Olajide
A masculine Yoruba name meaning "wealth awakens one to honour".
Name Census estimates that about 36 living Americans carry the first name Olajide. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Olajide today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Olajide births was 1987 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Olajide. 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 Olajide. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
36
~ 1 in 9,520,954 Americans
Peak year
1987
12 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,540
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Olajide: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Olajide from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 17 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Olajide 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 Olajide 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 Olajide
The name Olajide originates from the Yoruba language spoken in parts of West Africa, particularly in Nigeria. It has its roots in the Yoruba words "Ola" meaning wealth or fortune, and "jide" meaning to untie or unbind. Together, the name Olajide can be interpreted as "wealth or fortune untied or unbound."
This name likely emerged during the pre-colonial era in the region, reflecting the cultural values and traditions of the Yoruba people. It may have been bestowed upon children as a way of wishing for prosperity and freedom from constraints.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the earliest recorded instances of the name Olajide, it has been in use for centuries among the Yoruba communities of Nigeria and neighboring regions. The name may have appeared in oral traditions, folklore, or historical accounts passed down through generations.
One notable figure with the name Olajide was Olajide Aluko, a Nigerian economist and politician who served as the Minister of Economic Development and Reconstruction in the 1960s. He played a significant role in shaping Nigeria's economic policies during the post-independence period.
Another prominent individual was Olajide Olatunji, a Nigerian drummer and percussionist who popularized Yoruba drumming traditions in the United States. He was instrumental in introducing African rhythms to American audiences through his performances and teachings.
In the realm of literature, Olajide Idowu was a Nigerian writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues. His collection of poems, "Footprints on the Sand," received critical acclaim and shed light on the experiences of Nigerians during the post-colonial era.
Olajide Adelana was a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Adelana Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting education and empowering underprivileged communities in Nigeria.
Lastly, Olajide Oladipo was a Nigerian sportsperson who represented his country in multiple international competitions, winning several medals and accolades for his athletic achievements.
While these are just a few examples, the name Olajide has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the Yoruba people.
People
Olajide + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Olajide 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
Olajide: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Olajide?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 36 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Olajide 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 9,520,954 US residents.
Is Olajide a common name?
We classify Olajide as "Very Rare". It ranks above 49.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 37 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Olajide most popular?
The single biggest year for Olajide was 1987, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Olajide is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Olajide a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Olajide 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.