Boy · #7,057 in 2026

Coyote

The coyote is a species of canine also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, and brush wolf. It is native to North America, and it is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia but the coyote is generally larger.

Current Rank
#7,057
Peak Rank
#4,852 (2020)
Total Babies
155
5-Yr Trend
+2%
2022
First Year
2022
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#15292
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Coyote

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The coyote is a species of canine also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, and brush wolf. It is native to North America, and it is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia but the coyote is generally larger.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
A Toltec pictograph of a coyote At the time of the European colonization of the Americas, coyotes were largely confined to open plains and arid regions of the western half of the continent. In early post-Columbian historical records, determining whether the writer is describing coyotes or wolves is often difficult. One record from 1750 in Kaskaskia, Illinois , written by a local priest, noted that the "wolves" encountered there were smaller and less daring than European wolves. Another account from the early 1800s in Edwards County, Illinois mentioned wolves howling at night, though these were

The Story of Coyote

Coyote first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1993, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 19 Coyotes were born — ranking #4,852 that year. As of 2026, Coyote ranks #7,057 for baby boys with 10 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 155 Coyotes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Coyote

Phonetically similar names — useful when Coyote is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Coyotes
  • Coty
  • Coati
  • Coti
  • Coatee
  • Koti
  • Kioto
  • Cloete
  • Gaiety
  • Quota
  • Cacti
  • Catty

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Coyote

What does the name Coyote mean?
The coyote is a species of canine also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, and brush wolf. It is native to North America, and it is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia but the coyote is generally larger.
How popular is Coyote in 2026?
In 2026, Coyote ranks #7,057 among boys' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.
When was Coyote most popular?
Coyote reached its peak popularity in 2020, ranking #4,852 that year with 19 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Coyote most popular?
Coyote has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Coyote.
Is Coyote a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Coyote is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Coyote?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Coyote include Calahan, Saber, Ramiel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Coyote

Coyote is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1993 and has accumulated 155 births in the dataset. Coyote's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #4,852. Use the chart and map above to compare Coyote's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.