Find out how popular the first name Kohen has been for the last 28 years (from 1996 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kohen by gender

Based on the last 28 years of data, Kohen is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Kohen being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 837 male babies and 18 female babies born with the name Kohen.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 18 baby girls were named Kohen in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Kohen

The name Kohen has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the word "kohen," which means "priest" or "cleric." It has been in use since ancient times and is closely tied to the religious and cultural traditions of the Jewish people.

The earliest known references to this name can be found in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament. In the biblical text, the Kohanim were members of the priestly class who were responsible for performing religious rituals and sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem. This name was specifically given to those who were descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and the first High Priest of the Israelites.

One of the most notable individuals with the name Kohen in ancient times was Zadok, a High Priest who lived during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE. He was instrumental in establishing the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and played a crucial role in the consolidation of the Israelite monarchy.

In the Middle Ages, the name Kohen continued to be associated with Jewish religious leadership. One prominent figure was Rashi, a renowned French rabbi and scholar who lived from 1040 to 1105 CE. His commentaries on the Torah and the Talmud have had a lasting impact on Jewish scholarship and continue to be studied to this day.

Another notable individual with the name Kohen was Moses Maimonides, also known as the Rambam, who was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher, astronomer, and one of the most influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. He lived from 1138 to 1204 CE and wrote extensively on Jewish law, ethics, and theology.

During the Renaissance period, a prominent figure with the name Kohen was Joseph Kohen, an Italian Jewish philosopher and scholar who lived from 1496 to 1575 CE. He was known for his work on Jewish mysticism and his defense of the Kabbalah against its critics.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the name Kohen was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine. He lived from 1865 to 1935 CE and was a highly influential figure in the development of religious Zionism and the establishment of the State of Israel.

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 Kohen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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