
The short answer
Cohen is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From a common Jewish surname that was derived from Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen) meaning ‘priest’. This surname was traditionally associated with the hereditary priests who claimed descent from the biblical Aaron." It ranked #225 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from a common Jewish surname that was derived from Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen) meaning ‘priest’. This surname was traditionally associated with the hereditary priests who claimed descent from the biblical Aaron. The entry lists its usage as English (Modern).
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Cohen ranked #225 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 | #225 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Cohen in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cohen mean?
Cohen means "priest", according to Behind the Name.
Is Cohen a popular name?
Cohen ranked #225 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Cohen a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Cohen appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Cohen — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.