Koa
Acacia koa, commonly known as koa, is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaiʻi, Maui and Oʻahu.
- Hawaiian
- Māori
Meaning & Origin of Koa
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Acacia koa, commonly known as koa, is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaiʻi, Maui and Oʻahu.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hawaiian
- Māori
The Story of Koa
As a girl name
Koa first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1979, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 159 births, good for #1,400 nationwide. About 78% of every Koa on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Koa ranks #1,400 for girls with 159 births, rising sharply (+250% over the past five years). All told, over 1K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Koa as a boy name dates back to 1978, when 7 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 1,363 newborns named Koa — #254 in the national rankings. About 76% of every Koa on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Koa ranks #254 for boys with 1,363 births, rising sharply (+218% over the past five years). All told, over 9K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Koa
Phonetically similar names — useful when Koa is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Koa
What does the name Koa mean?
What is the origin of the name Koa?
How popular is Koa in 2026?
When was Koa most popular?
In which U.S. states is Koa most popular?
Is Koa a unisex name?
What names go well with Koa?
About the name Koa
Koa is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1978 and has accumulated 9K births in the dataset. Koa's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #254. Use the chart and map above to compare Koa'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 "K" →
- 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.