Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Kol

Kol

♂ Boy

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.
💕 Browse more names
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 (2025)#4326 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births24 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 460

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202120002025

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

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

—

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

Explore names like Kol

By themepop-culturenorseshort-and-sweet

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

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'.

How do you pronounce Kol?

It's said KOHL /ˈkoʊl/ — a single syllable, like Cole.

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.

💬 Ask Nia