Origin, Meaning, and History of Cohen
Cohen is a gender-neutral name of Hebrew and Jewish origin. It comes from the Hebrew surname kohen, which means ‘priest.’ The name was linked to priests who claimed to be descendants of the Biblical Aaron, the brother of Moses. The distinguished surname is a proud symbol of old Jewish tradition.
Depending on the cultural background, the name Cohen has multiple origins and meanings. In Celtic-Gaelic origin, the name means Descendent of Cadhan. Historically, priests were believed to be members of a hereditary caste derived from Aaron. However, not all Jews with the surname Cohen are members of this caste. While clergy members were exempt from service, many Jews who were being forced to serve in the Russian Army for twenty-five years changed their last name to Cohen.
Cohen is one of the four Samaritan surnames that are in use today. Several Jewish immigrants who entered the US or the UK changed their last name from Cohen to Cowan, occasionally writing ‘Cowen’ because Cowan was a Scottish name. The classic name was also used as a given name.
The phonetic spelling of the traditional name is Co-en. There are many variations to this unique two-syllable name in different cultures and languages. These include Coyne, Coinn, Coen, Cahn, Kohn, Kahn, Kowan, Kohen, Cohen, and Kanar.
Cohen finds mention in popular culture as well, with several characters given the name. Cohen the Barbarian is a fictional character from Terry Pratchett’sDiscworldseries.Kirsten Cohenis a character from the FOX television showThe O.C. Mark Cohenis a character in the popular soap operaRent,andTina Cohen-Changis a fictional character from the FOX television sitcomGlee. The name is particularly popular among Christian parents due to its religious connotation. This is evident from the rise of the name’s popularity in recent decades.
Cohen
How To Pronounce Cohen?
Famous People With The Name Cohen
- Bern CohenAmerican actor, known for his role in Tickling Leo
- Emory CohenAmerican actor, best known for his role in the movie Brooklyn
- J. J. CohenAmerican actor and assistant director famous for his role in the movie Back to the Future
- Scott CohenAmerican actor, known for his role in the NBC series The 10th Kingdom
- Tanner CohenAmerican stage, TV, and film actor and singer
- Chris CohenAmerican musician, known for being a member of the band Deerhoof (13).
Cohen On The Popularity Chart
Cohen has grown in popularity in recent years, especially in the US. Take a look at the graphs below to understand its ranking and popularity trends.
Popularity Over Time
In 2021, 1,186 babies per million were given the name Cohen. Examine the graph for detailed insights.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Cohen was ranked 16,653 in 1983. See the graph for more information about its ranking.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Cohen
These names sound similar to Cohen but have different origins and meanings. Check them out.
Popular Sibling Names For Cohen
Other Popular Names Beginning With C
Names With Similar Meaning As Cohen
The traditional name has a religious meaning. Here are some other names with similar meanings.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Cohen
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Cohen ?
The name cohen means One who performs sacred rituals and a priest
2. What is the origin of the name Cohen?
Cohen originates from the Hebrew word .
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