Koden
A Japanese name meaning "the one who radiates natural brilliance".
Name Census estimates that about 188 living Americans carry the first name Koden. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Koden today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Koden births was 2024 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Koden. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Koden with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
188
~ 1 in 1,823,161 Americans
Peak year
2024
18 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,331
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Koden: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Koden from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 79 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Koden remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koden 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 Koden 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 Koden
The given name Koden is believed to have originated from the Japanese language, tracing its roots back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. It is derived from the Japanese word "ko," meaning "child," and "den," meaning "field" or "rice paddy." Therefore, the name Koden can be interpreted as "child of the rice field" or "field child."
Historically, Koden was a popular name among farming communities in Japan, reflecting the importance of agriculture and the cultivation of rice in the country's cultural heritage. The name carried connotations of fertility, prosperity, and a connection to the land.
Although no specific historical references or ancient texts have been found directly mentioning the name Koden, it was likely used among the commoners and peasant class during the Edo period and earlier. The earliest recorded examples of the name date back to the late 18th century, based on available records.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Koden. One of the earliest was Koden Fujiwara (1761-1838), a Japanese scholar and writer who was renowned for his contributions to the study of classical Japanese literature and poetry.
Another prominent figure was Koden Uchida (1870-1938), a Japanese educator and proponent of the Montessori method of education. He played a significant role in introducing and promoting Montessori principles in Japan.
In the 20th century, Koden Nomura (1904-1992) gained recognition as a Japanese entrepreneur and businessman. He founded the Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., one of the leading financial services firms in Japan.
Koden Hashiba (1923-2007) was a Japanese calligrapher and artist renowned for his mastery of traditional Japanese calligraphy styles. His works have been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.
Another notable figure was Koden Ito (1932-2018), a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in the 1980s, championing agricultural policies and rural development initiatives.
While the name Koden may not be as common in modern times, it continues to hold historical and cultural significance, particularly in Japan, where it symbolizes a connection to the land, agriculture, and the rich cultural heritage of the country.
People
Koden + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Koden 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
Koden: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Koden?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 188 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Koden 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 1,823,161 US residents.
Is Koden a common name?
We classify Koden as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 190 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Koden most popular?
The single biggest year for Koden was 2024, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Koden is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Koden in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Koden a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Koden 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.
Is Koden still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Koden in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Koden can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Koden?
You can see how many people share the name Koden on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.