Kofi
Meaningborn on friday · Akan
Kofi is an African boy name meaning “born on friday”, with Akan roots. In Akan tradition, many children are named for the day of the week they were born. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationKofi peaked in 1978, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Kofi you'd meet today is about 47 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Kofis too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kofi would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 47,393 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKofi first shows up in US birth records in 1970, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 55 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Kofis? Head to Virginia, where it's the #971 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1970–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kofi
Kofi is a boy name of African origin meaning “born on friday”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
Other spellings of Kofi
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Kofi
What does the name Kofi mean?
Kofi means “born on friday” and comes from Akan. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Juma (“born on Friday”), Danjuma (“born on friday”) and Fiifi (“born on Friday”).
What is the origin of the name Kofi?
Kofi is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Akan. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Kofi a boy or girl name?
Kofi is a boy name. In 2025, 36 US boys were named Kofi.
How popular is the name Kofi?
Kofi ranked #3,240 for US boys in 2025, given to 36 babies. Its best year was 1978, when it reached #1,965. Over the last five years it has slipped 166 places.
What names are similar to Kofi?
If you like Kofi, you might also like Koffi, Juma, Danjuma and Fiifi. Koffi is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Kofi?
Kofi is an African boy name meaning “born on friday”, with Akan roots. In Akan tradition, many children are named for the day of the week they were born. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.