Cohl

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOHL /ˈkoʊl/Medium

Meaning: Cohl is a modern respelling of Cole, an English name that comes either from a byname meaning coal-black or swarthy, or as a short form of Nicholas. Inserting an h gives the plain name a more distinctive look.Low

In 30 seconds: Cohl is a modern respelling of Cole, from a word for coal-black or a short form of Nicholas. It was never common (said KOHL).

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Origin LowEnglish, American

MeaningCohl is a modern respelling of Cole, an English name that comes either from a byname meaning coal-black or swarthy, or as a short form of Nicholas. Inserting an h gives the plain name a more distinctive look.

U.S. rank (2020)#12402 ↘ Falling

2020 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2000

Total births (all-time)≈ 213

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

Cohl restyles the sleek one-syllable Cole by slipping in an h, a small change that marks it as a contemporary invented spelling. The root name draws on the old English word for coal, a byname for dark coloring, and also served as a short form of Nicholas.

This spelling appeared around the turn of the millennium, cresting near the year two thousand and staying scarce. Given to only about twenty boys a year, a Cohl from that peak is now in his twenties.

Did you know? The name behind Cohl, Cole, began as a medieval byname for someone dark-haired or dark-complexioned, from the word for coal.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Cohl — Modern respelling of Cole (coal-black; short for Nicholas)

Variations

ColeKohlCoal

Nicknames

CoColey

Famous Bearers

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If you like Cohl…

Cole— the standard name this respells

Kohl— a like one-syllable variant

Cael— a similar short modern boy's name

Kyle— shares the crisp single-syllable sound

Explore names like Cohl

By thememodern rare respelling

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cohl mean?

It is a respelling of Cole, from a word for coal-black or a short form of Nicholas.

How do you pronounce Cohl?

It is said KOHL /ˈkoʊl/, a single syllable exactly like Cole.

Is Cohl a boy or girl name?

Cohl is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Cohl?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak around the year two thousand.