Alternatives to Cohen

By slginfj · Updated May 2023

Names40

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Total Names40

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About this list

Despite its rising popularity, many Jewish people consider the use of Cohen as a baby name inappropriate and offensive. Even for parents who don't understand the surname's sacred origins, who would want to burden their child with a controversial name? Below are attractive alternatives with similar sounds, surname origins, and religious associations.

The names

Showing 1–20 of 40

Noah
Hebrew
"rest, repose"
Noah is nearly a patriarch of popular baby names at this point, going from Old Testament graybeard to Top 10 name in 2009, hitting Number 1 in 2013, and now settled into second place in the US for…
Owen
Welsh
"young warrior; well-born"
Owen, a resonant Celtic name, has ranked among the Top 100 boys' names in the US for 20 years and is now trending ever-so-slightly downhill, good news for Owen-lovers who might rightly have feared…
Rowan
Scottish and Irish
"rowan tree; little redhead"
With its gentle sounds and earthy vibes, the name Rowan feels like a fusion of different styles. A word name, a surname, and a gender-neutral name, Rowan is rustic but trendy, blending the vibes of…
Nolan
Irish
"champion"
The friendly and sporty feeling Nolan blends some of the best qualities of other popular boy names. With the gentle but energetic sounds of Noah, a hint of the classic Nicholas, and the cool,…
Enzo
Italian variation of Heinz or Henry, German, or diminutive form of -enzo names, "estate ruler"
"estate ruler"
Internationally popular, Enzo is a confident and captivating name, playful but down to earth. Similar in sound or style to the likes of Leo, Luca, Eli, and Ezra, and in tune with Mateo, Gabriel, and…
Cameron
Scottish
"crooked nose"
With its friendly, sensitive, and approachable feel, Cameron is a 90’s favorite that remains popular today. It has a pleasing balance of soft and strong sounds, and holds unisex appeal, thanks to…
Jonah
Hebrew
"dove"
Jonah, the name of the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by the whale, only to emerge unharmed three days later, is increasingly appreciated by parents looking for a biblical name less common…
Nico
Italian diminutive of Nicholas, Greek
"people of victory"
Nico is one of the great nickname names, full of charm, energy and effortless cool -- a neo Nick. Nico is commonly heard in Italy -- as a short form of Niccolo -- and also in France, Belgium,…
Ronan
Irish
"little seal"
Ronan is the compelling legendary name of twelve Irish and Scottish saints that is now drawing some deserved attention; this cousin of the ascending Roman and Rowan was chosen by actor Daniel…
Bowen
Welsh, Chinese
"son of Owen; wave of writing, wave of literature"
Bowen is a Celtic surname representing two separate Celtic strains, one Welsh and one Irish, and entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2011. Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees named his son…
Holden
English
"hollow valley"
Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the…
Conrad
German
"brave counsel"
Solid and intellectual, with just a touch of ruggedness thanks to that rad ending, Conrad has appeared consistently in on the US popularity charts since the 19th century. Over the years, it has been…
Corbin
English and French surname
"crow, raven"
Corbin, the name of the castle where the Holy Grail was said to be hidden, came to the fore in the 1980s via actor Corbin Bernsen when he was the high profile star of LA Law , but its use is only now…
Chosen
English word name
"one who is the object of choice or of divine favor"
Chosen is officially a baby name thanks to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who chose (can't resist) the word as the name of his newborn son. While it may inspire bad puns, Chosen is…
Deacon
Greek
"messenger, servant"
This name was transposed from the word for a church officer to a baby name when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe chose it for their son, after a baseball player ancestor, and Don Johnson followed…
Koen
Dutch diminutive of Coenraad
"bold advisor"
A short form popular in the Netherlands, though in the U.S. Koen and Coen are easily confused with Cohen, the Jewish surname meaning "priest" which has recently gained currency as a first name. The…
Mccoy
Anglicization of MacAoidh or MacAodha, Scottish, Irish
"son of Aodh; son of fire"
One of many Irish and Scottish surnames starting with Mac and Mc that also feel usable as given names, McCoy has a jaunty and energetic sound. The name entered the US Top 1000 in 2020, and was given…
Lennon
Irish
"lover"
A growing number of high-profile (and other) parents are choosing to honor their musical idols, such as Hendrix, Presley, Jagger, and now Lennon. Lennon first came to notice when Liam Gallagher and…
Jericho
Biblical place-name
A biblical place name with trumpeting verve and strength. Though rarely heard as a first name, Jericho has appeared in the titles of films, TV series, songs, bands, comics, and video games (Clive…
Canaan
Biblical place name, Hebrew
"The Promised Land; humble, low"
Pronounced KAY-nan, this Old Testament place name has a strong modern feel that blends in with on-trend choices like Carter, Colton, and Kayson, but also with Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Tobias.…

Alternatives to Cohen

About this list

The names

Noah

Owen

Rowan

Nolan

Enzo

Cameron

Jonah

Nico

Ronan

Bowen

Holden

Conrad

Corbin

Chosen

Deacon

Koen

Mccoy

Lennon

Jericho

Canaan