Cole Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Cole originates from Old English, meaning 'swarthy' or 'coal-black'. It evolved from the historical forms 'Cola' and 'Col'. The name is associated with traits of strength and individuality, and it has no biblical relevance. Cole became popular as a first name in the 20th century, and it remains a trendy name today.
The name Cole is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Cole has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Cole' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1678th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1954th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1003rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 724th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 179th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 80th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 125th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 18004th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7428th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7515th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8777th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Cole' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cole"
Pronunciation
/koʊl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Cole is derived from the Old English name 'Cola', which means 'swarthy, coal-black' or 'charcoal'. It was used as a surname before becoming popular as a first name.
Meaning
swarthy, coal-black, charcoal
Language Evolution
Cola (Old English), Col (Middle English), Cole (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Cole gained popularity as a given name in the United States during the 20th century, particularly in the latter half.
Variants & Derivatives
Colin, Nicolas, Coleman, Collin
Modern Popularity & Image
Cole is perceived as a modern and trendy name, often associated with strength and individuality. It has remained popular in contemporary culture.
Famous People
Cole Porter (American composer), Cole Sprouse (American actor), Cole Hauser (American actor)
Explore More Cole Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cole"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cole"
"Cole" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1678th of 7545 | 328 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1954th of 6773 | 257 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1003rd of 7552 | 1,064 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 724th of 10718 | 2,038 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 179th of 16616 | 26,692 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 80th of 24088 | 84,978 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 125th of 23106 | 36,695 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 18004th of 19264 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7428th of 27321 | 156 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7515th of 35406 | 239 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8777th of 30306 | 145 |
Regional Popularity of "Cole" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
46.70% 1105th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
68.97% 1067th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
47.06% 1048th/2227 |
48.27% 1173rd/2430 |
49.07% 1400th/2853 |
28.32% 786th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
21.69% 637th/2937 |
36.75% 1280th/3483 |
26.58% 935th/3518 |
14.07% 569th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
3.07% 113th/3685 |
5.77% 258th/4475 |
4.54% 236th/5194 |
2.83% 179th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.24% 57th/4582 |
1.41% 73rd/5164 |
1.34% 98th/7313 |
1.19% 89th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
2.99% 119th/3984 |
1.81% 81st/4487 |
2.32% 158th/6822 |
2.52% 158th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Cole" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
87.19% 6376th/7313 |
100.00% 7463rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cole"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cole" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.