According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "The name 'Ōgon Koba' represents somewhat of a confusing situation. It has become a "catch-all" cultivar name for any gold-leaved form (seedling or sport) of H. sieboldii."

Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled, A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term koba as small leaf, 'Koba Gibōshi' or H. sieboldii and the term ogon or oogon as gold or yellow.