Obai
A masculine Arabic name meaning "worshipper of God".
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Obai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Obai today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Obai births was 2023 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Obai. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Obai. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
2023
7 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,495
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Obai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Obai from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 18 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
Obai 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 Obai 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 Obai
The name Obai is believed to have originated from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. Its roots can be traced back to the 15th century, when the Igbo people inhabited the region between the Niger River and the Cross River.
The name Obai is thought to be derived from the Igbo word "ọba," which means "heart" or "soul." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were considered kind-hearted or possessed a deep, soulful nature.
In ancient Igbo tradition, names often carried significant meaning and were chosen with great care. They were believed to shape the personality and fate of a child, making the selection of a name a crucial ritual.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Obai can be found in the oral histories and folklore of the Igbo people. These stories, passed down through generations, sometimes featured characters with this name, highlighting its use within the community.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Obai. One such person was Obai Okafor (c. 1820 - 1890), a renowned Igbo trader and philanthropist who played a significant role in the economic and social development of his community.
Another notable figure was Obai Nwafor (1870 - 1942), a respected Igbo chief and leader who worked to preserve the cultural traditions of his people during the colonial era.
In the realm of art and literature, Obai Udoh (1905 - 1982) was a celebrated Igbo sculptor and wood carver, known for his intricate and symbolic works that captured the essence of Igbo culture.
The name Obai also made its way into the academic world with Obai Ikoku (1920 - 2005), a distinguished Nigerian professor and linguist who contributed significantly to the study of African languages.
Lastly, Obai Emelife (1938 - 2018) was a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded several successful enterprises and supported numerous charitable causes throughout his lifetime.
While these are just a few examples, the name Obai has been carried by many individuals throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in the Igbo culture and the significance it held for those who bore it.
People
Obai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Obai 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
Obai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Obai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Obai 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Obai a common name?
We classify Obai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Obai most popular?
The single biggest year for Obai was 2023, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Obai is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Obai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Obai 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.
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.