Koven
A diminutive form of the name Kevin, of uncertain meaning and origin.
Name Census estimates that about 176 living Americans carry the first name Koven. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Koven today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Koven births was 2018 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Koven. 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 Koven with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
176
~ 1 in 1,947,468 Americans
Peak year
2018
14 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,455
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Koven: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Koven from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 89 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Koven remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koven 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 Koven 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 Koven
The name Koven is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language, with its roots tracing back to ancient biblical times. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Book of Ezekiel, where it is mentioned as "Koven-El," meaning "the voice of God."
In the medieval era, the name Koven gained popularity among Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in regions such as Germany and Poland. It was often associated with individuals who possessed a strong spiritual connection or were known for their wisdom and knowledge of religious teachings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Koven dates back to the 11th century, when a renowned scholar and Rabbi, Koven ben Yitzchak, lived in the city of Mainz, Germany. He was highly respected for his contributions to the study of the Talmud and his teachings on Jewish law.
During the Renaissance period, the name Koven was adopted by several prominent figures in the arts and literature. Koven de Medici, an Italian poet and playwright born in 1452, was celebrated for his works that explored themes of love, nature, and human emotions.
In the 18th century, Koven Leibniz, a German philosopher and mathematician, made significant contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, and the development of calculus. Born in 1646, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Age of Enlightenment.
Another notable figure bearing the name Koven was a Russian composer and conductor, Koven Borodin, who lived from 1833 to 1887. His works, such as the opera "Prince Igor," are considered masterpieces of Russian romantic music and have left a lasting impact on the classical music tradition.
Koven Melville, an American novelist and poet born in 1819, is best known for his epic novel "Moby Dick," which explored themes of human existence, obsession, and the struggle against nature's forces. His works have been widely studied and celebrated as some of the greatest literary achievements in American literature.
While the name Koven has its roots in ancient Hebrew traditions, it has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, being adopted by individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout history. Each person bearing this name has contributed to the rich tapestry of human accomplishments, leaving an indelible mark on various fields of knowledge and artistic expression.
People
Koven + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Koven 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
Koven: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Koven?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 176 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Koven 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 1,947,468 US residents.
Is Koven a common name?
We classify Koven as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 177 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Koven most popular?
The single biggest year for Koven was 2018, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Koven 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 Koven in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Koven a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Koven 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 Koven still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Koven 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 Koven 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 Koven?
Find out how many people share the name Koven on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.