Obafemi
A masculine Yoruba name meaning "the king loves me".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Obafemi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Obafemi today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Obafemi births was 2006 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Obafemi. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Obafemi with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Obafemi. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2006
5 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2017 SSA rank
#13,711
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Obafemi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Obafemi from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Obafemi 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 Obafemi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Obafemi
The name Obafemi originates from the Yoruba language spoken in southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Oba" meaning king or ruler, and "Femi" meaning loves or cherishes. Together, Obafemi translates to "the king loves me" or "the king cherishes me."
The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage that dates back several centuries, and their naming traditions often reflect important values, beliefs, and events. The name Obafemi likely emerged during the time when the Yoruba kingdom was a prominent political and cultural force in the region.
While the exact origin of the name Obafemi is not documented in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have been used by the Yoruba people for generations. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical records from the 19th century.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Obafemi is Obafemi Awolowo, a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a significant role in Nigeria's independence movement. He was born in 1909 and served as the Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria from 1954 to 1959.
Another prominent figure with the name Obafemi is Obafemi Martins, a Nigerian professional footballer who has played for various clubs around the world, including Newcastle United and Inter Milan. He was born in 1984 and has represented Nigeria at several international tournaments.
Obafemi Olopade, a Nigerian-American oncologist and professor at the University of Chicago, is another notable individual with the name. He was born in 1954 and has made significant contributions to the field of cancer research and treatment.
In the world of literature, Obafemi Awolowo's autobiography, "Awo: The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo," published in 1960, is a notable work that provides insights into his life and the struggle for Nigerian independence.
Obafemi Kale, a Nigerian artist and sculptor, has also made a name for himself with his unique works that blend traditional Yoruba art with contemporary styles. He was born in 1955 and his creations have been exhibited in galleries around the world.
The name Obafemi continues to be a popular choice among the Yoruba people and is cherished for its cultural significance and connection to the rich heritage of the Yoruba kingdom.
People
Obafemi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Obafemi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Obafemi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Obafemi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Obafemi 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Obafemi a common name?
We classify Obafemi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Obafemi most popular?
The single biggest year for Obafemi was 2006, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Obafemi is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Obafemi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Obafemi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Obafemi in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Obafemi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Obafemi in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Obafemi can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Obafemi?
Want to know how many people have the name Obafemi? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.