The first name Kobe
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈkoʊˌbi/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
From Japanese 神(こう)戸(べ) (Kōbe).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 112 boys were named Kobe, making it the 372nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2020, with 245 births (#205).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kobe with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Kobe at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 578 boys born in the United States were named Kobe, the 519th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2001, when 1,552 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Kobe
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Kobe BryantAmerican basketball player (1978–2020)
- Kobe TaiAmerican pornographic actress, born 1972
- Kobe GoossensBelgian cyclist, born 1996
- Kobe BrownAmerican basketball player (born 2000)
- Kobe BufkinAmerican basketball player (born 2003)
- Kobe SandersAmerican basketball player (born 2002)
- Kobe VleminckxBelgian athlete, born 1998
Questions
- What does the name Kobe mean?
- From Japanese 神(こう)戸(べ) (Kōbe).
- How popular is the name Kobe?
- In 2025, 112 boys born in England and Wales were named Kobe, ranking 372nd. Its peak was 2020, with 245 births.
- Is Kobe a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 97% of the 23,126 US babies named Kobe since 1880 were boys.
- When was Kobe most popular?
- 2001 in the United States, when 1,552 babies were named Kobe, its highest rank at 222nd.
- How do you pronounce Kobe?
- Kobe is /ˈkoʊˌbi/, 2 syllables.