Coley
Coley is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Coal-black, swarthy, or victory of the people.
Origin and history
Coley originated as an English surname, derived from the medieval given name Cole (a diminutive of Nicholas or an Old English nickname meaning 'swarthy' or 'coal-black'). It has also been used as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Dhuarcháin or as a diminutive of Coleman. In the United States, Coley has historically served as a modest given name for boys, maintaining steady but low-frequency usage over the decades.
Popularity in the United States
2,029 babies in the United States have been named Coley since 1880. It ranks #2861 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1883.
States where it is most popular
- SC (39.9 %)
- NC (21.7 %)
- GA (20.2 %)
- AL (14 %)
- TX (2.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 17 |
| 1890-1900 | 38 |
| 1900-1910 | 42 |
| 1910-1920 | 166 |
| 1920-1930 | 154 |
| 1930-1940 | 158 |
| 1940-1950 | 176 |
| 1950-1960 | 159 |
| 1960-1970 | 168 |
| 1970-1980 | 233 |
| 1980-1990 | 182 |
| 1990-2000 | 217 |
| 2000-2010 | 174 |
| 2010-2019 | 101 |
| 2020-2029 | 44 |
Famous people named Coley
- Coley McCabe: Singer, Songwriter
Fun facts
- Coley was long established as an English family name before gaining occasional use as a given name.
- It derived in part as a medieval pet form of Cole, which itself was a short form of Nicholas.