texas?
Not originally. Behind the Name says Austin is a medieval form of Augustine and that modern use is probably also partly inspired by the surname Austin; it notes the Texas city as another bearer of the name.
Is Austin a popular name?
Austin ranked #113 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Austin — supports etymology, pronunciation, surname note, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
