Kojo

A boy's name of Yoruba origin with 323 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

a Finnish surname

Kojo is a boy's baby name of Yoruba origin from West Africa — specifically used in Akan culture (Ghana, Ivory Coast) as a day name meaning 'born on Monday.' In the Akan naming tradition, every child receives a day name based on the day of their birth, making Kojo a culturally specific and deeply meaningful given name.

Kojo is a well-established name in Ghana and among West African diaspora communities worldwide. It carries the warmth of Akan cultural tradition — a name that literally roots the child in the moment and community of their birth.

EtymologyShow more

Kojo is built from 4 letters and two syllables — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Yoruba naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.

The interplay of consonants and vowels in Kojo creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

323

Total births

Since 1971

1999

Peak

12 births

1971

First recorded

53 years of data

Compare Kojo with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kojo has 41+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1971.

First appeared: 1971Peak: 1999 (12 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kojo
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	36	#8782	—
2010s	36	#10460	▼
2000s	93	#7982	▲
1990s	70	#7251	▲
1980s	39	#6015	▼
1970s	49	#4806	—

The Story of Kojo

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 1999, Kojo is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Kojo are most likely born between 1989 and 2009.

How rare is Kojo?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Kojo is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1971, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 93 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Kojo by the numbers

Would fill 7 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(41 years, 1971–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kojo
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	9	#8617	-3 (-25.0%)
2022	12	#7053	+4 (50.0%)
2021	8	#9317	+1 (14.3%)
2020	7	#10140	-4 (-36.4%)
2019	11	#7428	+5 (83.3%)
2017	6	#11558	0
2015	6	#11492	0
2013	6	#11540	-1 (-14.3%)
2011	7	#10283	0
2009	7	#10514	-1 (-12.5%)
2008	8	#9491	0
2007	8	#9387	0
2006	8	#9206	-2 (-20.0%)
2005	10	#7433	-2 (-16.7%)
2004	12	#6359	+3 (33.3%)
2003	9	#7582	-1 (-10.0%)
2002	10	#6820	-2 (-16.7%)
2001	12	#5879	+3 (33.3%)
2000	9	#7149	-3 (-25.0%)
1999	12	#5515	+6 (100.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kojo a boy's or girl's name?

Kojo is primarily a boy's name.

When was Kojo most popular?

Kojo reached its peak popularity in 1999 with 12 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Kojo?

Kojo is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 323 babies in the U.S. since 1971. Its peak was in 1999.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginYoruba names By EndingNames in -o TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2023