UK name, mostly boys
Koah
A name meaning "strength" in Hawaiian.
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.
Koah is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Koah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #880, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 36 births.
This profile covers 173 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2014 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.
Koah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 197 living people in the UK are called Koah. 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
- • Koah ranked #880 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 36 boys were registered as Koah.
- • Koah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #395 in 2023.
- • About 197 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.1% of Koah registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#880
2024
Births in 2024
36
Latest year
Peak year
2024
36 births
Estimated living
197
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Koah
In England and Wales birth records, Koah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 96.1% of registrations are for boys and 3.9% 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.
Koah registered for boys
- Ranked #880 in 2024
- 36 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (36 births)
Koah registered for girls
- Ranked #5,687 in 2023
- 3 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2019 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Koah mean?
The name Koah is an ancient Hebrew name with origins dating back to biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "koach," which means strength, power, or vigor. The name first appeared in the Old Testament, where it was used as a title or description for God, referring to His mighty power and authority.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Koah can be found in the Book of Job, where it is used to describe the strength and might of the Lord. The verse reads, "He is the one who by his koach stilled the sea" (Job 26:12). This reference highlights the name's association with divine power and sovereignty.
Throughout the centuries, the name Koah has been borne by various individuals, although it was not as common as some other Hebrew names. One notable figure in history who carried this name was Koah ben Judah, a prominent rabbi and scholar who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his extensive contributions to the study of Jewish law and his writings on the Talmud.
Another historical figure named Koah was Koah ben Isaac, a 13th-century Jewish philosopher and mystic from Spain. He was renowned for his work on Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, and his teachings on the nature of the divine and the soul.
In the 16th century, there was a Jewish scholar and physician named Koah ben Abraham who lived in Italy. He was known for his expertise in medicine and his writings on various topics, including philosophy and theology.
Moving forward in time, one of the most famous individuals named Koah was Koah ben Yitzchak Kaduri, an influential Iraqi-born rabbi and Kabbalist who lived from 1898 to 2006. He was revered for his wisdom and spiritual guidance and was considered a leading authority on Jewish mysticism.
While the name Koah has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture, it has been adopted by people of various backgrounds and nationalities over the centuries. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name, especially in modern times, as many parents have favored more contemporary or traditional Hebrew names for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Koah over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Koah in England and Wales, from 2014 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 Koah, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koah 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 | #1064 | 140 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2995 | 33 | 4 |
Geography
Where Koah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Koah. 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.
Koah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #395 in 2023.
Across the UK
Koah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
4 years of NRS records, 15 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#395 in 2023
2 years of NISRA records, 10 total registered
Related
Names similar to Koah
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Koah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Koah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Koah was ranked #880 for boys in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.
When was Koah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 36 babies registered as Koah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Koah?
A name meaning "strength" in Hawaiian.
How many people are called Koah in the UK?
A total of 173 babies have been registered as Koah across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 15 more in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Koah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Koah ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #395 in 2023. 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.