Kol

♂ Boy

Kol Pronunciation

Kol is pronounced KOHL /ˈkoʊl/High

Meaning: Old Norse byname from kol, 'coal' — the dark-haired or swarthy one — found in sagas and place namesMedium

In 30 seconds: Cole stripped to saga spelling: Kol was the Viking byname for the coal-dark — and in Hebrew the word means 'voice'. Vampire Diaries fans know a thousand-year-old one.

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Origin MediumOld Norse, Hebrew

MeaningOld Norse byname from kol, 'coal' — the dark-haired or swarthy one — found in sagas and place names

U.S. rank (2024)#3352 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births35 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 436

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Kol is an Old Norse byname from kol, 'coal', marking dark hair or complexion — saga literature and English place names (Colby, 'Koli's farm') preserve its bearers. Hebrew offers an unrelated Kol, 'voice', resonant from Yom Kippur's Kol Nidre.

The CW's ancient vampire Kol Mikaelson gave the spelling pop currency in the 2010s. American use is very rare — Cole's shadow-twin with runes in its pocket.

Did you know? Kol Mikaelson of The Vampire Diaries universe — the wildest of the Original vampires — pushed this saga-spelling onto modern birth certificates.

Overall data confidence 75%

Behind the Name — Kol — Norse byname

Variations

ColeKohlKoll

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kol…

Cole— the mainstream spelling of the same dark-coal root

Kai— a fellow one-syllable modern favorite

Soren— the Scandinavian companion pick

Colt— another compact name with edge

→ See all names like Kol

Browse the whole category: All Old Norse names → · All Hebrew names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Kol?

Kol is pronounced KOHL (/ˈkoʊl/). Press play above to hear Kol said aloud.

How do you say Kol?

Kol is said KOHL (/ˈkoʊl/). Press play above to hear Kol said aloud.

What does the name Kol mean?

Kol is an Old Norse byname from 'coal', for the dark-haired; in Hebrew the word kol means 'voice'.

Is Kol a boy or girl name?

Kol is a boy's name.

How popular is Kol?

Kol is a very rare spelling in the U.S.; Cole is the familiar form.