Cove
A cove is a small bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, tidal creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves.
Meaning & Origin of Cove
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A cove is a small bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, tidal creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Cove
As a girl name
Cove first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2014, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 106 Coves were born — ranking #1,885 that year. As of 2026, Cove ranks #1,885 for girls with 106 births, rising sharply (+364% over the past five years). In total, more than 576 Coves have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Cove first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1997, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 191 Coves were born — ranking #1,125 that year. As of 2026, Cove ranks #1,125 for boys with 191 births, rising sharply (+143% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Coves have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Cove
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cove is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Cov
- Cave
- Kev
- Calve
- Cav
- Kive
- Kav
- Kiv
- Calv
- Couve
- Kieve
- Kave
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cove
What does the name Cove mean?
How popular is Cove in 2026?
When was Cove most popular?
In which U.S. states is Cove most popular?
Is Cove a unisex name?
What names go well with Cove?
About the name Cove
Cove is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1997 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Cove's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,125. Use the chart and map above to compare Cove's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.