How to say it
KO · be
ˈkoʊ.bi
Masculine
Kobe
A Japanese city; tortoise
What it means
From the Japanese city Kobe, with ties to Swahili 'tortoise'; popularized by Kobe Bryant.
Kobe is best known through basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose parents picked it off a menu featuring Kobe beef from the Japanese port city. The city's name relates to a shrine, and Kobe also means 'tortoise' in Swahili. Cool and modern, it surged as a tribute name. Said KOH-bee.
How to spell Kobe
The standard spelling is Kobe. Common variants include Coby, Kobi, Kobey, but Kobe is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #222 in 2001, currently #519 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
- Spelling
From the Japanese city; also Coby or Kobi.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Kobe Bryant American basketball star who played 20 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, 1996 to 2016
Spelling variants
- Coby
- Kobi
- Kobey
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Kobe mean?
- From the Japanese city Kobe, with ties to Swahili 'tortoise'; popularized by Kobe Bryant.
- What does Kobe mean in Japanese?
- In Japanese, Kobe means "A Japanese city; tortoise." Kobe is best known through basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose parents picked it off a menu featuring Kobe beef from the Japanese port city. The city's name relates to a shrine, and Kobe also means 'tortoise' in Swahili. Cool and modern, it surged as a tribute name. Said KOH-bee.
- How do you pronounce Kobe?
- Kobe is pronounced ˈkoʊ.bi. Say it as KO-be, with the stress on the "ko" syllable.
- How do you spell Kobe?
- The standard spelling is Kobe. Common spelling variants include Coby, Kobi, Kobey.
- Is Kobe a boy or girl name?
- Kobe is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Kobe?
- Kobe ranked #519 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.