Kobe

Origin: Japanese (from the city name Kōbe (神戸)) — From Japanese kami (god) + he (house)

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

Popularity over time

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.

Across the states

See where Kobe is more common.

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

Around the world

See how Kobe ranks in other countries and regions.

#154 in New Zealand (2025) · #160 in Belgium (2025) · #370 in N. Ireland (2025) · #373 in England & Wales (2025) · #410 in Netherlands (2025) · #450 in Ireland (2025) · #608 in Scotland (2025) · #2,302 in Switzerland (2025) · #648 in Canada (2024).

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^nl — Familie (TV series)
Kobe — One Piece (manga)

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 · Kannon · Kenzo

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

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