Koan
Boy · KOH-an · Japanese
Koan is a boys' name of Japanese origin. In 2025 it ranked 3,329th for boys in the UK (6 babies).
What does Koan mean?
Japanese: from the Zen term koan, or a respelling of Cohen
In Zen Buddhism a koan is a riddle-like story or question used to provoke insight.
- Say it
- KOH-an
Is Koan a girl's or a boy's name?
Koan is a boys' name. In 2025, it was given to 6 boys in the UK. Too few girls were given it to be listed.
How popular is Koan in the UK?
- Rank in 2025
- #3,329among boys
- Babies in 2025
- 6about 1 in 50,000 boys
- Five-year trend
- Rising fastup 325% in five years
- Same name in a class
- under 1%chance among 15 boys
In 2025, 6 boys in the UK were named Koan, making it the 3,329th most popular name for boys. Its busiest year was 2024, with 6 boys.
In 2025, 246 boys in the UK were given Koan or a name that sounds the same. With every name's spellings counted this way, that ranks #233, up from #3,329 for this spelling alone.
Among boys in 2025, it was 3,239th in England and Wales.
Koan in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | #3,329 |
| 2024 | 6 | #3,335 |
| 2023 | 5 | #3,712 |
| 2022 | 3 | #5,017 |
| 2021 | 5 | #3,614 |
| 2020 | 0 | – |
| 2019 | 4 | #4,126 |
| 2018 | 0 | – |
| 2017 | 5 | #3,608 |
| 2016 | 3 | #5,015 |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 4 | #4,063 |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 0 | – |
| 2010 | 0 | – |
| 2009 | 0 | – |
| 2008 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | 0 | – |
| 2006 | 3 | #4,204 |
Names like Koan
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Kairo Rowan Finn Brody Ronan Kayden Lochlan Conan Rian Koa Eden Callan
Other spellings of Koan
Names related to Koan
More Japanese names
Kobe Kaizen Raiden Ren Akari Kenzo Ronin Kyomi Akira Yuna Emi Kiyomi Kairi Miya Kenji Reo