Cole
Boy nameCole has been given to 154,646 babies in the U.S. since 1886. It peaked in 2002 and currently ranks #182 for boys (2025).
Meaning & origin /kəʊl/
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
154,646
Peak year
2002 (6,054 babies)
Rank in 2025
#182 for boys
First recorded
1886
10-year trend
▼ -43%
Gender split
0% girls / 100% boys
Famous people named Cole
Cole Palmer
English footballer (born 2002)
Cole Porter
American composer and songwriter (1891–1964)
Cole Sprouse
American actor (born 1992)
Cole Hauser
American actor
Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Cole.
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