Kobe
From Japanese 神(こう)戸(べ) (Kōbe).
Every Kobe since 1989 — 23,126 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kobe
Kobe is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #519 in 2025 with 578 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1989, 23,126 American babies have been named Kobe. Its peak came in 2020, when 1,575 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kobe stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kobe year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | #3,808 | 578 | #519 |
| 2024 | 41 | #3,727 | 790 | #410 |
| 2023 | 41 | #3,744 | 755 | #421 |
| 2022 | 51 | #3,192 | 851 | #381 |
| 2021 | 60 | #2,837 | 1,117 | #298 |
| 2020 | 57 | #2,871 | 1,518 | #239 |
| 2019 | 18 | #6,570 | 507 | #556 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9,508 | 481 | #575 |
| 2017 | 17 | #6,962 | 533 | #531 |
| 2016 | 20 | #6,302 | 583 | #513 |
| 2015 | 7 | #13,801 | 465 | #594 |
| 2014 | 14 | #8,302 | 524 | #532 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8,375 | 553 | #494 |
| 2012 | 13 | #8,901 | 526 | #506 |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,433 | 555 | #477 |
| 2010 | 12 | #9,539 | 645 | #428 |
| 2009 | 12 | #9,725 | 687 | #419 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8,349 | 730 | #403 |
| 2007 | 9 | #12,185 | 573 | #471 |
| 2006 | 11 | #10,282 | 469 | #540 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15,524 | 444 | #544 |
| 2004 | 8 | #12,235 | 625 | #416 |
| 2003 | 15 | #7,417 | 1,213 | #265 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6,887 | 1,392 | #244 |
| 2001 | 19 | #5,955 | 1,552 | #222 |
| 2000 | 25 | #4,725 | 1,432 | #238 |
| 1995 | — | — | 9 | #6,199 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kobe
- Kobe Bryant Basketball player · 1978–2020
- Kobe Tai Pornographic actor · b. 1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kobe mean?
From Japanese 神(こう)戸(べ) (Kōbe).
How popular is the name Kobe in 2025?
Kobe ranked #519 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 578 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kobe?
23,126 babies have been named Kobe in the United States since 1989, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kobe most popular?
Kobe peaked in 2020, when 1,575 newborns received the name.
Is Kobe a boy or girl name?
Kobe is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kobe rising or falling?
Kobe is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kobe?
Well-known people named Kobe include Kobe Bryant (basketball player), Kobe Tai (pornographic actor).