NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Koba

A masculine Japanese name meaning "small falcon" or "little falcon".

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.

Koba is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Koba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 5 births.

This profile covers 5 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2024 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.

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

We estimate that about 5 living people in the UK are called Koba. 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

  • Koba ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 5 boys were registered as Koba.
  • About 5 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2024

5 births

Estimated living

5

2026

Meaning

What does Koba mean?

The name Koba is believed to have originated from the Georgian language and culture. It is derived from the Georgian word "koba," which means "hut" or "small house." This suggests that the name may have been used to denote someone who lived in a modest dwelling or had a humble background.

In ancient Georgian history, the name Koba was often associated with peasants or common folk. It was a name that carried a sense of humility and simplicity. However, over time, the name gained wider acceptance and was adopted by people from various social classes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Koba can be found in the medieval Georgian epic poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" by Shota Rustaveli, written in the 12th century. In this literary work, Koba is mentioned as the name of a character, although his role is not significant.

Throughout the centuries, several notable figures have borne the name Koba. One of the most infamous was Joseph Stalin (1878-1953), the former leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin's birth name was Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, but he adopted the revolutionary pseudonym "Koba" during his early years as a Bolshevik revolutionary.

Another prominent individual with the name Koba was Koba Nakhidze (1896-1937), a Georgian Bolshevik revolutionary who played a significant role in the establishment of Soviet rule in Georgia. He later fell victim to Stalin's Great Purge and was executed in 1937.

In the realm of literature, Koba Iashvili (1913-1974) was a renowned Georgian writer and playwright. His works, including plays and short stories, explored themes of Georgian culture and national identity.

Moving to the field of sports, Koba Khutsishvili (1945-2021) was a former Soviet and Georgian football player and coach. He represented the Soviet Union national team and later coached several clubs in Georgia.

The name Koba has also been used in popular culture. For instance, Koba Laguari is a character in the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, where he plays a significant role in the protagonist's life.

While the name Koba has Georgian roots, it has transcended cultural boundaries and can be found in various parts of the world, although its usage remains relatively uncommon outside of Georgia and the Caucasus region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Koba by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koba 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 #3688 5 1

Related

Names similar to Koba

FAQ

Koba: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Koba was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Koba most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 5 babies registered as Koba in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Koba?

A masculine Japanese name meaning "small falcon" or "little falcon".

How many people are called Koba in the UK?

A total of 5 babies have been registered as Koba across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.