Kosuke
A boy's name of Japanese origin with 46 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Japanese.
Kosuke is a boy's baby name of Japanese origin, from the Japanese Kosuke — commonly written with characters meaning 'shining helper' or 'light and assistance,' combining ko (shining, light) and suke (help, assistance). The name has been in use in Japan for centuries and is a traditional masculine name associated with reliability and brightness.
Kosuke is rare in American SSA records outside Japanese-American communities. Its clean two-syllable sound — KO-su-ke — travels well across languages, and its meaning of 'shining helper' carries a beautiful, service-oriented aspiration.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Kosuke's final sounds are crisp, punchy — giving the name a decisive, no-nonsense quality. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Kosuke follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Kosuke's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kosuke has 8+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1987.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23 | #11602 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 18 | #8353 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | #7614 | — |
The Story of Kosuke
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1996, Kosuke is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Kosuke are most likely born between 1987 and 2006.
How rare is Kosuke?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Kosuke is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1987, peaked in the 2000s with 23 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(8 years, 1987–2009)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 | #11825 |
| 2008 | 5 | #13703 |
| 2004 | 6 | #10756 |
| 2002 | 6 | #10124 |
| 1996 | 7 | #7606 |
| 1994 | 5 | #9637 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7816 |
| 1987 | 5 | #7614 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kosuke a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kosuke most popular?
How popular is the name Kosuke?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1987–2009