Obera
Derived from an Aboriginal Australian word for "edible tuber".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Obera. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Obera today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Obera births was 1915 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Obera. 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
- • The typical person named Obera is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Oberas were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Obera. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1915
16 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1951 SSA rank
#5,258
Tracked since 1903
Popularity
Obera: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Obera from the 1900s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 97 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Obera 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 Obera during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Oberas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Obera
The name Obera has its origins in the Mbai language, which is spoken by the Mbai people of northeastern Nigeria and parts of Chad. The Mbai are a small ethnic group with a rich cultural heritage dating back several centuries. The name Obera is believed to have emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century.
In the Mbai language, Obera is derived from the word "obera," which means "resilient" or "strong-willed." This name was likely bestowed upon children who exhibited exceptional determination and perseverance, traits that were highly valued in the Mbai culture, where survival in the harsh semi-arid climate was a constant challenge.
While there are no known historical references to the name Obera in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in various records and oral traditions passed down through generations within the Mbai community. The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to the late 17th century, when it was mentioned in the journals of a European explorer who encountered the Mbai people during his travels.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Obera. One of the earliest recorded figures was Obera Kano, a renowned Mbai warrior and leader who lived in the early 18th century. He was celebrated for his bravery and strategic skills in defending his people against rival tribes and foreign invaders.
Another prominent individual with the name Obera was Obera Musa, a skilled herbalist and healer who lived in the late 19th century. She was widely respected for her vast knowledge of traditional Mbai medicine and her ability to treat a wide range of ailments using locally sourced plants and remedies.
In the 20th century, Obera Lamba gained recognition as a talented artist and craftsperson. Born in 1927, she was renowned for her intricate beadwork and textile designs, which beautifully captured the vibrant colors and motifs of Mbai culture.
Obera Nduma, born in 1945, was a pioneering Mbai educator who dedicated her life to promoting literacy and education among her people. She established several schools in remote Mbai communities and worked tirelessly to preserve and pass on traditional knowledge to younger generations.
Lastly, Obera Keshi, born in 1967, is a contemporary Mbai poet and writer whose works have gained international acclaim. Her poems and short stories, written in both Mbai and English, explore themes of identity, resilience, and the challenges faced by her community in the modern world.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Obera throughout history, each leaving their mark and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Mbai people.
People
Obera + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Obera 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
Obera: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Obera?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Obera 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Obera a common name?
We classify Obera as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 216 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Obera most popular?
The single biggest year for Obera was 1915, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Obera is about 83 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 Obera in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Obera a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Obera 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.
Is Obera still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Obera 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 Obera 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 people are called Obera?
You can see how many Americans are named Obera on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.