Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kobe
BoyJapanese, Hebrew· “from the Japanese city of Kobe”
- Meaning
- from the Japanese city of Kobe
- Origin
- Japanese, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- KOH-bee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #519
- US babies 2025
- 578
- Best rank
- #222 (2001)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Kobe
Kobe is a Japanese and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “from the Japanese city of Kobe”.
Most people know Kobe through the basketball star Kobe Bryant, whose parents named him after the famous beef from Kobe, a port city in Japan. The Japanese place name is usually written with characters for god and door. The same spelling also works as a short form of Jacob in Hebrew, where Koby or Kobi is a familiar nickname, so the name has more than one independent root. Its rise as a given name in the United States closely followed Bryant's career, and it remains strongly associated with him. Kobe is short, upbeat and athletic in feel, and it needs no nickname of its own.
Popularity over time
Kobe first appears in US Social Security records in 1989. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 29 different years, starting in 1997. Its best national rank was #222 in 2001, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,552 babies. In 2025, 578 babies were named Kobe, and it ranked #519 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #238 in 2000, #428 in 2010, and #519 in 2025. Of the 22,513 US boys named Kobe since records began, 40% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 5,609 babies. Since 2010, 10,981 more have been named Kobe.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Enrique, Raul, Marcos, Gerardo, and Pedro.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kobe ranked highest in Nevada, Mississippi, and Indiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | #255 | 12 |
| Mississippi | #273 | 12 |
| Indiana | #346 | 22 |
| Virginia | #401 | 20 |
| Washington | #409 | 18 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 97% of US babies named Kobe over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Kobe is usually pronounced KOH-bee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-be”.
Middle names for Kobe
A few middle names that flow with Kobe: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kobe
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Lists that include Kobe
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kobe mean?
Kobe is a Japanese and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “from the Japanese city of Kobe”.
What is the origin of the name Kobe?
Kobe has Japanese and Hebrew roots. Most people know Kobe through the basketball star Kobe Bryant, whose parents named him after the famous beef from Kobe, a port city in Japan.
Is Kobe a popular name?
Yes. Kobe ranked #519 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Kobe a boy or girl name?
Kobe is mainly a boy's name. About 97% of US babies named Kobe over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Kobe?
Kobe is usually pronounced KOH-bee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings