Fun Facts About the Name Cooley
- 10 babies named Cooley: U.S. records list 10 babies given the name Cooley from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Cooley Mean?
Cooley is a transferred surname used as a given name. In its usual Irish origin it means "descendant of Cuileann," from the Gaelic surname Ó Cúilín, often treated as a variant of Ó Cuilinn. Cuileann is an old personal name and the Irish word for "holly," so the name is traditionally understood as "descendant of the holly." The prefix Ó marks descent.
In England, Cooley also occurs as a variant of the place-derived surname Cowley. That origin is separate from the Irish patronymic; Cowley is taken from one or more English places of that name, so its meaning depends on the particular place rather than on the Irish personal name.
Cooley Name History & Origins
The Irish surname behind Cooley is a patronymic: Ó identifies a descendant, and the rest is a personal name. Families using Ó Cúilín or Ó Cuilinn are associated with Connacht, particularly County Galway. When Irish names were written in English, clerks and scribes rendered the Gaelic sound in different spellings; Cooley is one of the resulting English forms.
Cooley is also an English surname in some cases, explained as a variant of Cowley. The Irish and English surnames developed separately, and a Cooley family in Britain or North America may descend from either tradition. The place name Cooley in County Louth, from Irish Cúailnge, is a separate name and is not the source of the Irish surname.
As a first name, Cooley is uncommon. It is best understood as a transferred use of the surname rather than as a traditional Irish given name.
How Popular is the Name Cooley?
Cooley 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 1918. Its best rank was #4,301 in 1918.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #12,848 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1918 | #4,301 | 5 | 0.0005% |
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.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C
How the Name Cooley 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.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Cooley's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cooley's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.