How to say it
KO · da
/ˈkoʊ.də/
Masculine
Koda
Friend, ally
What it means
From the Dakota and Sioux word for 'friend' or 'ally'; also used as a short for Dakota.
Koda comes from the Dakota and Lakota word for 'friend' or 'companion,' and doubles as a short form of Dakota. Disney's Brother Bear gave it a lovable bear cub named Koda, helping it climb among parents drawn to short, warm, nature-touched names like Koa and Kai. It reads friendly and easygoing. Kota is the alternate spelling.
Popularity over time
peaked at #411 in 2023, currently #411 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
A Dakota/Sioux word for 'friend'; also a short for Dakota.
- Pop culture
The bear cub Koda in Disney's Brother Bear.
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.
- Koda the bear cub of Disney's Brother Bear
Spelling variants
- Kota
- Kodah
- Koday