UK girl's name
Koko
Of Japanese origin, meaning "child" or "first born".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Koko is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Koko popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2007 to 2022. 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.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Koko. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Koko ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Koko.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koko as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Koko mean?
The name Koko has its origins in African languages, particularly those spoken in West and Central Africa. It is believed to have derived from the Akan language, spoken by the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast, where it means "born on Wednesday" or "first born."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Koko can be found in the Sundiata, an epic oral tradition of the Mandinka people of West Africa, dating back to the 13th century. In this epic, Koko is mentioned as the name of a character who plays a significant role in the story.
In the 16th century, during the transatlantic slave trade, the name Koko was brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans from the regions where the Akan language was spoken. Over time, it became a common name among African Americans, particularly in the southern United States.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Koko was Koko Taylor, an American blues singer and songwriter (1928-2009). Known as the "Queen of the Blues," she was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and won numerous awards for her contributions to the genre.
Another notable person named Koko was Koko the gorilla (1971-2018), a western lowland gorilla who was taught sign language by researchers and became a celebrity for her ability to communicate with humans. Her case study contributed significantly to our understanding of animal intelligence and language acquisition.
In Japanese culture, the name Koko can also be found, although its origins and meaning may be different. One prominent figure with this name was Koko Kondo (1888-1963), a Japanese novelist and playwright who was active during the early 20th century and is known for his works that explored themes of modernity and social change.
Koko Nge (1918-1978) was a Burmese politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Burma (now Myanmar) from 1962 to 1963. He played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence and its transition to a parliamentary democracy.
The name Koko has also been used in various works of fiction and popular culture. For example, Koko the Clown was a popular children's character created by the American entertainer Emmett Kelly in the 1940s, known for his distinctive painted face and silent performances.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Koko over time
The chart below shows babies named Koko registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Koko, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koko by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koko 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 | #4946 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4961 | 23 | 6 |
| 2000s | #4920 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Koko
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Koko: questions and answers
How popular is the name Koko in the UK right now?
In 2022, Koko was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Koko most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Koko in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Koko?
Of Japanese origin, meaning "child" or "first born".
How many people are called Koko in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Koko across the 11 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.