Koe
A Japanese unisex name meaning "voice" or "sound".
Name Census estimates that about 458 living Americans carry the first name Koe. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Koe today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Koe births was 2024 (120 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Koe. 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
458
~ 1 in 748,372 Americans
Peak year
2024
120 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,491
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Koe: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Koe from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 433 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
Koe 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 Koe during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Koes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma recorded the most babies named Koe, while Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Koe
The given name Koe has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Hawaiian word "koe," which means "remaining" or "left over." This name was likely used to signify a child born after a series of miscarriages or stillbirths, representing the one who remained or was left behind.
In ancient Hawaiian traditions, names held significant cultural and spiritual meanings. They were often chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth, the aspirations of the parents, or the child's connection to nature or ancestors. The name Koe may have been used to express gratitude for the child's survival or to serve as a reminder of the challenges overcome during the pregnancy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Koe can be found in the 18th century. Koe was the name of a Hawaiian chief who lived on the island of Kauai during the late 1700s. He played a role in the struggles for power and control over the Hawaiian islands during that period.
Another notable figure bearing the name Koe was Koe Keawe, a Hawaiian artist and painter who lived from 1904 to 1983. He was renowned for his vibrant depictions of Hawaiian landscapes, traditions, and cultural scenes, capturing the essence of island life through his artwork.
In the realm of literature, Koe Kahukui was a Hawaiian author and storyteller who lived from 1889 to 1956. She is remembered for preserving and sharing traditional Hawaiian tales, legends, and folklore, ensuring their transmission to future generations.
Koe Kalanialehuokalani, a Hawaiian chief and military leader, lived from 1822 to 1878. He played a significant role in the conflicts and power struggles that shaped the Hawaiian monarchy during the 19th century.
Finally, Koe Kahili, born in 1937, was a Hawaiian musician and composer who contributed to the preservation and promotion of traditional Hawaiian music. His compositions and performances helped keep the cultural heritage of Hawaiian music alive and inspired generations of artists.
While the name Koe may not be as common today as it once was, it holds a rich history and cultural significance within the Hawaiian tradition, representing resilience, gratitude, and a connection to the islands' storied past.
People
Koe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Koe 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
Koe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Koe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 458 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Koe 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 748,372 US residents.
Is Koe a common name?
We classify Koe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 461 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Koe most popular?
The single biggest year for Koe was 2024, when 120 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Koe is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Koe a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Koe 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.