Cole vs Alex

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cole

Boy #162 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"coal, swarthy"

Origin: Old English

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Boy #205 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek

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Cole Rank #162

Alex Rank #205

Cole is more popular, ranked #162 vs #205 for Alex.

Is Cole or Alex more popular?

Cole is more popular, ranked #162 compared to Alex at #205 in the United States.

What do Cole and Alex mean?

Cole means "coal, swarthy" (Old English origin). Alex means "defender of men" (Greek origin).

Are Cole and Alex boy or girl names?

Cole is primarily a boy name. Alex is primarily a boy name.