Oday first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Oday has been for the last 33 years (from 1991 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Oday

A masculine Arabic name meaning "small branch" or "return".

Popularity of Oday by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Oday is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 14 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Oday.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 14 0
2022 14 0
2021 15 0
2020 9 0
2019 12 0
2018 19 0
2017 15 0
2016 10 0
2015 8 0
2014 7 0
1997 5 0
1991 6 0

The history of the first name Oday

The name Oday has its origins in Arabic culture and language. It is derived from the Arabic word "waday," which means "affection" or "love." The name first appeared in the Middle East during the medieval period, around the 7th to 8th centuries CE.

Oday is believed to have been a common name among the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula during this time. It is possible that the name was inspired by the values of love, kindness, and affection that were central to the teachings of Islam, which spread rapidly across the region during this era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oday can be found in the writings of famous Arab scholars and historians from the 9th and 10th centuries CE. These writers often mentioned individuals with the name Oday in their accounts of significant events and important figures of the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Oday. One such person was Oday ibn Abi'l-'Ala' al-Ma'arri, a renowned Arab philosopher, poet, and writer who lived from 973 to 1057 CE. He was known for his brilliant literary works and his criticism of religious dogma and social norms.

Another prominent figure with the name Oday was Oday ibn Abi Bakr al-Qurashi, a 10th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry and was regarded as one of the leading scholars of his time.

In the 12th century, Oday ibn Mahmud al-Khwarizmi was a celebrated Persian scholar and physician. He authored several influential works on medicine and pharmacology, which were widely studied and referenced in the Islamic world.

During the 13th century, Oday al-Din al-Naysaburi was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Persia. His spiritual teachings and poetic writings had a profound impact on the development of Sufism and Islamic mysticism.

In more recent history, Oday Amir Mershed was a prominent Iraqi politician and diplomat who lived from 1924 to 2020. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and played a significant role in the country's political affairs during the latter half of the 20th century.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Oday throughout history. The name's origins and meaning have been deeply rooted in Arab and Islamic culture, representing values of love, affection, and kindness that have resonated across generations.

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 Oday was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Oday first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/oday-meaning-and-history/.

"Oday first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/oday-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 7 June, 2025

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

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.