Baby Name Popularity Profile

Cole

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Cole.

✦ Charcoal 🌍 English traditional
National Rank (2025) #182
All-Time Peak Rank #69 Achieved 2002
Total U.S. Births 154,093 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.7% Boy / 0.3% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1886 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 6,038 births in 2002
💡 The Cole Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Charcoal
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an Old English nickname *Cola* meaning 'charcoal' or 'swarthy', referring to someone with dark hair or complexion. It can also be used as a short form of Nicholas.
Alternative Spellings
Kole
Pronunciation: KOHL
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Cole

According to SSA data, Cole achieved its highest historical rank of #69 in 2002. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2002 with 6,038 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 42.8%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 117 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Cole across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -42.8% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 6,038 births in 2002
Years in Top 100 15 yrs
Years in Top 500 45 yrs
Registry Streak 117 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 6
1890s: 5
1900s: 16
1910s: 190
1920s: 156
1930s: 127
1940s: 224
1950s: 562
1960s: 703
1970s: 1,444
1980s: 8,722
1990s: 33,868
2000s: 56,846
2010s: 36,401
2020s: 14,823

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Cole
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Cole.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Utah
Top States Utah, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Utah #137 2,854 2009 2.6% Decline
Alaska Unranked 467 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #160 969 2000 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 1,049 1998 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #231 1,010 2006 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #153 991 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #210 5,266 1997 38.0% Decline
New Hampshire #66 896 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #219 1,125 2007 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #235 2,456 1997 35.7% Decline
Nebraska #231 1,985 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #175 533 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #163 3,095 2000 Stable
Washington #223 4,165 2000 7.7% Decline
Arizona #232 2,987 2004 18.6% Decline
Iowa #195 3,228 1998 32.3% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 329 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #200 2,437 1998 35.5% Decline
Wisconsin #186 4,581 1998 45.9% Decline
Vermont Unranked 366 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #130 862 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #156 4,317 2005 23.7% Decline
Indiana #255 4,334 2004 54.9% Decline
Florida #209 5,934 2005 21.4% Decline
Hawaii #225 519 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #129 2,506 2002 38.7% Decline
Connecticut #90 1,804 2008 29.1% Decline
Oklahoma #258 2,225 2002 29.6% Decline
Rhode Island #72 567 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #67 3,801 2001 6.9% Decline
Pennsylvania #105 8,263 2009 39.5% Decline
Ohio #170 7,120 2002 31.6% Decline
Virginia #150 3,299 2009 27.4% Decline
Michigan #109 5,385 2002 2.2% Decline
California #259 14,093 2000 34.8% Decline
Louisiana #154 2,478 2007 +3.1% Growth
New Jersey #104 3,738 2009 22.5% Decline
Illinois #157 6,341 2002 36.7% Decline
Texas #286 9,824 2006 31.1% Decline
Arkansas #201 1,364 2008 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #224 3,405 2007 41.1% Decline
Georgia #428 3,109 2002 36.6% Decline
Tennessee #260 2,249 2008 17.1% Decline
West Virginia #171 964 2003 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #220 551 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #173 1,683 2007 8.6% Decline
South Carolina #268 1,294 2009 Insufficient historical volume
New York #111 6,573 2008 25.5% Decline
Alabama #379 1,242 2008 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #174 250 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #221 629 2006 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Juan Max Jose Luis Evan Ivan Omar Ian Jonah Diego
👧 Sister Suggestions
Jade Faith Julia Alana Kylie Hailey Nevaeh Isabel Peyton Gracie

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