There are two different explanations for the municipality's name. First, it could be derived from the combination of
koba (a basket used for ritual acts) and
lima, the Tetum word for 'five'. The combination is said to represent either the five mythical daughters of the
Liurai (traditional title of a Timorese ruler) of
Fohorem Nutetu, or the five kingdoms consisting of Fatumea, Dakolo, Lookeu, Sisi and Maudemi. According to a second explanation, the English language name of the municipality is said to be a Portuguese approximation of the combination
kaua lima or
portmanteau Kaualima, each of which means 'five crows' in Tetum. It has been asserted that the Portuguese name, perhaps intentionally, has a symbolically derogatory meaning, namely 'Five Graves' or 'Five Holes', as the Portuguese word
cova means 'grave' or 'hole'. According to that assertion, the Portuguese name may also be a "... form of cultural and mind de-colonization ..."
[sic -
colonization] of the local name. ==Geography==