Koi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Koi

What is the meaning of the name Koi ?

The baby name Koi is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced koy (/kɔɪ/).

Koi is English, Japanese in Origin.

Koi is a compact, unisex name with layered sources. In Japanese, it can be written as 鯉 “carp,” evoking the koi fish’s associations with perseverance, luck, and transformation (the carp-to-dragon legend), or as 恋 “love/longing,” a poetic term common in classical verse. As a given name in Japan it is uncommon but recognized, more often appearing as a modern, minimalist standalone or as an element in names such as Koito and Koishi.

Beyond Japan, Koi also aligns with Polynesian roots: in Hawaiian, koi means “to implore, urge, or request,” and in Māori, koi describes someone “sharp, clever,” both inspiring contemporary given-name use. English speakers typically say KOY, while Japanese is two syllables, ko-i. Variants and cognates include Koy and Coy (phonetic), and the stylistic Koï; nicknames Ko and Koko. Overall meanings center on love, perseverance, and keen-mindedness, lending Koi cross-cultural simplicity with symbolic depth.