Koen

Koen is a Dutch short form of Coenraad, a name from Germanic elements meaning bold and counsel. It is also used as a complete given name. The traditional Dutch sound is a single syllable with an oo-like vowel, which differs from the two-syllable reading some English speakers may expect from the letters.

Coen is a closely related spelling. Cohen, despite looking similar, is a separate Hebrew surname meaning priest and should not supply Koen's meaning. For a family choosing the Dutch name, preserving both its pronunciation and its Coenraad connection can be more important than matching a familiar English-looking spelling.