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The short answer
Cole is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an English surname, itself originally derived from either a medieval short form of Nicholas or the byname Cola. This name got more popular in the early 1980s, then got a boost in 1990 when it was used by the main character in the movie Days of Thunder." It ranked #182 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an English surname, itself originally derived from either a medieval short form of Nicholas or the byname Cola. This name got more popular in the early 1980s, then got a boost in 1990 when it was used by the main character in the movie Days of Thunder. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Cole ranked #182 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #182 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Cole in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cole mean?
Behind the Name does not give Cole a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from an English surname, itself originally.
Is Cole a popular name?
Cole ranked #182 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Cole a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Cole appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Cole — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
