Formal Names for Coco: Elegant Constance, Cool Colette and More

Formal names for Coco range from classics to literary rarities, from the names we all immediately recognize to ones that surprise and delight.

Coco might stand on its own, of course. 72 girls were named Coco in 2023 alone.

Pop culture gives us lots of Cocos. Tennis star Coco Gauff was born Cori; actress Coco Quinn is just Coco; and Canadian model Coco Rocha started out life as Mikhaila. Pixar movie Coco focuses on Miguel; his abuela is called Coco.

A long list of characters for young children make the name even more familiar: 

• Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends gives us an animated palm tree by the name. 
• Children’s series Cocomelon includes a Codi and a Yoyo, but no character called Coco. 
• My Little Pony eventually introduces Coco Pommel, resident of Manehattan. She’s a significant enough character to appear as a toy, as well as in the app and comics like Friendship Magic. 

But formal names for Coco expand the possibilities. There’s the sparky, French nickname name, but also something more. 

If you’re hoping to put one name on your baby’s birth certificate, while reserving Coco for everyday use, this list is for you.

NAMES BEGINNING WITH CO-

An easy way to get to the name Coco? Start with the letters Co.

COLLEEN

Irish favorite Colleen has faded in recent years, but the sound remains.

COLETTE

Originally a feminine form of Nicholas, Colette feels tailored, French, and nickname-proof … unless, of course, you were inclined to shorten it to Coco.

COLLINS

Surname name Collins first gained attention from 2009 movie The Blind Side. (It’s the teenage daughter’s name.) Colin has become a modern staple for a son, but Collins tends to be used more for girls – opening the door for nickname Coco.

CONSTANCE

Underused virtue name Constance comes from a Latin word meaning steadfast. Retiring midcentury nickname Connie in favor of upbeat Coco might breathe new life into this name.

CONSUELO

Back in 1877, William Vanderbilt named his daughter Consuelo in honor of her half-Cuban godmother. The heiress’ marriage to the Duke of Marlborough epitomized America’s glittering Golden Age. The name originates with a Spanish title for Mary: Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, Our Lady of Consolation. Consuelo’s repeating ‘o’ makes it one of the most obvious formal names for Coco.

CONTESSA

The Italian equivalent of the title countess, Contessa is elaborate, dramatic, and easily shortened to Coco.

COPPELIA

In 1870 ballet Coppelia, this is the name of the life-size doll that sets the plot in motion. It might mean “young woman,” or it could be a diminutive, ultimately from Jacob. Either way, it’s quite rare.

CORALIE and CORALINE

All of the Cora names possess the requisite Co, but the longer ones – like Coralie and Coraline – seem mostly likely to serve as formal names for Coco.

CORAZON

Corazon is the Spanish word for heart. Like Consuelo, it comes from one of Mary’s many titles.

CORDELIA

Shakespeare gave this name to Lear’s loyal daughter. Like many a Shakespearean name, the exact origins of Cordelia are debated. The name might shorten to Cory, Cordy, Cora, Delia … or Coco.

CORETTA

Another Cora name, Coretta brings to mind the widow of Martin Luther King, also a noted civil rights activist.

CORINTHIA

A rare and elaborate name, Corinthia is ultimately derived from Corinth, the ancient Greek city-state.

CORINNA and CORINNE

More Cora names that make sense with Coco.

CORISANDE

Introduced by a medieval romance in Spain, Corisande could come from Corazon. It’s obscure, but appears in literature over the centuries.

CORLISS

Corliss means carefree. A fictional Corliss starred on radio, comic books, television, and even two movies in the middle of the twentieth century, briefly boosting the name into the US Top 1000.

CORNELIA

A name from the ancient world, Cornelia has a long history of use – and exactly the right sound to lead to nickname Coco.

COSETTE

A Les Mis possibility with the requisite sound.

COSIMA

Model Claudia Schiffer and director Sofia Coppola both have daughters named Cosima. So does celebrity chef Nigella Lawson’s adult daughter, Cosima – though she’s known as Mimi. It’s vaguely European, cosmopolitan, and quite rare.

