Cole

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Cole

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Cole comes from an English surname meaning “Dark,” from “col” (charcoal). It probably meant one who was of a dark complexion or dark-haired (like charcoal).
-or-
Cole is an English surname, which comes from Col, short for Nicolas, from a Greek name, Nikolaos. It originally meant “Victory of the People” from “nike” (victory) and “laos” (people).
-or-
The “Old King Cole” of nursery rhymes is said to be an ancient, Roman-era british king named Coel, who may have lived in Colchester, and may be only legendary.

History:
Cole was originally a nickname, Cola, that later became the surname Cole, probably referring to someone with dark hair or skin.

The surname Cole was common among Englishmen; it was the 41st most common name in America in 1790, and the 108th most common in 1990.

Use of Cole as a first name would have originally been bestowed upon sons (very occasionally daughters) as either a first or a middle name in order to honor the Cole surname. For example, a woman named Mary Cole who married a man named John Smith, may name her son John Cole Smith, or merely Cole Smith. The composer Cole Porter, for example, had a grandfather named J.A. Cole.

Since the 1950s, the use of Cole as a first name has increased steadily and it is now quite common.

Pronunciation: coal.

Alternates: Colis, Coles, Coale, Coales, Colys, Kole.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Cole Porter (1892-1964)
American lyricist.

Miscellaneous:
Cole Younger (Thomas Coleman) (1844-1916)
American bandit.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.010 % of males named Cole

0.080 % of surnamed Cole
0.006 % of surnamed Coles

Popularity of Cole:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 921st most popular.
1870: N/A
1880-1885: N/A
1886: 846th most popular.
1887-1950: N/A
1951: 994th most popular.
1952-1953: N/A
1954: 931st most popular.
1955: 949th most popular.
1956: 947th most popular.
1957: 887th most popular.
1958: 879th most popular.
1959: 918th most popular.
1960: 897th most popular.
1961: 775th most popular.
1962: 833rd most popular.
1963: 947th most popular.
1964: 953rd most popular.
1965: 907th most popular.
1966: N/A
1967: 992nd most popular.
1968: 867th most popular.
1969: 845th most popular.
1970: 815th most popular.
1971: 813th most popular.
1972: 686th most popular.
1973: 626th most popular.
1974: 594th most popular.
1975: 664th most popular.
1976: 695th most popular.
1977: 676th most popular.
1978: 692nd most popular.
1979: 681st most popular.
1980: 523rd most popular.
1981: 483rd most popular.
1982: 265th most popular.
1983: 209th most popular.
1984: 201st most popular.
1985: 204th most popular.
1986: 221st most popular.
1987: 233rd most popular.
1988: 259th most popular.
1989: 270th most popular.
1990: 259th most popular.
1991: 174th most popular.
1992: 153rd most popular.
1993: 138th most popular.
1994: 115th most popular.
1995: 123rd most popular.
1996: 108th most popular.
1997: 75th most popular.
1998: 78th most popular.
1999: 75th most popular.
2000: 72nd most popular.
2001: 74th most popular.
2002: 69th most popular.
2003: 70th most popular.
2004: 75th most popular.

Selected Sources:
American Surnames, Smith, 1994
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)