Cohen

♀ Girl

Pronounced KOH-ən /ˈkoʊ.ən/High

Meaning: From the Jewish surname Cohen — from Hebrew kohen, 'a priest' (a descendant of the priestly line of Aaron); predominantly a boys' name; here for girlsMedium

In 30 seconds: A priestly name: Cohen is the Jewish surname 'a priest'. Crisp and modern; predominantly a boys' name, here for girls. We note its sacred Jewish heritage.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningFrom the Jewish surname Cohen — from Hebrew kohen, 'a priest' (a descendant of the priestly line of Aaron); predominantly a boys' name; here for girls

U.S. rank (2024)#5167 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births25 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 352

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cohen comes from the Jewish surname Cohen — from Hebrew kohen, 'a priest', borne by descendants of the priestly line of Aaron. We note honestly that its adoption as a given name (especially by non-Jewish families) can be regarded as culturally sensitive. A crisp, modern surname-name; predominantly a boys' name, here covered for girls.

It registers thinly for girls. Rare for girls, a-priest at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Cohen means 'a priest' in Hebrew — a distinguished Jewish surname marking descent from the priestly line of Aaron; its use as a given name is sometimes seen as sensitive, which we note. Predominantly a boys' name.

Overall data confidence 62%

Surname references — Cohen — sacred Jewish heritage noted

Variations

CohanKohenKoen

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cohen…

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Ellison— another surname-name for girls

Hadley— a fellow modern girls' surname-name

Explore names like Cohen

By themeuncertain hebrew unisex surname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cohen mean?

Cohen is a Jewish surname from Hebrew kohen, 'a priest' (the priestly line of Aaron).

How do you pronounce Cohen?

It's said KOH-ən /ˈkoʊ.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cohen a boy or girl name?

Cohen is predominantly a boys' name; this page covers its use for girls.

How popular is Cohen?

Cohen is rare for girls in the U.S.