Cole
Cole: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /kəʊl/ · [kɒʊl]
Meaning and origin of Cole
Root meaning: “coal, coal-black”
- A male given name.
- A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A surname transferred from the given name.
Etymology
The surname is variously from: # A nickname from Old English col (“coal, coal-black”), # A patronymic from Nicholas (see also Coles, Colson, Colle). # A variation of Cowell (which itself has several origins). # As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McCool. # As a German surname, Americanized from Kohl. # As a Dutch surname, Americanized from Kool. # As a French surname, Americanized/calqued from Charbonneau, influenced by the first sense.
How popular is Cole?
Since 1880, 553 girls and 154,093 boys in the U.S. have been named Cole (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4485 in 2006. Its highest rank for boys was #69 in 2002. In 2025 it ranked #182 for boys, with 2,009 babies given the name.
Names similar to Cole
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Cole
Sister and brother names that share Cole's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Cole FAQ
What does the name Cole mean?
Cole traces back to a root meaning "coal, coal-black". A male given name. A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas. A male given name transferred from the surname. A surname transferred from the given name. The surname is variously from: # A nickname from Old English col (“coal, coal-black”), # A patronymic from Nicholas (see also Coles, Colson, Colle). # A variation of Cowell (which itself has several origins). # As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McCool. # As a German surname, Americanized from Kohl. # As a Dutch surname, Americanized from Kool. # As a French surname, Americanized/calqued from Charbonneau, influenced by the first sense.
What is the origin of the name Cole?
Cole is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Cole?
Since 1880, 553 girls and 154,093 boys in the U.S. have been named Cole (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4485 in 2006. Its highest rank for boys was #69 in 2002. In 2025 it ranked #182 for boys, with 2,009 babies given the name.
Is Cole a boy or girl name?
Cole is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 553 girls and 154,093 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.