Kohl
Kohl was the 5507th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 2001, when it ranked 1333rd with 98 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,173 places. More babies were named Kohl in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Cole) Origin uncertain · English
- Rank in 2025
- #5,507 boys, up 349 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 17boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 200198 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,759babies recorded
What does the name Kohl mean?
Kohl is a spelling of Cole, pronounced the same way, so it shares Cole's meaning and origin.
Cole has several origins as a surname. Wiktionary and Wikipedia list an English nickname from Old English col, 'coal', for someone with dark hair or a swarthy look; a medieval pet form of Nicholas; and Americanized forms of German Kohl and Dutch Kool. Wiktionary also notes a link with the Irish and Scottish McCool. As a boy's first name Cole is a transferred surname, sometimes also a short form of Nicholas or Colton.
col (Old English, “coal”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Multiple surname sources; 'coal-black' is the most commonly given, but the name may be a pet form of Nicholas for some families.
Related names: Kole, Coleman, Colton, Nicholas.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Cole', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Cole (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Kohl popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,507 | 17 |
| 2020 | #5,856 | 15 |
| 2010 | #2,765 | 44 |
| 2000 | #1,439 | 86 |
| 1990 | #2,288 | 31 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kohl, counting every spelling?
Kohl is a spelling of Cole, a name family that ranked #179 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,507 for Kohl on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,211 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole | 2,003 | #182 | 12,052 |
| Kole | 160 | #1,247 | 1,046 |
| Kol | 24 | #4,326 | 180 |
| Kohl | 17 | #5,507 | 82 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Kohl?
17 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kohl (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Kohl born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 495 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kohl.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kohl?
About 1,700 people born in the US named Kohl are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 17 and 29. That makes Kohl mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kohl by state
How common Kohl was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 50 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kohl: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kohl, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kohl
What does Kohl mean?
The origin of Cole is uncertain: Multiple surname sources; 'coal-black' is the most commonly given, but the name may be a pet form of Nicholas for some families.
How popular is the name Kohl?
Kohl was the 5507th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 2001, when it ranked 1333rd with 98 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,173 places. More babies were named Kohl in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Kohl a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Kohl in the US.
Where is Kohl most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kohl was most common in Texas (0.01 per 1,000 boys).