Cole vs Derek

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cole

Boy #162 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"coal, swarthy"

Origin: Old English

English American Australian

✓ All Clear

Boy #258 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"ruler of the people"

Origin: Germanic

English American Dutch German

✓ All Clear

Cole Rank #162

Derek Rank #258

Cole is more popular, ranked #162 vs #258 for Derek.

Is Cole or Derek more popular?

Cole is more popular, ranked #162 compared to Derek at #258 in the United States.

What do Cole and Derek mean?

Cole means "coal, swarthy" (Old English origin). Derek means "ruler of the people" (Germanic origin).

Are Cole and Derek boy or girl names?

Cole is primarily a boy name. Derek is primarily a boy name.