Meaning, origin, history
Coleman is a name of Irish origin and it means "descendant of Colmáin". Colmáin was a tenth-century Irish saint who was known for his scholarship and learning. The name Coleman is derived from the Old Irish personal name Colmáin, which itself comes from the elements colm, meaning "dream", andán, meaning "little". Thus, Coleman literally means "descendant of the little dreamer".
The name Coleman has been popular in Ireland for centuries and it has also gained popularity in other English-speaking countries such as England, Scotland, Wales, and the United States. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration's data, Coleman was one of the top 1000 boys' names in the U.S. from 2000 to 2019.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Coleman. One of the most famous is Coleman Hawkins, an American jazz musician who was considered one of the leading tenor saxophonists in the 1930s and 1940s. Another notable figure is Coleman Young Jr., an American politician who served as the mayor of Detroit from 1974 to 1993.
In literature, Coleman has been used as a character name in several works. For example, it is the name of the protagonist in "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis and also appears in the novel "Atonement" by Ian McEwan.
Overall, Coleman is a strong and distinctive Irish name with a rich history and meaningful origins. It has been embraced by various cultures and continues to be popular as a boys' name today.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Coleman since 1880
Total births
17,297
Total since 1880
Peak year
1997
421 births
in 2023
176
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-5%
↘
vs previous 5 years