Coi
An uncommon unisex given name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 165 living Americans carry the first name Coi. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 60.8% of registrations being female. The average person named Coi today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Coi births was 2021 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Coi. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
165
~ 1 in 2,077,299 Americans
Peak year
2021
31 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,821
Tracked since 1996
Gender
Gender distribution for Coi
Coi is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 166 total registrations, 65 (39.2%) were male and 101 (60.8%) were female.
Coi as a male name
- Ranked #10,062 in 2024
- 7 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (13 births)
Coi as a female name
- Ranked #5,821 in 2024
- 21 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (23 births)
Popularity
Coi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Coi from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 122 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Coi by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Coi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Coi
The name Coi is of Vietnamese origin, derived from the Middle Vietnamese word "coi," meaning "to watch over" or "to take care of." It emerged as a given name during the late medieval period in Vietnam, around the 15th to 16th centuries.
Coi was a relatively uncommon name in ancient Vietnam, but it gained popularity among the ruling class and nobility. It was often given to children as a symbolic gesture, representing the parents' wish for their child to be a protector or guardian of their family's legacy and traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Coi can be found in the annals of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Coi Nguyen, born in 1825, was a renowned scholar and poet who served as a court advisor during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang.
In the 19th century, Coi Bac, born in 1842, was a celebrated Vietnamese general who played a crucial role in the resistance against French colonial rule. His military prowess and unwavering dedication to his country's independence earned him a place in the annals of Vietnamese history.
Moving into the 20th century, Coi Truong, born in 1912, was a prominent Vietnamese painter and architect. His works blended traditional Vietnamese aesthetics with modern sensibilities, leaving a lasting impact on the country's art and architectural landscapes.
Another notable figure was Coi Lam, born in 1937, a renowned Vietnamese writer and journalist. His powerful works shed light on the struggles and resilience of the Vietnamese people during the tumultuous decades of war and turmoil.
Coi Nguyen Anh, born in 1952, was a respected Vietnamese diplomat who played a pivotal role in fostering international relations and promoting peace and understanding between nations.
While the name Coi may have originated centuries ago, its meaning and significance continue to resonate with Vietnamese families today, serving as a reminder of their cultural heritage and the importance of nurturing and protecting their loved ones.
People
Coi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Coi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Coi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Coi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 165 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Coi going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,077,299 US residents.
Is Coi a common name?
We classify Coi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 166 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Coi most popular?
The single biggest year for Coi was 2021, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Coi is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Coi a female name?
Yes, 60.8% of people registered as Coi in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.