Koa

♀ Girl

Pronounced KOH-uh /ˈkoʊ.ə/Low

Meaning: From Hawaiian koa meaning "warrior, bold, fearless," and also the native koa tree prized for its strong wood.Low

In 30 seconds: Koa is a Hawaiian name meaning 'warrior, bold, fearless', and also the native koa tree prized for its strong wood.

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Origin LowHawaiian

MeaningFrom Hawaiian koa meaning "warrior, bold, fearless," and also the native koa tree prized for its strong wood.

U.S. rank (2025)#1588 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births132 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 846

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name comes from Hawaiian, where 'koa' means 'warrior' and carries the sense of being bold and fearless. It is also the name of the native koa tree, valued for its strong, beautiful wood. Those two meanings, courage and sturdy strength, sit together in the single short word.

The clipped two-vowel sound gives it a strong, direct feel that fits its warrior meaning. It is used here as a girl's name while keeping that bold Hawaiian sense.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Koa is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 55%

Behind the Name - Koa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Koa…

Kai— another short Hawaiian-associated name with a clean vowel sound

Leilani— a Hawaiian girl's name from the same cultural roots

Kaliah— another Hawaiian name

Kaia— a similarly popular pick

Klani— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Koa mean?

Koa is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Koa?

It's commonly said KOH-uh /ˈkoʊ.ə/.

Is Koa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Koa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Koa?

In 2024, Koa ranked #1563 in the U.S. for girls, with 136 births recorded.