COURTNEY, COURTENEY

This surname name became a 1980s and 90s chart-topper. That means it’s more likely to be the mom than the daughter. Courteney Cox and David Arquette named their daughter Coco, inspired by mom’s childhood nickname.

NAMES ENDING WITH -CO

AKIKO

Japanese feminine names often end with -ko, meaning child. The first part of this name might mean autumn or bright, depending on the kanji used to write it.

CALICO

First a type of cloth, and later a word to describe a type of cat’s fur, Calico is seldom heard as a given name. But it seems nicely wearable, and the -co sound is right there at the end.

JOCOSA

In Latin, jocosus means playful. It’s occasionally heard in medieval England.

KEIKO

Another Japanese name, this time meaning celebrate or respect, along with the -ko ending.

KIMIKO

One more Japanese -ko name, this one made extra wearable by similarity to former English favorite Kimberly. The first part of the name can mean beautiful or noble.

SIROCCO

The name of a warm wind, blowing from the Sahara into the Mediterranean, Sirocco is every bit as wearable as Stormy or Rain.

ROCOCO

An elaborate style of architecture or furniture, especially in 1700s Europe, Rococo isn’t often heard as a given name at all. But Coco is right there, ready for the wearing.

NAMES WITH ‘CO’ IN THE MIDDLE

GIOCONDA

La Giocanda serves as another name for da Vinci’s masterwork Mona Lisa. It simply means “joyful” in Italian. With Giovanna on the rise, could Gioconda wear well in the US? Gia might be the natural nickname, but there’s a definite ‘co’ sound in there, too.

JACOBA and JACOBINA

Long-time favorite Jacob never inspired a feminine spin-off, but Jacoba and Jacobina have potential. Cobie Smulders answers to Jacoba, but she could just as easily opt for Coco.

JERICHO

This Biblical place name trends masculine, but it also provides a direct route to Coco.

NICOLA and NICOLE

All of the feminine forms of Nicholas serve as formal names for Coco. Since Nikki/Nicky/Nickie seems like a mom name nowadays, Coco makes a great alternative. Nicolette

SOCORRO

Again, Socorro comes from a title of Mary. In this case, it means help or relief.

MORE FORMAL NAMES FOR COCO

CALLIOPE

A Greek name in the same style as Penelope, but not quite as popular – yet.

CAROLINE

Classic Caroline doesn’t obviously belong with formal names for Coco. But there is a strong C and o sound, too.

CHARLOTTE

Coco might be a stretch for Charlotte, but it seems like it might just work.

CATHERINE CLAIRE, OR ANY OTHER CC COMBINATION

Almost any C.C. combination – Colette Clementina. Catherine Collins. Colleen Cassidy. While we might except the initials C.C. to lead to Cece as a nickname, it’s perfectly possible to end up with Coco instead.

GABRIELLE

The given name of French fashion designer Coco Chanel. The only problem? As records from World War II have been released, it’s clear that Chanel collaborated with the occupying German government. The name Coco has plenty of positive associations beyond the designer, and the brand has long outlasted its problematic founder. However, the idea of directly honoring Coco Chanel with a child’s name feels untenable with the knowledge we have now.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT COCOA?

If we name our daughters Olive and Clementine, it’s easy to mishear Coco as the word cocoa. 

The words are intertwined. Originally, cacao referred to the seed that we use to make chocolate. It came from a Nahuatl word used by indigenous people. Coco, on the other hand, meant coconuts – the fruit of the palm tree, from a Spanish word. 

The two were mixed and confused in English, and cacao became cocoa. That was back in the 1700s, and the mistake is now the correct spelling. 

A handful of girls were named Cocoa in the 1980s. It feels awfully sweet by 2020s standards, but then, names like Honey aren’t unknown. Cocoa’s warmth and wintry style could appeal, but Coco is the more popular choice.

Do you think Coco needs a formal name? What are your favorite formal names for Coco? 

This post was originally published on November 17, 2011. It was substantially revised and re-posted on August 10, 2016. Further revision took place on October 28, 2020 and November 18, 2024.