Kole

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOHL /koʊl/High

Meaning: Coal; dark; swarthy; K-spelling variant of Cole, from Middle English col (charcoal, coal) or a short form of Nicholas (victory of the people)Medium

In 30 seconds: A K-spelling variant of Cole, meaning 'coal' or a short form of Nicholas. Like Kase and Korbin, the K-opening gives familiar names a distinctive look — in this case a crisp one-syllable name with elemental nature resonance.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningCoal; dark; swarthy; K-spelling variant of Cole, from Middle English col (charcoal, coal) or a short form of Nicholas (victory of the people)

U.S. rank (2025)#1247 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births160 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2009

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,783

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

Kole is a K-spelling of Cole, from Middle English col (charcoal, coal) or as a short form of Nicholas (Greek: victory of the people). Both readings have English surname precedent.

Kole ranked #1200 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Coal — from Old English col — was so central to the Industrial Revolution that entire cities were built around coal mines. The surname Cole appears in thousands of place names across England. So Kole/Cole carries both a natural element and an industrial history.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Cole — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ColeColin

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Kole Calhoun (1987-)
American MLB outfielder and Gold Glove winner

If you like Kole…

Cole— the standard C-spelling of the same name

Colt— one-syllable Co- name with the same rugged American feel

Cody— two-syllable Co- name from the same American surname tradition

Brody— one-syllable Scottish surname name with the same crisp quality

Explore names like Kole

By themeenglish one-syllable k-spelling

By meaningVictory

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kole mean?

Kole means 'coal' (from Middle English col) or is a short form of Nicholas, a K-spelling variant of Cole.

How do you pronounce Kole?

It's said KOHL — one syllable, rhyming with 'goal.'

Is Kole a boy or girl name?

Kole is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Kole?

Kole ranked #1200 for U.S. boys in 2024.