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Home › Baby Names Directory › Koba

Koba

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOH-buh /ˈko.bə/Medium

Meaning: Koba is a Georgian pet form of Iakob (Jacob), from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally read as 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel'. It is a familiar, warm name in Georgia. It is also, historically, the nickname Joseph Stalin used as a young revolutionary — taken from a hero of Georgian literature — and families should know that association exists.Low

In 30 seconds: A Georgian form of Jacob, warm and short (said 'KOH-buh'). We note its historical link to Stalin's nom de guerre.
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Origin MediumGeorgian
MeaningKoba is a Georgian pet form of Iakob (Jacob), from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally read as 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel'. It is a familiar, warm name in Georgia. It is also, historically, the nickname Joseph Stalin used as a young revolutionary — taken from a hero of Georgian literature — and families should know that association exists.
U.S. rank (2024)#13323 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 40

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201820152024

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

Koba is a Georgian pet form of Iakob, the local shape of Jacob, from Hebrew Ya'aqov. It is used as an ordinary, affectionate given name in Georgia. It carries one heavy historical footnote: the young Joseph Stalin took Koba as a nom de guerre, borrowing it from the hero of Kazbegi's Georgian novel The Patricide. We state that openly so families choose with open eyes (said 'KOH-buh').

In the U.S. it appears only very rarely for boys. Rare, Georgian-rooted, and historically freighted.

Did you know? In Georgia, Koba is an affectionate form of Iakob (Jacob). It was also the revolutionary alias of Joseph Stalin, borrowed from a Georgian novel's hero — an association worth knowing, which we note plainly (said 'KOH-buh').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Koba — Georgian pet form of Iakob/Jacob; Stalin's nom de guerre noted

Variations

IakobJacobYakov

Nicknames

KobKo

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Koba…

Jacob— the classic name behind it
Yakov— a like Slavic form of Jacob
Kai— a like short, bright pick
Levan— another Georgian boy's name

Explore names like Koba

By themeheritageshortdocumentedgeorgian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Koba mean?

Koba is a Georgian pet form of Iakob (Jacob), from Hebrew Ya'aqov. It was also the young Joseph Stalin's revolutionary nickname.

How do you pronounce Koba?

It's said KOH-buh /ˈko.bə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Koba a boy or girl name?

Koba is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Koba?

Koba is a very rare name for boys in the U.S., though familiar in Georgia.

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