Declining since 2001, #518 for boys today.
Popularity of Kobe since 1989
Babies named Kobe per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kobe's real moment was 2020.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 2,410 |
| 2000s | 9,117 |
| 2010s | 5,372 |
| 2020s | 5,609 |
Meaning & origin
Kobe first appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in 1989, the year after basketball legend Kobe Bryant was born. It experienced a sharp rise in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching its peak rank in 2020. Since 2001, however, its trajectory has been falling. The name is most common in Mississippi, Nevada, and Indiana, reflecting regional pockets of popularity. As a modern coinage derived from a Japanese place name, Kobe represents a distinctive choice that blends cultural reference with strong athletic association.
Kobe originated as a Japanese place name, the city of Kobe (神戸), which means 'god's door' or 'door of the gods' (kami 'god' + to 'door'). The name's use as a given name is a modern phenomenon, inspired by the basketball player Kobe Bryant, whose parents named him after the Japanese city. It entered the U.S. naming charts in 1989 and rose to prominence in the 2000s.
Where Kobe is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kobe” around the world
Where Kobe lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
8
babies in 2025
New Zealand
32
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kobe, Kobe-Bryant, K
Variants: Kobie
Sibling names for Kobe
Names that share Kobe's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Kobe
Names whose popularity has moved with Kobe's over the last 50 years.
