Find out how popular the first name Cooley has been for the last 1 years (from 2009 to 2009) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cooley by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Cooley is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2009, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cooley.

The history of the first name Cooley

The name Cooley is an English given name that originated in the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "col," which means "cool" or "cold." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a cool or cold region, or perhaps had a cool or calm demeanor.

In some historical records, the name is also spelled as "Coolie," which is thought to be a variation of the same root word. This spelling was more common in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly among English families living in rural areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Cooley was Sir John Cooley, an English knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents from that time period, including the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire.

Another notable figure was Thomas Cooley, an English theologian and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England and authored several influential works on theology and ethics.

In the 18th century, there was a famous American jurist named Thomas McIntyre Cooley, who served as a Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. He was born in 1824 and is regarded as one of the most influential legal scholars of his time, particularly in the field of constitutional law.

Moving into the 19th century, we find the American poet and essayist Charles Cooley, who was born in 1864. He is best known for his work on the concept of the "looking-glass self," which explored how an individual's self-concept is shaped by their perception of how others view them.

Finally, in the 20th century, there was the American physicist William Cooley, who was born in 1911. He is famous for his contributions to the development of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), a crucial algorithm in digital signal processing and computer science.

While the name Cooley may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and roots in the English language make it a fascinating name to explore. Its various spellings and the notable individuals who have borne it over the centuries provide a rich tapestry of cultural and historical context.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cooley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cooley, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!