Ifeoma
Feminine name of Igbo origin meaning "Nothing is impossible to God".
Name Census estimates that about 379 living Americans carry the first name Ifeoma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ifeoma today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ifeoma births was 1999 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ifeoma. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
379
~ 1 in 904,365 Americans
Peak year
1999
17 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,861
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Ifeoma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ifeoma from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 118 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ifeoma by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ifeoma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ifeomas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ifeoma
The name Ifeoma originates from the Igbo culture of southeastern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Igbo words: "ife" meaning "good," and "oma" meaning "beauty" or "attractive." Together, Ifeoma translates to "beautiful thing" or "beautiful creation."
In Igbo tradition, names often carry deep meanings and are carefully chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents. Ifeoma is a name that celebrates the beauty and goodness of the newborn child and expresses the joy and gratitude of the parents.
While the name's origins can be traced back to the Igbo people of Nigeria, its use has spread beyond the region due to migration and cultural exchange. It has been embraced by other communities in West Africa and around the world, with varying spellings and pronunciations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ifeoma can be found in the work of renowned Igbo writer Chinua Achebe, who featured characters with the name in his novels, including "Things Fall Apart" published in 1958. Achebe's works played a significant role in introducing Igbo culture and names to a global audience.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ifeoma. One such figure is Ifeoma Chigbu (1930-2021), a Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who dedicated her life to promoting education and empowerment for girls and women in Nigeria.
Another prominent Ifeoma is Ifeoma Ozoma (born 1988), an American technology whistleblower and advocate for ethical workplace practices. She gained recognition for her role in exposing alleged misconduct at various tech companies, sparking discussions about corporate accountability and employee protection.
In the realm of literature, Ifeoma Okoye (born 1961) is a Nigerian author and poet whose works explore themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in contemporary African societies.
Ifeoma Fafunwa (born 1945) is a Nigerian playwright, director, and educator who has made significant contributions to the development of Nigerian theater and the promotion of African culture through her works.
Lastly, Ifeoma Ozougwu (born 1974) is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and business executive who has held leadership positions in various tech companies, advocating for diversity and inclusion in the industry.
While these are just a few examples, the name Ifeoma has been borne by numerous individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural diversity.
People
Ifeoma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ifeoma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ifeoma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ifeoma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 379 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ifeoma going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 904,365 US residents.
Is Ifeoma a common name?
We classify Ifeoma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 392 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ifeoma most popular?
The single biggest year for Ifeoma was 1999, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ifeoma is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ifeoma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ifeoma in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.