The baby name Koa followed Kai into the US popularity charts. Let’s take a look at this distinctive name.
Thanks to Kelia for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME KOA MEAN?
At first glance, it’s easy to imagine Koa is a creative spin on Noah.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Like Kai, Koa boasts Hawaiian origins.
It comes from the koa tree, found all over the state of Hawaii. The wood has been used for everything from furniture to canoes to guitars.
It’s a member of the Fabaceae family – the pea family, meaning that koa trees are more closely related to soybeans and peanuts than oak trees. But you wouldn’t know it at a glance – they grow quite tall, and while they do produce fruit, but it doesn’t appear to be edible.
Tree names are having their moment in the sun. That alone is enough to explain the rise of Koa, alongside Aspen and Rowan.
But there’s more.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KOA
Hawaiian is a Polynesian language, and, along with English, one of the state’s two official languages. It wasn’t always so. After being removed from curriculum for nearly a century, Hawaiian was re-introduced to schools in the late 1980s. While it remains endangered, more people are working to preserve it, along with Hawaiian culture.
Names are often a means to do so. For parents of Hawaiian heritage, a choice like Koa serves as a good compromise between mainstream names and authentic possibilities.
Back to the koa tree. The tree’s name means warrior. It’s a sound that appears in names like Kekoa, Kainoa, and Nakoa. Other Ko- names, like Kōnane, might influence Koa, too, though Kōnane means bright.
A few places parents might have heard the name along the way:
- Competitive surfer Koa Smith was born in Hawaii. Another use for koa wood? Surfboards.
- Maui-based professional baseball team Na Koa Ikaika Maui was formed in 2010. Their name translates to “The Maui Strong Warriors.”
- No Doubt’s Tom Dumont has three boys: Ace Joseph, Rio Atticus, and Koa Thomas.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME KOA?
The musician seems to have inspired others. In 2010, 75 boys received the name. A year later, in 2011, there were 88 Koas added to the USA – including the youngest Dumont. In 2012, 117 newborns were given the name.
At the same time:
- Ends-with-a names for boys went mainstream, from Old Testament Ezra to Italian Luca.
- Noah has been a Top 100 name since 1995, and a Top Ten choice since 2009.
- The rapid rise of Kai helped open the door for more Hawaiian names, from Lailani to Koa.
2017 marked the year the baby name Koa entered the US Top 1000, at #938. As of 2025, Koa stands at #269 – an all-time high.
As of 2025, Koah also ranks in the US Top 1000, at #912.
MORE KOAS
Outdoorsy families might also think of KOA – Kampgrounds of America, a network of over 500 campgrounds across the US and Canada.
Hawaii’s Kona International Airport is officially KOA.
In recent years, pro surfer Koa Rothman has risen to fame, not just on the water, but also on social media.
A handful of influencers and celebrities have chosen the name as it has steadily risen, too.
KOA KEEPS RISING
The baby name Koa fits right in on a 21st cetnury playground. We love the sound. It’s fresher than Leo, not as different as Krue.
With deep roots in Hawaiian and surf culture, Koa is a meaningful choice. But similarity to Noah and Kai’s Top 100 status mean that even families in landlocked America without any specific heritage might fall for this name’s meaning and strength.
What do you think of the baby name Koa?
First published on August 15, 2013, this post was republished on June 11, 2026.
my daughter just gave birth to koa her other son is odin both warriors
Congratulations on the new grandson. What great names for brothers!
We plan on naming our baby boy Koa this October 🙂 still on the hunt for a middle name though if anyone has suggestions!
Our little boy Koa was born in August 2013 and he is as brave and fearless as his name suggests. His big brother is Yerin so we were looking for something equally as unusual although he has become “Kokie” as his brother couldn’t say Koa
We are naming our little girl Koa. My husband thinks its more a boys name but i like it for a girl 🙂
Loving the write up on Koa, our little boy Koa was born on the 4th July this year. We chose the name as we love Polynesia and wanted something a bit different that had a tropical feel to it. We are both surfers and my husband is a carpenter so the name ticked all the boxes for us.
My son’s name is Koa! He was born in March of this year, and a friend who’s obsessed with names as I am sent me a link to this post. We chose it because we liked the sound of it, liked the “warrior” meaning, and didn’t want a name that needed an initial after it to differentiate him from his classmates. His older brother’s name is Adlai. Thqnks for sharing more about the name! I learned some things I didn’t know.
Adlai & Koa – what great names! Never would’ve imagined them together, but they do make for a great pair. Would love to hear the other names you considered! 🙂
Oh yay! I’m so glad you covered Koa. It was brought to my attention by Tom Dumont. I love Noah, but the popularity turns me off quite a bit. I also love nature names so that’s a plus and also read that it means brave. People might assume that Koa is a knockoff of Noah, but happy it can stand alone with it’s own meaning, associations and history.
Koa just seems so strong and handsome, with a laid-back beach vibe and simplicity that is too hard to resist. <3 Rio and Koa as a sibset too, although I prefer River, nn Rio. Thanks again Abby!
I could swear there’s another celebrity with a son named Koa. I can’t find him on any of the celebrity baby sites, but I still remember hearing the name years before Tom Dumont used the name. For some reason, I think the couple was either lived in Hawaii or they were filming something in Hawaii at the time…
Anyways, I think the name was really striking.
*is* really striking.
I need a proofreader.
Are you thinking of Ky Hurst? I think his little boy is called Koa.
This is such a fantastic name – it’s cool and laid-back, but it has a bit of power to it as well. It seems usable for so many different types of families too.
In Australia, Koa has a history as a female name, because it is the Maori word for “joy”, but the boys are getting in on the act now because of the Polynesian name.
Interesting! I love the idea of a name that means joy …
Love it! The three letters, how it sounds, the meaning. It’s cool, fresh yet simple and solid.