Given name & surname
Nakoa
“brave”
Nakoa is a masculine given name from Hawaiian. It is used in Hawaiian.
Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1977. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nakoa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,212
- 1,137 boys · 75 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 127 babies
- 2025
- 113
- #1,606 for boys · #12,788 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +103%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 92% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 106 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,606 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 105.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 7 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (19). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 531 as a first name in 2020; 231 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nakoa’s family of names
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Nakoa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Makoa
“brave”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kekoa
“a warrior”
>99% boys
Kainoa
“the” · “name; namesake”
99% boys · 1% girls
Koa
“a fearless man”
90% boys · 10% girls
Makaio
“a gift from God”
>99% boys
Kaimana
“diamond”
77% boys · 23% girls
Kaleo
“the” · “voice, tune”
>99% boys
Kamaka
“having a handsome face”
>99% boys