Baby Names:

Cole

Meaning: Coal; black

Origin: English

Alternate spellings: Kole

Cole is an English surname name with an obvious meaning, “coal,” and was probably used to denote someone with a dark, swarthy appearance (perhaps the perfect name for a son you hope to one day be tall, dark, and handsome). Cole made its debut on the U.S. charts in 1886, but didn’t reappear as a consistent pick until the 1950s. Cole’s popularity peaked at #69 in the early 2000s. Cole is a great one-syllable choice if you have a longer last name. Cole is also sometimes used as a nickname for Nicholas.