Cole

Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
152,615 Total Births
145 Years of Data
2002 Peak Popularity Year
6,054 Peak Births

Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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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.

Etymology & Cultural Background

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Pronunciation

/koʊl/

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Origin

Old English

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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.

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Meaning

swarthy, coal-black, charcoal

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Language Evolution

Cola (Old English), Col (Middle English), Cole (Modern English)

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Historical Usage

The name Cole gained popularity as a given name in the United States during the 20th century, particularly in the latter half.

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Variants & Derivatives

Colin, Nicolas, Coleman, Collin

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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.

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Famous People

Cole Porter (American composer), Cole Sprouse (American actor), Cole Hauser (American actor)

📊 Trend Analysis

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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Gradually Declining

Explore More Name Visualizations

Key Insights

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 6,054 peak births in 2002

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Utah

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Alternative Spellings & Similar Sounds (9 Variations)

Explore names that share identical pronunciation with different spellings. These variations offer alternative options for parents seeking unique yet familiar-sounding choices. This curated collection includes 9 carefully selected variations that maintain the same phonetic sound while providing distinct spelling options.

Why consider alternative spellings? Different spellings can offer unique cultural significance or personal preference while maintaining the familiar sound. This collection covers various spelling patterns, helping you find variations that match your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics

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

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 by Generation - 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 by Generation - 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

This map shows relative popularity 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.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States

This name shows strongest popularity in Utah 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, usage 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, popularity patterns vary significantly: 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. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity analysis
Infographic: Alternative spellings and similar pronunciation names
[600x500px image] Alternative spellings and similar pronunciation names