Fun Facts About the Name Kohen
- More than 8 thousand babies named Kohen: U.S. records list 8,553 babies given the name Kohen from 1880 through 2025. Even 154 girls received the name Kohen - about 1 girl for every 55 boys.
What Does the Name Kohen Mean?
Kohen is a variant spelling of Cohen, taken from the Hebrew word kōhēn (כֹּהֵן), which means "priest." In the Hebrew Bible the word is used for men who served as priests, above all the descendants of Aaron, who officiated in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is also applied to priests outside Israel, such as Melchizedek, called a "priest of God Most High" in Genesis, and Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, described as a priest of Midian.
The deeper origin of the Hebrew word is uncertain. Some scholars connect it to a Semitic root having to do with serving or officiating, while others compare it to Arabic kāhin, "soothsayer" or "diviner," and to Aramaic kāhnā. No single derivation is generally agreed on.
As a surname, Cohen and its variants were used by Jewish families to indicate descent from the priestly class. The given name Kohen is best understood as a modern use of that surname, or of the Hebrew word directly, rather than as a separate ancient personal name.
Kohen Name History & Origins
The Hebrew word kōhēn is old and appears throughout the Hebrew Bible. Priests of this class handled sacrifices and rituals in the Temple, and the office was hereditary within the family of Aaron, Moses' brother. Rules set them apart, including limits on whom they could marry and disqualifications for those with specified physical defects.
After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, the sacrificial duties ended, but the status of kohanim (the plural) continued in Jewish religious life. In synagogue practice a kohen is called first to the reading of the Torah, and the priestly blessing, Birkat Kohanim, is recited by kohanim on certain occasions. These practices kept the designation in use long after the Temple period.
The surname Cohen, along with spellings such as Kohen, Kohn, and Kagan, spread among both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, often signaling priestly ancestry. In English-speaking countries, surnames have long been turned into given names, and Kohen has been adopted in that way as a masculine first name. It remains a less common spelling than Cohen, and both trace back to the same Hebrew word.
How Popular is the Name Kohen?
Kohen recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #296 in 2025.
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 | #6,699 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #6,783 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #6,546 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #8,804 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #6,544 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #8,201 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #7,953 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #14,811 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #10,374 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #15,352 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #17,907 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #13,879 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #16,061 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #19,126 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #296 | 1,143 | 0.0669% |
| 2024 | #318 | 1,079 | 0.0629% |
| 2023 | #380 | 839 | 0.0491% |
| 2022 | #478 | 646 | 0.0370% |
| 2021 | #589 | 474 | 0.0271% |
| 2020 | #644 | 417 | 0.0242% |
| 2019 | #633 | 425 | 0.0237% |
| 2018 | #626 | 425 | 0.0234% |
| 2017 | #668 | 379 | 0.0205% |
| 2016 | #667 | 386 | 0.0203% |
| 2015 | #786 | 297 | 0.0155% |
| 2014 | #918 | 234 | 0.0122% |
| 2013 | #953 | 210 | 0.0111% |
| 2012 | #954 | 212 | 0.0112% |
| 2011 | #993 | 196 | 0.0103% |
| 2010 | #1,076 | 180 | 0.0094% |
| 2009 | #1,025 | 190 | 0.0096% |
| 2008 | #1,078 | 174 | 0.0085% |
| 2007 | #1,239 | 142 | 0.0068% |
| 2006 | #1,337 | 123 | 0.0060% |
| 2005 | #1,338 | 113 | 0.0057% |
| 2004 | #2,041 | 59 | 0.0030% |
| 2003 | #4,727 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #8,106 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #7,239 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #6,612 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,127 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #8,526 | 6 | 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 Kohen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Kohen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kohen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.