Koi
Koi , or more specifically nishikigoi , are colored varieties of carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.
Meaning & Origin of Koi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Koi , or more specifically nishikigoi , are colored varieties of carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
Origin & history
The Story of Koi
As a girl name
Koi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1999, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 72 Kois were born — ranking #2,463 that year. As of 2026, Koi ranks #2,702 for girls with 64 births, rising sharply (+55% over the past five years). In total, more than 710 Kois have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Koi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1995, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 64 Kois were born — ranking #2,242 that year. As of 2026, Koi ranks #2,514 for boys with 54 births, rising sharply (+39% over the past five years). In total, more than 881 Kois 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 Koi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Koi 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 Koi
What does the name Koi mean?
How popular is Koi in 2026?
When was Koi most popular?
In which U.S. states is Koi most popular?
Is Koi a unisex name?
What names go well with Koi?
About the name Koi
Koi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1995 and has accumulated 881 births in the dataset. Koi's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #2,242. Use the chart and map above to compare Koi's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- 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.