NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Koby

A given name derived from Jacob, likely meaning "he who follows" or "supplanter".

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.

Koby is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Koby popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #448, with 90 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 119 births.

This profile covers 1,602 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 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.

The latest count is about 76% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,713 living people in the UK are called Koby. 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

  • Koby ranked #448 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 90 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 119 boys were registered as Koby.
  • Koby ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.
  • About 1,713 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koby as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.8% of Koby registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#448

2024

Births in 2024

90

Latest year

Peak year

2021

119 births

Estimated living

1,713

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Koby

In England and Wales birth records, Koby has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.8% of registrations are for boys and 0.2% 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.

100% boys
Boys1,602 (99.8%)Girls3 (0.2%)

Koby registered for boys

  • Ranked #448 in 2024
  • 90 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2021 (119 births)

Koby registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,912 in 2000
  • 3 girls registered in 2000
  • Peak: 2000 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Koby mean?

The name Koby is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language and culture. It is a variant spelling of the biblical name Jacob, which is derived from the Hebrew word "Ya'aqov," meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows."

The earliest recorded use of the name Koby can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was used as a diminutive form of Jacob. In the 12th century, the name appeared in various Jewish texts and records, particularly in communities across Europe.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Koby was Rabbi Koby ben Yitzchak, a prominent scholar and religious leader who lived in 13th-century Spain. He is known for his contributions to the study of Jewish law and his insightful commentaries on the Torah.

In the 16th century, Koby Gutenberg was a German goldsmith and engraver who played a significant role in the development of the printing press. His innovations in movable type technology revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge and paved the way for the proliferation of printed materials.

During the 18th century, Koby Ancher was a renowned Danish painter known for his masterful portraits and historical scenes. His works captured the essence of the Baroque and Rococo styles, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.

In the 20th century, Koby Levi was an influential Israeli poet and writer who gained recognition for his poignant exploration of themes such as love, identity, and the human condition. His poetry collection, "Voices of the Heart," became a classic in modern Hebrew literature.

Another notable figure with the name Koby was Koby Katz, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded one of the world's largest online retail platforms. His contributions to e-commerce and his support for various charitable causes have left a lasting legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Koby over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Koby in England and Wales, from 1997 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 Koby, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 90 births in 2024, compared with 119 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0306089119199720102024

Decades

Koby by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koby 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 #419 503 5
2010s #505 783 10
2000s #863 305 10
1990s #2625 11 3

Geography

Where Koby is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Koby. 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.

Koby ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.

Scotland
4
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Koby in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#619 in 2024

17 years of NRS records, 86 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#404 in 2024

9 years of NISRA records, 35 total registered

Related

Names similar to Koby

FAQ

Koby: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Koby was ranked #448 for boys in England and Wales, with 90 births registered.

When was Koby most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 119 babies registered as Koby in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Koby?

A given name derived from Jacob, likely meaning "he who follows" or "supplanter".

How many people are called Koby in the UK?

A total of 1,602 babies have been registered as Koby across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 86 more in Scotland and 35 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Koby most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Koby ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #404 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.