Kobe is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #278 in 2024 with 165 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2020 with 245 births ranking #205. In 2024, approximately 1 in every 1,684 boys born was named Kobe. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Kobe has two supported routes in Behind the Name. It can be a Flemish diminutive of Jakob, or it can be a modern name taken from the Japanese city of Kobe.
The place-name route became especially familiar in the English-speaking world because Kobe Bryant’s parents chose it after seeing Kobe beef on a menu. Since both routes are real, the safest description is that Kobe is multi-origin.