Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kofi
BoyAkan· “born on Friday”
- Meaning
- born on Friday
- Origin
- Akan
- Pronunciation
- KOH-fee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,279
- US babies 2025
- 36
- Best rank
- #1,996 (1978)
- Peak year
- 2004
Meaning and origin of Kofi
Kofi is an Akan name that means “born on Friday”.
Kofi is an Akan day name for a boy born on Friday. Among the Akan peoples of Ghana, children receive a name linked to the day of the week they were born, and each day has a male and female form; the female form for Friday is Afua. It is said KOH-fee. The name became widely known through Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations. In Ghana it is often paired with another given name. Outside Ghana it is used by families with West African roots and by others who value its meaning and history.
Popularity over time
Kofi first appears in US Social Security records in 1970. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,996 in 1978, and the most babies received it in 2004, when 55 were named Kofi. In 2025, 36 babies were named Kofi, and it ranked #3,279 nationally. That is 29% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,675 in 1980, #2,654 in 2000, #4,952 in 2010, and #3,279 in 2025. Of the 1,542 US boys named Kofi since records began, 25% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 304 babies. Since 2010, 536 more have been named Kofi.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Christan, Suraj, Gamaliel, Roque, and Aleksandar.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kofi ranked highest in Virginia and New York.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Kofi over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Kofi is usually pronounced KOH-fee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-fi”.
Middle names for Kofi
A few middle names that flow with Kofi: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kofi
Similar names
Lists that include Kofi
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kofi mean?
Kofi is an Akan name that means “born on Friday”.
What is the origin of the name Kofi?
Kofi has Akan roots. Kofi is an Akan day name for a boy born on Friday.
Is Kofi a popular name?
Not especially. Kofi ranked #3,279 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kofi a boy or girl name?
Kofi is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Kofi over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Kofi?
Kofi is usually pronounced KOH-fee. 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