Fun Facts About the Name Cohan
- 360 babies named Cohan: U.S. records list 360 babies given the name Cohan from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Cohan Mean?
Cohan is a surname that is also used as a given name. It has two independent origins. The Irish Cohan is an anglicized form of Ó Cadhain, a patronymic meaning descendant of Cadhan. Cadhan was an Irish personal name, often explained as coming from cadhan, the word for barnacle goose or wild goose. The Jewish Cohan is a variant spelling of Cohen, from Hebrew kohen, meaning priest. In Jewish tradition, the title marked members of the priestly caste, who were traditionally traced to Aaron. The Irish and Jewish names are unrelated.
Cohan Name History & Origins
The Irish Ó Cadhain was a hereditary surname in Connacht, particularly in counties Galway and Mayo. When Irish names were anglicized, the same original surname produced several spellings, including Coyne, Kyne, Cohane, and Cohan. Irish emigrants carried the form Cohan to the United States and elsewhere in the 19th century. George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942), the American songwriter, playwright, and performer, was a notable bearer of the Irish surname; he was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to a family of Irish Catholic descent. The surname did not originate with him.
The Jewish Cohan belongs to the many spellings of Cohen. That name comes from the Hebrew word for a priest and was used for Jews who claimed priestly descent. In Europe and the United States, Cohen was spelled in various ways, including Cohan, Cohn, and Kohn. As a first name, Cohan is a transferred use of the surname rather than a continuous given name from either tradition.
How Popular is the Name Cohan?
Cohan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #3,638 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,276 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #3,800 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2023 | #3,638 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #4,110 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #4,518 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #6,362 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #5,606 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,826 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #6,383 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #6,425 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,589 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #4,911 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #11,002 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #7,655 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #5,470 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #6,415 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #5,604 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #5,815 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #5,963 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #6,164 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #5,329 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #10,197 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,201 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Cohan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Cohan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cohan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.