Kova
A name of Finnish origin meaning "hard, tough, stern".
Name Census estimates that about 247 living Americans carry the first name Kova. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 58.2% of registrations being female. The average person named Kova today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kova births was 2019 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kova. 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
247
~ 1 in 1,387,669 Americans
Peak year
2019
57 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,076
Tracked since 2016
Gender
Gender distribution for Kova
Kova is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 249 total registrations, 104 (41.8%) were male and 145 (58.2%) were female.
Kova as a male name
- Ranked #8,661 in 2024
- 9 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2019 (35 births)
Kova as a female name
- Ranked #5,076 in 2024
- 26 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (26 births)
Popularity
Kova: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kova 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 141 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
Kova 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 Kova 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 Kova
The given name Kova is believed to have its origins in the Finno-Ugric language family, specifically in the Finnish and Estonian languages. It is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *kova, which means "hard" or "durable." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals who were perceived as strong and resilient.
The name Kova can be traced back to the medieval period, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century in Finland and Estonia. During this time, the name was primarily used by the Finnish and Estonian nobility and upper classes, possibly as a way to convey the strength and resilience of their lineage.
Kova has a rich historical significance in Finnish and Estonian folklore and literature. It appears in several traditional tales and songs, often associated with characters known for their bravery, determination, and unyielding spirit. In the famous Finnish epic poem Kalevala, one of the central characters is named Kova, who represents the embodiment of strength and perseverance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kova. One of the earliest recorded examples is Kova Juhana (1245-1312), a Finnish nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Swedish-Finnish wars of the 13th century. Another prominent figure was Kova Martti (1567-1632), an Estonian merchant and philanthropist, renowned for his contributions to the development of trade and education in his homeland.
In the 19th century, Kova Aleksanteri (1821-1894) was a Finnish composer and musician who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting traditional Finnish music. His compositions and arrangements of folk songs and melodies are still celebrated today as an important part of Finland's cultural heritage.
Moving into the 20th century, Kova Sylvi (1901-1986) was a Finnish author and poet who gained recognition for her evocative and introspective works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her poetry collections, such as "Kuunsilta" (Moonbridge) and "Sydänmaa" (Heartland), are considered classics of Finnish literature.
Another notable figure with the name Kova is Kova Tuomas (1932-2011), an Estonian sculptor and artist known for his abstract and monumental works that graced public spaces throughout Estonia and beyond. His sculptures were often inspired by the natural forms and landscapes of his homeland, embodying a sense of strength and permanence.
People
Kova + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kova 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
Kova: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kova?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 247 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kova 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 1,387,669 US residents.
Is Kova a common name?
We classify Kova as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 249 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kova most popular?
The single biggest year for Kova was 2019, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kova is about 6 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 Kova in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kova a female name?
Yes, 58.2% of people registered as Kova 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.
Is Kova still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kova 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 Kova 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 named Kova?
Find out how many Americans are named Kova on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.