Meaning and history
Koa has distinct Hawaiian and other modern uses. In Hawaiian, koa means “warrior,” “brave,” or “bold,” and is also the name of the native koa tree, prized for its wood; the intended association can include both meanings. In Japanese or other languages, the same romanization may represent unrelated character combinations. Notable bearers include American surfer Koa Smith and Hawaiian musician Koa Lopes. Cultural context is essential to interpretation.
20062006: 41 births, rank #2,784
2007: 56 births, rank #2,304
2008: 77 births, rank #1,874
2009: 81 births, rank #1,825
2010: 75 births, rank #1,898
20112011: 88 births, rank #1,687
2012: 118 births, rank #1,407
2013: 113 births, rank #1,459
2014: 112 births, rank #1,456
2015: 162 births, rank #1,157
20162016: 153 births, rank #1,221
2017: 223 births, rank #936
2018: 278 births, rank #809
2019: 326 births, rank #739
2020: 477 births, rank #582
20212021: 536 births, rank #545
2022: 941 births, rank #350
2023: 1,119 births, rank #298
2024: 1,152 births, rank #292
20252025: 1,281 births, rank #269
Koa rose from #292 to #269 for boys between 2024 and 2025. That year also produced its highest recorded birth count, at 1,281.