Cole Name Meaning

Have you ever wondered about the history, origin, meaning, and popularity of the boy’s name Cole? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating story of the name Cole, with a witty, lighthearted style and plenty of subheads to keep you entertained.

History and Origin

The name Cole is of English origin, derived from the old English nickname “cola,” or “coal,” which meant “swarthy” or “black.” It has been in use as a given name since the Middle Ages, and is also associated with Saint Columba, the 6th century Irish monk who established a monastery on the island of Iona in Scotland.

Meaning

The name Cole has several possible meanings, and the most popular interpretation is “victorious people.” It can also mean “swarthy,” “charcoal,” or “coal black.”

Popularity

The name Cole has been consistently popular in the United States since the 19th century, and it currently ranks as the 35th most popular boy’s name in the country. It is also quite popular in Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Wales.

Conclusion

So, there you have it: the fascinating story of the name Cole. The name has a long and rich history, several possible meanings, and is currently one of the most popular boy’s names in the English-speaking world. So, if you’re looking for a unique and meaningful name for your son, you can’t go wrong with Cole!

Infographic of Cole name meaning, which is A variant of Cola, Cole is an English name meaning charcoal.
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Cole Name Popularity

How popular is the name Cole? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 730 11 0.0022%
1913 872 9 0.0016%
1914 892 12 0.0017%
1915 1,029 13 0.0014%
1916 1,101 10 0.001%
1917 1,321 6 0.0006%
1918 1,201 8 0.0007%
1919 1,407 6 0.0006%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 1,633 5 0.0004%
1922 1,392 6 0.0005%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 1,349 7 0.0006%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 1,401 5 0.0004%
1942 1,317 6 0.0005%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 1,511 5 0.0003%
1949 1,479 5 0.0003%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 1,318 7 0.0004%
1952 1,435 5 0.0003%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 1,001 21 0.0011%
1955 961 25 0.0014%
1956 1,111 15 0.0008%
1957 1,241 11 0.0006%
1958 888 34 0.0018%
1959 1,149 15 0.0008%
1960 1,207 12 0.0006%
1961 829 44 0.0023%
1962 928 30 0.0016%
1963 1,064 18 0.001%
1964 1,092 17 0.001%
1965 1,117 15 0.0009%
1966 1,078 16 0.001%
1967 1,271 8 0.0005%
1968 970 23 0.0015%
1969 1,074 19 0.0012%
1970 876 46 0.0029%
1971 980 31 0.0021%
1972 700 87 0.0064%
1973 688 87 0.0067%
1974 611 125 0.0096%
1975 688 96 0.0075%
1976 719 85 0.0066%
1977 720 88 0.0065%
1978 757 80 0.006%
1979 701 102 0.0072%
1980 507 235 0.0161%
1981 486 249 0.0169%
1982 262 783 0.0524%
1983 209 1,091 0.0739%
1984 201 1,138 0.0765%
1985 203 1,158 0.0763%
1986 220 1,049 0.0695%
1987 231 980 0.0642%
1988 259 868 0.0557%
1989 270 875 0.0542%
1990 248 1,076 0.0649%
1991 162 1,967 0.1207%
1992 143 2,303 0.1443%
1993 130 2,655 0.1703%
1994 111 3,298 0.2149%
1995 117 3,141 0.2084%
1996 106 3,738 0.2496%
1997 71 5,158 0.3487%
1998 77 5,148 0.344%
1999 75 5,316 0.355%
2000 71 5,926 0.3879%
2001 74 5,740 0.381%
2002 69 6,035 0.4027%
2003 69 5,899 0.3878%
2004 75 5,644 0.3703%
2005 79 5,586 0.3653%
2006 84 5,638 0.3601%
2007 84 5,702 0.3614%
2008 85 5,389 0.3487%
2009 82 5,275 0.3529%
2010 89 4,585 0.3182%
2011 94 4,135 0.2902%
2012 101 3,776 0.265%
2013 114 3,446 0.242%
2014 114 3,422 0.2349%
2015 115 3,490 0.2399%
2016 110 3,583 0.2485%
2017 115 3,446 0.2469%
2018 117 3,327 0.2422%
2019 122 3,069 0.2267%
2020 131 2,692 0.2115%
2021 131 2,816 0.2304%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Cole

If you like Cole, you’ll love these other names like Cole.

What names are variants of Cole?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Cole.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Coley

Swarthy, coal-black, charcoal

French

Colson

Swarthy, coal-black, charcoal

French

What names sound like Cole?

If you like how Cole sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Cole.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Cale

Dog

English

Col

Young creature

Scottish

Coll

High

Gaelic

Colle

Young creature

Scottish

Coyle

Leader in battle; follows the battle

Irish

What names are similar to Cole?

Find a name that’s like Cole, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Colbert

Renowned, bright, famous

German

Colin

Cub

English

Lists With Cole

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Cole.

Siblings of Cole

Mamas with kids named Cole also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Rory

Red king

Irish

5 Comments

  1. Our son Rory came up with the name Cole while I was pregnant and was very intent on using it. My husband and I could t come to an agreement on a name and baby was no name for days in the hospital. When his brother came to meet him he immediately started calling him Cole and then the nurses did. We ended up loving how it sounded and it suits him. As Rory says, we are brothers even in the stars. I know these two were meant to be together because they had an instant bond.

    Reply

  2. My six year old son named him after a friend’s brother and our mailman ?

    Reply

  3. Me and my husband agreed on it. I like the name.

    Reply

  4. It’s the only name my husband and I could remotely agree on. I still don’t like the way the name looks, but I love how it sounds and the little boy who embodies it!

    Reply

  5. I wanted something unique but not weird, and a name you don’t hear every day.

    I love the name Cole because it’s short and sweet but I don’t like when people say “Cole? Like what Santa gives you when your bad?”…

    And my mother’s maiden name is Coles, so I thought it was nice to give him a name that connected him to his grandmother in a way.

    Reply

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