Cole Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity

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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Cole

The name Cole has various possible origins. It may have come from the Old English surname ‘Cola,’ which meant ‘coal’ and was used to describe ‘dark-skinned’ or ‘coal-haired’ individuals. Over time, it has become a common given name.

According to its Greek roots, the name could have been derived from Nicholas, which translates to ‘victorious people’ or ‘victory of the people.’ Old Norse nicknames like ‘Kolr’ and ‘Koli’ also carry similar meanings. ‘Kollr’ meant ‘the bald one.’ Additionally, the French variant of the name is a shortened form of ‘Nicolas.’

English history records that the Cole surname originated in Cornwall, with ‘coll,’ meaning ‘hill.’ Alternatively, it could have been derived from the nickname ‘Cole’ of a Nicholas’ son.

The name Cole gained popularity in the 13th century through Middle English and Old French names Col(e), Coll(e), or Coul(e), which is a diminutive form of Nicol. There are also some cases where the French surname Charbonneau has been translated to Cole. The German name Kohl, which means cabbage or a farmer could also be a source of the name Cole. It is also used to describe vegetables belonging to the Brassica family as they are called cole crops. Another less likely theory is that the Irish name McCool was shortened to Cole.

The name Cole is popular in the film industry. Matthew McConaughey played Rust Cohle in HBO’s anthology TV series ‘True Detective,’ earning a Critic’s Choice Television Award and nominations for a Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The protagonist of the movie ‘Days of Thunder,’ Cole Trickle, is a young driver who aspires to succeed in NASCAR and is named after veteran racer Dick Trickle. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound. The British soap opera ‘Coronation Street’ has a character named Norris Cole, and Canadian TV series ‘The Kids in the Hall’ features Buddy Cole in the cast.

Cole

Meaning The victory or rejoice of the people; winning in a competition

Gender Boy

Religion Christianity,Greek

Origin English, United States

Names starting with C.. Ch.. Cha.. Che.. Cho.. Chu.. Cae..

How To Pronounce Cole?

English

Famous People With The Name Cole

Cole SprouseItalian-born American actor, known for his roles in the Disney show Suite Life of Zack and Cody and played Jughead in ‘Riverdale’
Cole Bryson TuckerAmerican professional baseball player, played for the US national baseball team in 2013
Colden Rainey SwindellAmerican country music singer and songwriter, eight of his released singles have reached number one on Hot Country Songs and/or Country Airplay charts
Cole Michael BennettAmerican music video director and videographer, owner of multimedia company, Lyrical Lemonade
Cole Matthew CusterAmerican professional stock car racing driver, youngest NASCAR Truck Series winner in 2014
J ColeAmerican rapper, won a Grammy for Best Rap Song
W. Cole Durham Jr.American educator granted the International First Freedom Award by the First Freedom Center
Nat King ColeAmerican jazz legend, winner of Grammy Award and inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Cole On The Popularity Chart

According to US Social Security Administration graphs, the name saw a considerable surge in the late 20th century but gradually came down. Check the graphs below for a better understanding of the name’s popularity.

Popularity Over Time

The name Cole started gaining popularity in 1991 and peaked in 2002, with 6037 babies per million sharing the name. However, the following years saw a decline in the usage of the name.

Source: Social Security Administration