Coleman Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Coleman is an Irish name that means 'dove' or 'peace', originating from the Gaelic 'O'Comhghallain'. It has evolved through various forms over time. The name carries traits of warmth and friendliness, and while it has no biblical relevance, it gained popularity among Irish immigrants in the 19th century. Notable figures with this name include jazz musician Coleman Hawkins and poet Coleman Barks.
The name Coleman is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Coleman has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Coleman' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 529th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 659th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 830th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1106th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 712th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 650th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1029th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 24966th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28780th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Coleman' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Coleman"
Pronunciation
/ˈkoʊlmən/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Coleman is derived from the Gaelic name 'O'Comhghallain', which means 'descendant of Comhghall', where 'Comhghall' itself means 'a dove' or 'peace'.
Meaning
dove, peace
Language Evolution
O'Comhghallain, Comhghall, Coleman
Historical Usage
The name Coleman became popular in the 19th century among Irish immigrants in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Colman, Colm, Koleman
Modern Popularity & Image
Coleman is viewed as a traditional yet modern name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Coleman Hawkins, an influential American jazz saxophonist., Coleman Barks, an American poet and translator known for his work on Rumi.
Explore More Coleman Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Coleman"
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 "Coleman"
"Coleman" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 529th of 7545 | 2,112 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 659th of 6773 | 1,617 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 830th of 7552 | 1,540 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1106th of 10718 | 880 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 712th of 16616 | 3,087 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 650th of 24088 | 5,414 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1029th of 23106 | 2,459 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 24966th of 27321 | 7 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28780th of 35406 | 12 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Coleman" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
70.27% 995th/1416 |
51.85% 715th/1379 |
16.44% 389th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
48.65% 757th/1556 |
21.72% 511th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
40.91% 994th/2430 |
24.08% 687th/2853 |
36.40% 1010th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
57.71% 1695th/2937 |
50.82% 1770th/3483 |
32.40% 1140th/3518 |
34.92% 1412th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
21.74% 801st/3685 |
25.52% 1142nd/4475 |
11.61% 603rd/5194 |
12.60% 796th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
17.42% 798th/4582 |
18.01% 930th/5164 |
7.00% 512th/7313 |
10.61% 792nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
33.89% 1350th/3984 |
31.96% 1434th/4487 |
11.32% 772nd/6822 |
21.46% 1347th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Coleman" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Coleman"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Coleman" 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.