Boy name · Old English
Cole
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoalCole is a boy's name that is of Old English origin: from a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal. It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #182 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Cole
As a boy's name, Cole is of Old English origin: from a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal. It is used in English.
Cole is also a surname: the 129th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 187,989 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Cole on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Cole on 1 list.
“Real surname; one hard syllable, like a door shutting”
From Gothic surnames, short and sharp dark last names
How popular is Cole?
- US rank in 2025
- #182
- 2,003 babies, 1,173 per million boys
- Best rank
- #69 in 2002
- 6,038 babies that year
- Babies since 1886
- At least 154,093
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 5 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 4 per million |
| 1900s | 12 per million |
| 1910s | 28 per million |
| 1920s | 14 per million |
| 1930s | 12 per million |
| 1940s | 15 per million |
| 1950s | 28 per million |
| 1960s | 36 per million |
| 1970s | 87 per million |
| 1980s | 473 per million |
| 1990s | 1,739 per million |
| 2000s | 2,848 per million |
| 2010s | 1,936 per million |
| 2020s | 1,430 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #110 | #116 | #118 | #123 | #133 | #132 | #144 | #155 | #162 | #182 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Cole
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ColmA dove (Latin, boy)
- ColtYoung horse (Old English, boy)
- CômeOrder, universe (Greek, boy)
- CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CadeFrom a surname from an Old English nickname meaning round (Old English, boy)
- CalebMost likely from Hebrew kelev, dog (Hebrew, boy)
- CohenFrom a Jewish surname meaning priest (Hebrew, boy)
- CollenHazel tree (Welsh, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- BakerFrom a surname meaning baker (Old English, boy)
- BarrettFrom a surname probably meaning quarrelsome, deceptive (Middle English, boy)
- BeckettFrom a surname, possibly from beak or stream (Middle English, boy)
- BeckhamFrom a surname meaning Becca's homestead (Old English, boy)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BentleyFrom a surname meaning bentgrass clearing (Old English, boy)
- BlakeFrom a surname meaning black or pale (Old English, unisex)
- BowenFrom a surname meaning son of Owain (Welsh, boy)
- BraxtonFrom a surname meaning Bracca's town (Old English, boy)
Middle names for Cole
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- LindsayLincoln island (Old English, unisex)
- OsmundGod protector (Old English, boy)
- OswaldPower of a god (Old English, boy)
- ReidRed-haired (Old English, boy)
- RutherfordCattle ford (Old English, boy)
- StewartSteward (Old English, boy)
- SundayDay of the sun (Old English, unisex)
- AelfricElf ruler (Old English, boy)
- ÆlfricElf ruler (Old English, boy)
Cole: common questions
What does the name Cole mean?
Cole is of Old English origin: from a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Cole a boy or girl name?
Cole is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 6 girls and 2,003 boys in the US were named Cole, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Cole come from?
Cole is of Old English origin: from a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal. Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Cole?
Cole ranked #182 in the US in 2025, with 2,003 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Cole?
Names spelled like Cole include Colm, Colt, Côme, Cody and Colin.
What middle names go with Cole?
Middle names that flow well with Cole include Ambrose, Fletcher, Isaac, Joseph and Patrick. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.