Kobe is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #519 in 2025 with 578 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2001 with 1,552 births ranking #222. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 564.4%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 2,955 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.