NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Koa

A Hawaiian name meaning brave, fearless, or bold.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Koa is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Koa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #206, with 245 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 245 births.

This profile covers 910 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Koa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 1,040 living people in the UK are called Koa. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Koa ranked #206 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 245 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 245 boys were registered as Koa.
  • Koa ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #154 in 2024.
  • About 1,040 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.7% of Koa registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#206

2024

Births in 2024

245

Latest year

Peak year

2024

245 births

Estimated living

1,040

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Koa

In England and Wales birth records, Koa has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 93.7% of registrations are for boys and 6.3% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

94% boys
Boys910 (93.7%)Girls61 (6.3%)

Koa registered for boys

  • Ranked #206 in 2024
  • 245 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (245 births)

Koa registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,253 in 2024
  • 12 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (14 births)

Meaning

What does Koa mean?

The name Koa originates from the Hawaiian language, which is a Polynesian language spoken in the Hawaiian Islands. The name is believed to have derived from the Hawaiian word "koa," which means "warrior" or "brave."

In ancient Hawaiian culture, the name Koa was often given to children born into families of warriors or chieftains, as it represented strength, courage, and bravery. The name was also associated with the koa tree, which is a hardwood tree native to the Hawaiian Islands and was used to make weapons and canoes.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Koa can be found in the Hawaiian chants and legends, where it was often used to describe brave warriors and chiefs. The name was also mentioned in the Hawaiian language newspapers and records dating back to the 19th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Koa. One of the earliest recorded figures with this name was Koa Kalanianaole, who was a Hawaiian chief and military leader in the late 18th century. He was known for his bravery in battles against invading forces and his leadership skills.

Another prominent figure with the name Koa was Koa Anuenue, who was a Hawaiian prince and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the early 19th century. He was known for his intelligence and diplomatic skills, and played a significant role in maintaining peaceful relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and other nations.

In more recent times, Koa Nui was a renowned Hawaiian musician and composer who lived during the mid-20th century. He was known for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of Hawaiian music and culture, and his compositions are still widely celebrated today.

Koa Rothman is a contemporary Hawaiian professional surfer and environmentalist. He is known for his exceptional surfing skills and his advocacy for ocean conservation and sustainability.

Koa Parmenter is an American-born mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in various promotions and is known for his aggressive fighting style and determination in the ring.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Koa throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and embodying the spirit of bravery and strength associated with the name's Hawaiian origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Koa over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Koa in England and Wales, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Koa, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 245 births in 2024, compared with 245 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
064129193257200420142024

Decades

Koa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koa was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #348 730 5
2010s #1607 177 8
2000s #3651 3 1

Geography

Where Koa is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Koa. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Koa ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #154 in 2024.

Scotland
26
Northern Ireland
14

Across the UK

Koa in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#169 in 2024

8 years of NRS records, 80 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#154 in 2024

8 years of NISRA records, 55 total registered

Related

Names similar to Koa

FAQ

Koa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Koa in the UK right now?

In 2024, Koa was ranked #206 for boys in England and Wales, with 245 births registered.

When was Koa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 245 babies registered as Koa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Koa?

A Hawaiian name meaning brave, fearless, or bold.

How many people are called Koa in the UK?

A total of 910 babies have been registered as Koa across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 80 more in Scotland and 55 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Koa most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Koa ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #154 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.