Updated February 20, 2024

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Boy name origins & meanings

  • Hebrew : Cunning

What does Kobe mean and stand for?

The name Kobe is of Hebrew origin and means "cunning." It is also a place name in Japan.

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

Kobee

Kobee

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kobi

Kobi

- 20% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Koby

Koby

- 4% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Kobey

Kobey

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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How Popular Is The Name Kobe

Family name origins & meanings

  • Japanese (Kōbe) : habitational name which began as occupational, meaning the private residence of a chief priest of a Shintō shrine; it could also indicate others who lived near his residence. The name is mostly found in eastern Japan, but because of the importance of the western port city of Kōbe, some emigrants from the city may have taken their surnames from it. More correctly pronounced Kanbe; other alternate pronunciations are Jinbe and Kamito.
  • German, Slovenian, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) : from a pet form of the personal name Jakob.

Famous people with this first name

What Does the Name Kobe Mean?

Kobe is a gender-neutral name of Swahili origin and means "tortoise."

How Popular is the Name Kobe?

Kobe is the number 298 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. It has recently become much more popular, jumping 300 spots in the last three years!

However, it is the 10th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Kobe in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Kobe was at its peak popularity in February 2020.

Kobe was searched for most often in the following states:

  1. California
  2. Nevada
  3. Hawaii
  4. Maryland
  5. Georgia

Famous People Named Kobe and Kobe in Pop Culture

Kobe has been around for centuries, but the name truly gained popularity in 2020 after the tragic death of basketball star Kobe Bryant. Kobe is also the name of a place in Japan, which has inspired the name for Kobe beef.

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

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People who like the Name Kobe also like

Teilo
Zeo
Meaning and Origin of Kobe