Cole is a name of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "col", which means "charcoal". It was often used as a nickname for someone who had dark hair or complexion, similar to that of charcoal. The name has also been associated with the Old Norse personal name "Kóli", which was given to children born around Christmas time.
The name Cole first appeared in England during the Middle Ages and was initially more common among the lower classes than the nobility. However, over time it became increasingly popular and is now considered a unisex name that can be used for both boys and girls.
Some notable figures who have borne the name Cole include American singer and songwriter Cole Porter, British actor and comedian Cole Sprouse, and Australian cricketer Cole McDonald. Despite its English origins, the name has also gained popularity in other countries around the world, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In popular culture, the name Cole is often associated with characters from movies, books, and television shows. For example, there is a character named Cole in the video game "The Last of Us" and another Cole in the movie "Interstellar".
Here are some observations about the name Cole based on these statistics:
- The popularity of the name Cole began to rise significantly around the late 1970s and early 1980s, with a notable increase from 8 births in 1975 to 272 births in 1980.
- The peak popularity of the name Cole was reached between 1994 and 2002, with over 3000 births each year during this period. The highest number of births recorded was 5158 in 1997.
- After the early 2000s, the popularity of the name Cole began to decline gradually. By 2023, there were only 2359 births recorded, a significant decrease from its peak years.
- Despite the recent decline, Cole remains a popular and widely used name, with over 2000 births recorded annually in the United States between 2016 and 2022.