Kota
Meaningoften happy and big · Japanese
Kota is a Japanese boy name often meaning “happy and big”. 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?
- GenerationKota is having its moment right now. Most Kotas are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kota would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 19,646 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKota first shows up in US birth records in 1985, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 40 years since.
- Boy or girlKota truly works for either: 81% of the 107 babies named Kota in 2025 were boys, the rest girls.
US births per million boys, 1985–2025
Similar names
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 Kota
Kota is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often happy and big”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. 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 Kota
What does the name Kota mean?
Kota means “often happy and big” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Asher (“happy, blessed”), Felix (“lucky, happy”), Said (“happy, fortunate”) and Saeed (“happy, fortunate”).
What is the origin of the name Kota?
Kota is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Kota a boy or girl name?
Kota is a boy name, though a few girls are given it too each year. In 2025, 87 US boys were named Kota.
How popular is the name Kota?
Kota ranked #1,826 for US boys in 2025, given to 87 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it reached #1,817. Over the last five years it has climbed 611 places.
What names are similar to Kota?
If you like Kota, you might also like Asher, Felix, Said and Saeed.
What should I know before naming my baby Kota?
Kota is a Japanese boy name often meaning “happy and big”. 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.