Cohen

Cohen is a Hebrew surname meaning “priest.” In Jewish tradition it is associated with hereditary priestly descent from Aaron, so its significance goes beyond an ordinary occupation-based surname. That religious history remains part of the name even when it is chosen as a modern first name.

Some Jewish people find its use as a given name inappropriate because of that inherited role. Families considering Cohen may want to understand this context alongside its sound. It should also be distinguished from Dutch Coen, a form of Coenraad, which has a different origin and pronunciation. Similar spelling is not enough to make the two names interchangeable or give them the same meaning.