How to say it
KOL · son
ˈkoʊl.sən
Masculine
Kolson
Son of Cole
What it means
A K-respelling of the surname Colson, 'son of Col,' a pet form of Nicholas.
Kolson is a modern K-spelling of the surname Colson, 'son of Col.' Col was a medieval short form of Nicholas (Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people'), and also overlapped with the Old English personal name Cola, tied to 'coal' or 'dark.' So the underlying sense is 'son of Nicholas' or 'son of Cole.' As a first name it blends the popularity of Cole and Colton with the familiar -son ending, and the K spelling is a recent decorative touch. It eased down a little in the 2025 US rankings.
How to spell Kolson
The standard spelling is Kolson. Common variants include Colson, Coulson, but Kolson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #794 in 2024, currently #887 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
KOHL-sun, stress on the first syllable.
- Nickname
Cole is the natural short form.
Spelling variants
- Colson
- Coulson
Names with the same feeling
See Kolson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kolson mean?
- A K-respelling of the surname Colson, 'son of Col,' a pet form of Nicholas.
- What does Kolson mean in American English?
- In American English, Kolson means "Son of Cole." Kolson is a modern K-spelling of the surname Colson, 'son of Col.' Col was a medieval short form of Nicholas (Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people'), and also overlapped with the Old English personal name Cola, tied to 'coal' or 'dark.' So the underlying sense is 'son of Nicholas' or 'son of Cole.' As a first name it blends the popularity of Cole and Colton with the familiar -son ending, and the K spelling is a recent decorative touch. It eased down a little in the 2025 US rankings.
- How do you pronounce Kolson?
- Kolson is pronounced ˈkoʊl.sən. Say it as KOL-son, with the stress on the "kol" syllable.
- How do you spell Kolson?
- The standard spelling is Kolson. Common spelling variants include Colson, Coulson.
- Is Kolson a boy or girl name?
- Kolson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Kolson?
- Kolson ranked #887 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.