Ojani
A masculine name of uncertain origin possibly meaning "pure white".
Name Census estimates that about 101 living Americans carry the first name Ojani. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ojani today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ojani births was 2004 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ojani. 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
101
~ 1 in 3,393,607 Americans
Peak year
2004
20 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2011 SSA rank
#7,918
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Ojani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ojani from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 73 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ojani 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 Ojani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ojanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ojani
The name Ojani has its roots in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The name is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 13th to 15th centuries.
Ojani is derived from the Yoruba word "ọjà," which means "market" or "trading place." The name may have been given to children born in or near a marketplace, or to those whose families were involved in trade or commerce. It could also have been a name bestowed upon children to signify prosperity and abundance.
While there are no known historical references to the name Ojani in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that the name was in use among the Yoruba people during the height of the Oyo Empire, which dominated much of present-day Nigeria and Benin from the 16th to the 19th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ojani was Ojani Okonkwo, a Yoruba trader and merchant who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures and for establishing trade routes between the Oyo Empire and neighboring kingdoms.
Another notable figure named Ojani was Ojani Abiola, a Yoruba prince and military leader who lived in the early 19th century. He played a significant role in defending the Oyo Empire against neighboring kingdoms and is remembered for his bravery and strategic abilities.
In the realm of literature, Ojani Ogbara was a Yoruba writer and poet who lived in the late 19th century. He is best known for his collection of poems and folktales that shed light on the rich cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.
Ojani Akinkugbe, born in 1890, was a renowned Yoruba educator and advocate for women's education. He established several schools and worked tirelessly to promote literacy and educational opportunities for girls and women in his community.
Lastly, Ojani Olatunji, born in 1912, was a celebrated Yoruba musician and composer. He is credited with popularizing the Yoruba talking drum and introducing it to a wider audience through his performances and recordings.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Ojani, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and significance within the Yoruba community.
People
Ojani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ojani 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
Ojani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ojani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 101 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ojani 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 3,393,607 US residents.
Is Ojani a common name?
We classify Ojani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 102 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ojani most popular?
The single biggest year for Ojani was 2004, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ojani is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ojani a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ojani 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.