Koa vs Spencer
Koa and Spencercompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Koa was ranked #50 and Spencer #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Koa was ranked #154 and Spencer #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Koa was ranked #169 and Spencer #160 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Koa was ranked #206 and Spencer #210 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Koa was ranked #286 and Spencer #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Koa was ranked #2253 and Spencer #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Koa and Spencer over time
Koa and Spencer appear together in 3 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Spencer held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Koa in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Spencer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Koa in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys14 shared years, 2004–2024
Koa held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Spencer in 13.
Highest recorded here: Koa #206 in 2024, Spencer #131 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Koa #206, Spencer #210.
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2014–2025
Koa held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Spencer in 6.
Highest recorded here: Koa #252 in 2024, Spencer #280 in 2020.
The order changed in 2024: Koa moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #343 and #288; by 2024 that had become #252 and #520.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Koa #286, Spencer #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2017–2024
Koa held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Spencer in 3.
Highest recorded here: Koa #154 in 2024, Spencer #160 in 2019.
The order changed in 2022: Koa moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #433 and #226; by 2022 that had become #285 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Koa #154, Spencer #256.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Koa | Spencer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A genuine cross-language homonym rather than one shared name. In Maori, Te Aka records two distinct words spelled 'koa': a grammatical particle, and separately a word for 'to be glad, joyful' / 'happiness'. Separately, in Hawaiian, the name means 'warrior' (also the name of the koa tree). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Maori and Hawaiian (unrelated homonyms) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkoa/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #50 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Koa has a recorded origin (Maori and Hawaiian (unrelated homonyms)); Spencer does not have one recorded yet.
- Koa has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Spencer.
- A meaning is recorded for Koa; Spencer doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Koa
Popularity journey
First recorded2004
First recorded at #3651 among boys in England and Wales in 2004 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2021–2025
Highest recorded position: #50 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2021–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Spencer
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2016–2025
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2016–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys