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Name Lineage

    The first name Cole

    A boy’s name meaning “coal”, “coal-black”.

    Pronounced /koʊl/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Cole means “coal”, “coal-black”.

    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.

    Cole is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 289 boys were named Cole, making it the 179th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 499 births (#125).

    0250500 1996200020052010201520202025
    9,051
    babies named Cole, 1996–2025
    #179
    rank in 2025
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cole with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Cole at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 2,003 boys born in the United States were named Cole, the 182nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2002, when 6,038 were.

    03,5007,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    154,646
    babies named Cole since 1880
    #182
    rank in 2025
    2002
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Cole

    33 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Cole Palmer
      English footballer (born 2002)
    • Cole Porter
      American composer and songwriter (1891–1964)
    • Cole Sprouse
      American actor (born 1992)
    • Stephen Cole Kleene
      American mathematician and theoretical computer scientist (1909–1994)
    • Cole Hauser
      American actor, born 1975
    • Cole Hocker
      American middle-distance runner, born 2001
    • Cole Aldrich
      American basketball player (born 1988)
    • Cole Hamels
      American baseball player, born 1983
    • Cole Anthony
      American basketball player (born 2000)
    • Cole Caufield
      American ice hockey player, born 2001
    • Cole Bassett
      American soccer player, born 2001
    • Cole Sillinger
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 2003

    Questions

    What does the name Cole mean?
    Cole means “coal”, “coal-black”.
    How popular is the name Cole?
    In 2025, 289 boys born in England and Wales were named Cole, ranking 179th. Its peak was 2010, with 499 births.
    Is Cole a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 154,646 US babies named Cole since 1880 were boys.
    When was Cole most popular?
    2002 in the United States, when 6,038 babies were named Cole, its highest rank at 69th.
    How do you pronounce Cole?
    Cole is /koʊl/, one syllable.
    Is Cole also a surname?
    Yes. Cole is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.