Kohei
Meaningoften broad and peaceful · Japanese
Kohei is a Japanese boy name often meaning “broad and peaceful”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Kohei would score 12 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationKohei peaked in 1993, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Kohei you'd meet today is about 32 years old.
- HistoryKohei first shows up in US birth records in 1989, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 36 years since.
US births per million boys, 1989–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kohei
Kohei is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often broad and peaceful”. 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 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Kohei
What does the name Kohei mean?
Kohei means “often broad and peaceful” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Frederick (“peaceful ruler”), Aarav (“peaceful, calm”), Freddy (“peaceful ruler”) and Freddie (“peaceful ruler”).
What is the origin of the name Kohei?
Kohei is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Kohei a boy or girl name?
Kohei is a boy name.
How popular is the name Kohei?
Kohei is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2017. It peaked at #4,697 in 1993, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Kohei?
If you like Kohei, you might also like Frederick, Aarav, Freddy and Freddie.
What should I know before naming my baby Kohei?
Kohei is a Japanese boy name often meaning “broad and peaceful”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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.