Kou: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	6	6	1	–	#5,756
1980s	18	323	341	34	+5583%	#1,714
1990s	15	279	294	29	-14%	#1,766
2000s	–	63	63	6	-79%	#6,826
2010s	–	20	20	2	-68%	#8,479
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#5,756

1980s

323

341

+5583%

#1,714

1990s

279

294

-14%

#1,766

2000s

–

-79%

#6,826

2010s

–

-68%

#8,479

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Kou

Kou is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1979, 724 American babies have been named Kou. Its peak came in 1992, when 53 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kou stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Kou?

The median living Kou is about 35 years old; half are between 31 and 40. An estimated 700 people named Kou are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Kou year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	5	#13,397
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	6	#11,547
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	9	#8,479
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	5	#13,605
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	5	#13,518
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	10	#7,438
2004	–	–	8	#8,595
2003	–	–	8	#8,285
2002	–	–	10	#6,826
2001	–	–	8	#7,993
2000	–	–	9	#7,153
1995	–	–	22	#3,153
1990	5	#14,126	41	#1,893
1985	–	–	29	#1,998
1980	–	–	28	#1,986
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Kou, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Kou?

The median living Kou is about 35 years old. Half of all living Kous are between 31 and 40 years old.

How many people named Kou are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Kou are alive in the United States, based on 724 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Kou in 2025?

Kou did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Kou?

724 babies have been named Kou in the United States since 1979, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kou most popular?

Kou peaked in 1992, when 53 newborns received the name.

Is Kou a boy or girl name?

Kou is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 95% of babies with the name.

Is the name Kou rising or falling?

Kou is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Kou

Kou popularity over time

The story of Kou

How old are people named Kou?

Kou year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Kou