Kobe
Kobe is a unisex given name that has multiple origins and meanings. Origins include Hebrew, Dutch, Swahili, Japanese, Akan and Greek origins. Alternate spellings of this name are Cobe, Cobie, Coby, Colbie, Colby, Koby, Kobbi and Kobi.
Meaning & Origin of Kobe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kobe is a unisex given name that has multiple origins and meanings. Origins include Hebrew, Dutch, Swahili, Japanese, Akan and Greek origins. Alternate spellings of this name are Cobe, Cobie, Coby, Colbie, Colby, Koby, Kobbi and Kobi.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kobe
Kobe first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1989, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2001, when 1,552 Kobes were born — ranking #222 that year. As of 2026, Kobe ranks #554 for baby boys with 535 births, gradually falling (-14%). In total, more than 23K Kobes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kobe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kobe 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 Kobe
What does the name Kobe mean?
How popular is Kobe in 2026?
When was Kobe most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kobe most popular?
Is Kobe a unisex name?
What names go well with Kobe?
About the name Kobe
Kobe is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1989 and has accumulated 23K births in the dataset. Kobe's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #222. Use the chart and map above to compare Kobe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2001 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.