Cole
Cole is a given name of English origin, originally used as an English surname. It is of Middle English origin, and its meaning is "swarthy, coal-black, charcoal".
Meaning & Origin of Cole
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Cole is a given name of English origin, originally used as an English surname. It is of Middle English origin, and its meaning is "swarthy, coal-black, charcoal".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Cole
Cole first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1886, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2002, when 6,038 Coles were born — ranking #69 that year. As of 2026, Cole ranks #171 for baby boys with 2,113 births, falling sharply (-26%). In total, more than 156K Coles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Cole
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Fictional characters
- See also
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Cole
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cole is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cole
What does the name Cole mean?
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About the name Cole
Cole is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1886 and has accumulated 156K births in the dataset. Cole's peak popularity came in 2002 when it ranked #69. Use the chart and map above to compare Cole's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2002 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.