Cole

Cole is a name of English origin used as both a surname and a given name. It is commonly linked to the Old English word col, meaning coal or charcoal, and was historically a nickname for someone connected with coal mining or with a dark-haired appearance. Over time, Cole has become established in both surname and given-name usage.

Historically the surname arose as a nickname; in the modern era, Cole is widely used as a given name, sometimes chosen independently of any family surname. It remains most common in the United States and the United Kingdom, among others.

Notable people with the surname Cole include Thomas Cole (1801–1848), the Anglo-American painter who founded the Hudson River School. People with Cole as a given name include Cole Porter, an American composer and songwriter; Cole Sprouse, an American actor; Cole Hauser, an American actor; and Cole Beasley, an American football wide receiver.

Fictional characters named Cole include Cole Sear, the boy who sees dead people in The Sixth Sense; Cole MacGrath, the protagonist of the Infamous video game series; and Cole Turner, a character on the television series Charmed.

Geographically, Cole appears in place names in several countries. There is Cole County, Missouri, in the United States, and the River Cole in England. The name also appears in townships, streets, and other localities worldwide.