Declining since 2002, #5,399 for boys today.
Popularity of Kohl since 1982
Babies named Kohl per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 94 |
| 1990s | 545 |
| 2000s | 721 |
| 2010s | 302 |
| 2020s | 97 |
Meaning & origin
Kohl is a rare modern name for boys, first recorded in the United States in 1982. It reached its peak rank of 5,399 in 2025 (with approximately 1 in 100,475 newborn boys receiving the name) and its highest usage year was 2001. Since 2002, its trajectory has been falling, indicating a decline in popularity over the past two decades. The name has not been concentrated in any particular state and shows no strong regional ties. As a distinctive one-syllable choice, Kohl fits a contemporary trend of sleek, surname-style names, though its exact origin remains uncertain.
Kohl first appeared as a given name in the United States in the 1980s. It may have originated as a transferred use of the German or Dutch surname Kohl, meaning 'cabbage', or been inspired by the cosmetic kohl (from Arabic كحل, kuḥl). As a modern coinage without strong historical roots, its adoption fits a pattern of short, sleek, one-syllable names for boys.
Sibling names for Kohl
Names that share Kohl's style, for a brother or sister.
