Koby
A given name derived from Jacob, likely meaning "he who follows" or "supplanter".
Name Census estimates that about 5,952 living Americans carry the first name Koby. It is a predominantly male name (98.4% of registrations). The average person named Koby today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Koby births was 2000 (419 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Koby. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Koby is used almost entirely for boys, the SSA data does show 97 girls registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
6.0K
~ 1 in 57,586 Americans
Peak year
2000
419 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,065
Tracked since 1958
Gender
Gender distribution for Koby
Koby leans heavily male at 98.4% of total registrations, but 97 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Koby as a male name
- Ranked #2,065 in 2024
- 73 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2000 (411 births)
Koby as a female name
- Ranked #16,504 in 2024
- 5 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2000 (8 births)
Popularity
Koby: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Koby from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 2,597 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koby 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 Koby during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kobys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 41 states and territories. Texas, California, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Koby, while Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 90 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Koby
The name Koby is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language and culture. It is a variant spelling of the biblical name Jacob, which is derived from the Hebrew word "Ya'aqov," meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows."
The earliest recorded use of the name Koby can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was used as a diminutive form of Jacob. In the 12th century, the name appeared in various Jewish texts and records, particularly in communities across Europe.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Koby was Rabbi Koby ben Yitzchak, a prominent scholar and religious leader who lived in 13th-century Spain. He is known for his contributions to the study of Jewish law and his insightful commentaries on the Torah.
In the 16th century, Koby Gutenberg was a German goldsmith and engraver who played a significant role in the development of the printing press. His innovations in movable type technology revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge and paved the way for the proliferation of printed materials.
During the 18th century, Koby Ancher was a renowned Danish painter known for his masterful portraits and historical scenes. His works captured the essence of the Baroque and Rococo styles, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.
In the 20th century, Koby Levi was an influential Israeli poet and writer who gained recognition for his poignant exploration of themes such as love, identity, and the human condition. His poetry collection, "Voices of the Heart," became a classic in modern Hebrew literature.
Another notable figure with the name Koby was Koby Katz, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded one of the world's largest online retail platforms. His contributions to e-commerce and his support for various charitable causes have left a lasting legacy.
People
Koby + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Koby as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Koby: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Koby?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5,952 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Koby 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 57,586 US residents.
Is Koby a common name?
We classify Koby as "Rare". It ranks above 96.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6,066 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Koby most popular?
The single biggest year for Koby was 2000, when 419 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Koby is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Koby a male name?
Yes, 98.4% of people registered as Koby in the SSA data are male. 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.