Kosta is a unisex given name of Slavic origin, particularly popular among Southern Slavs. It is derived from the Slavic word 'kost', meaning 'bone'. The name gained prominence through its association with early Byzantine emperors, such as Constantine I (also known as Constantine the Great), who ruled from 306 to 337 AD. Kosta has been traditionally used among Serbs, Bulgarians, and other Slavic peoples, often as a short form of longer names like Konstantin or Kostadinka.
The name Kosta has seen a notable increase in popularity from the late 20th century to the present day, with a significant spike starting around the year 2008 and continuing through to 2022, where it reached its peak with 23 births recorded. Prior to this, the number of annual births ranged between 5 to 16, with several years having fewer than 10 births each. This trend suggests that Kosta is now a more favored name compared to previous decades.