Cohen

Cohen is a Hebrew surname — kohen, priest — and historically denoted men descended from Aaron, brother of Moses, who served at the Temple in Jerusalem. That sacred lineage is why the name remains controversial as a first name in observant Jewish circles, but its surge among non-Jewish American families has been steep: it broke the U.S. top 1,000 in 2006 and now sits comfortably in the top 250. Credit also goes to Leonard Cohen's long shadow and the general appetite for surname-as-firstname. Two crisp syllables, a strong landing. The name carries priestly weight and songwriter cool at once.