Bolanle first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Bolanle has been for the last 1 years (from 1974 to 1974) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Bolanle

A Yoruba name meaning "wand of wealth" or "having a wealthy upbringing".

Popularity of Bolanle by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Bolanle is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1974, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bolanle.

Year Male Count Female Count
1974 0 5

The history of the first name Bolanle

Bolanle is a given name of Yoruba origin from southwestern Nigeria. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "omo l'anle" which translate to "a child is precious". It is a gender-neutral name that can be given to both boys and girls.

The earliest recorded use of the name Bolanle dates back to the 17th century, but it is likely that the name existed long before written records were kept. The name was popularized during the spread of the Yoruba culture and language throughout West Africa.

In the 19th century, Bolanle was the name of a prominent Yoruba chief who ruled over the town of Ijebu-Ode in what is now Ogun State, Nigeria. He was known for his wisdom and leadership during a time of conflict and upheaval.

Another notable bearer of the name Bolanle was a Yoruba activist and educator who lived in the early 20th century. She was a pioneer in promoting women's rights and education in Nigeria, and she established several schools for girls.

In the 1950s, Bolanle Awe was a Nigerian actress and dancer who helped to popularize traditional Yoruba dance and culture. She performed both in Nigeria and abroad, and she was widely celebrated for her talent and cultural preservation efforts.

The name Bolanle also appears in several Yoruba folktales and proverbs, reflecting its deep roots in the culture and language. One popular proverb states "Bolanle ko se nile, a o gbe eni mimo s'odo" which means "If a precious child is not born at home, we will carry a beloved one across the river."

While Bolanle is most commonly associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, the name has also been adopted by other ethnic groups in West Africa and beyond, reflecting the spread and influence of Yoruba culture.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bolanle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bolanle, please contact us.

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"Bolanle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 24, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/bolanle-meaning-and-history/.

"Bolanle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/bolanle-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 24 June, 2025

Bolanle first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/bolanle-meaning-and-history/.

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