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Cohen

Boy name · 354 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cohen: 354 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 30 births in 2016.

The name Cohen has a powerful dual heritage, primarily rooted in Hebrew where it means ‘priest’, referring to the ancient Jewish priestly caste who were direct descendants of Aaron. As a surname of great significance in Jewish tradition—a Cohen traditionally leads religious blessings—its use as a first name has become widespread across English-speaking cultures in recent decades. This surge in popularity is reflected in Scottish naming patterns from the 2000s onwards, though the name has no direct connection to Scotland. Famous bearers include the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, known for his haunting ballads like “Hallelujah,” and filmmaker Ethan Coen of the Coen brothers. The name also shares its sound with several Scottish place names or surnames incorporating ‘co’ or ‘con’ elements, though these are unrelated etymologically.