Kobe

Kobe is a boy's name of Japanese origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 787 boys in the United States.

Kobe at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
Japanese · English & American · African
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈkəʊˌbiː/

About the name Kobe

Kobe belongs to the Japanese and English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Kobe first appears in Social Security records in 1989. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #222 in 2001, and in 2024 787 babies received the name — 21,923 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Kobe in US records

First recorded (US)
1989
Best US rank
#222 in 2001
Peak year
2001
Babies named Kobe in 2024
787
Total since 1880
21,923

Kobe in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1997
Best rank
#205 in 2020
Babies named Kobe in 2025
112
Total since 1996
2,427

Similar names

More names from the Japanese shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Kobe mean?

The meaning of Kobe is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Japanese origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Kobe a boy or girl name?

Kobe is a boy name. In 2024, 787 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Kobe?

Kobe comes from the Japanese, English & American and African tradition.

How popular is the name Kobe?

Kobe first appears in US records in 1989. Its best-ever ranking was #222 in 2001, and 787 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Kobe?

Kobe is pronounced /ˈkəʊˌbiː/ (IPA).

Share this name

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.