Meaning and background
The story behind Koi
Koi evokes ornamental ponds through a specific fish word. Merriam-Webster describes carp bred especially in Japan for large size and varied colors, often kept in ornamental ponds. A dog name can preserve a garden or fishkeeping memory through that association. The source documents the fish, rather than a universal meaning for every personal name or other word written Koi, so additional language interpretations are not inferred.
- Association
- Animal word for ornamental carp selectively bred especially in Japan. Source
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Everyday moments“Koi, come here!”
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About Koi
Recorded as a dog’s name
Koi appears in 3 dog licence records in the 2023 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
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Sources and research notes (1)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.