Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Cole
BoyEnglish· “from an English surname”
- Meaning
- from an English surname
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- KOHL
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #182
- US babies 2025
- 2,003
- Best rank
- #69 (2002)
- Peak year
- 2002
Meaning and origin of Cole
Cole is an English name that is usually said to mean “from an English surname”.
Cole is an English surname that probably comes from Cole, a medieval pet form of Nicholas, or from the Old English col, meaning coal, perhaps a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. The nursery rhyme about Old King Cole gives it a playful familiarity. As a first name it became widespread in the United States in the later twentieth century, and it can also work as a short form of Nicholas or Colton. The songwriter Cole Porter is a well-known bearer. Cole is crisp, one syllable and easy to pair with longer names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kole, Kohl, Kol.
Popularity over time
Cole first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 74 different years, starting in 1886. Its best national rank was #69 in 2002, the same year it reached its highest count of 6,038 babies. In 2025, 2,003 babies were named Cole, and it ranked #182 nationally. That is 43% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,806 in 1920, #1,369 in 1950, #516 in 1980, #71 in 2000, #90 in 2010, and #182 in 2025. Of the 154,093 US boys named Cole since records began, 37% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 36,401 babies. Since 2010, 51,224 more have been named Cole.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Nathaniel, Carlos, Alejandro, Colby, and Eduardo.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cole ranked highest in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #66 | 22 |
| Massachusetts | #67 | 95 |
| Rhode Island | #72 | 14 |
| Connecticut | #90 | 39 |
| New Jersey | #104 | 93 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Cole is usually pronounced KOHL, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with C and ends in “-le”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kole, Kohl, and Kol.
Middle names for Cole
A few middle names that flow with Cole: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cole
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Lists that include Cole
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cole mean?
Cole is an English name that is usually said to mean “from an English surname”.
What is the origin of the name Cole?
Cole has English roots. Cole is an English surname that probably comes from Cole, a medieval pet form of Nicholas, or from the Old English col, meaning coal, perhaps a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.
Is Cole a popular name?
Yes. Cole ranked #182 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Cole a boy or girl name?
Cole is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Cole?
Cole is usually pronounced KOHL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings