Kobe

“From Japanese kami (god) + he (house)” — Japanese, from the city name Kōbe (神戸) origin

Boy's name · #519 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Kobe reached its best rank, #222, in 2001 and ranked #519 in 2025. Roughly 23,000 boys have been named Kobe since 1989. Kobe rose sharply in the late 1990s after Kobe Bryant entered the NBA in 1996. Parents have described choosing the name in his honor.

Around the world: about 1 in 500 boys in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 650 boys in Belgium (2025) · about 1 in 2,100 boys in N. Ireland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 43 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kobes

Kobe Bryant — American basketball player (1978–2020)
Kobe Goossens — Belgian cyclist
Kobe Brown — American basketball player
Kobe Bufkin — American basketball player (born 2003)
Kobe Vleminckx — Belgian athlete

In stories & tradition

Kobe Dierckx — Familie
Kobe — One Piece

What Kobes become

Among 96 notable people named Kobe:

Sports figures appear 3.21× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kobe Bryant, American basketball player (1978–2020).

Similar names: Ronin · Coby · Abe · Jiraiya · Kenji · Kannon

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service