Olisaemeka
A masculine Nigerian name meaning "God's work prospers".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Olisaemeka. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Olisaemeka today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Olisaemeka births was 2011 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Olisaemeka. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Olisaemeka with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Olisaemeka. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2011
5 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2012 SSA rank
#13,676
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Olisaemeka: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Olisaemeka 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 Olisaemeka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Olisaemeka
The name Olisaemeka originates from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. It is a compound name derived from the words 'Oli' meaning 'work' or 'labor', 'Isa' meaning 'to supplement' or 'to increase', and 'Emeka' meaning 'the great one has done more'. Together, the name can be interpreted as "the great one has increased or supplemented the work or labor".
The Igbo people have a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries, and their naming traditions often reflect values, events, or circumstances surrounding a child's birth. The name Olisaemeka likely emerged during a time when hard work and perseverance were highly valued in Igbo society.
While the name's precise origins are unknown, it is believed to have been in use among the Igbo people for several centuries. However, there are no records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures from the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Olisaemeka is in the late 19th century, when it was borne by Olisaemeka Nwafor, a prominent Igbo trader and entrepreneur who lived from 1865 to 1932. Nwafor was known for his business acumen and his role in facilitating trade between the Igbo people and European merchants.
Another notable figure with this name was Olisaemeka Okoro, a Nigerian politician and activist who lived from 1920 to 1995. Okoro was a vocal advocate for the rights of the Igbo people and played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement.
In the realm of literature, Olisaemeka Nwapa, a Nigerian author and academic born in 1935, made significant contributions to the development of African literature. Her novel "Efuru" is considered a seminal work in the exploration of gender roles and the experiences of women in traditional Igbo society.
Olisaemeka Onyimadu, born in 1942, was a renowned Nigerian artist known for his vibrant paintings and sculptures that depicted Igbo cultural themes and traditions. His works have been exhibited internationally and are celebrated for their representation of Igbo identity and heritage.
Lastly, Olisaemeka Ezeoke, a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist born in 1948, has made significant contributions to the development of the Igbo community through his various initiatives and charitable organizations.
People
Olisaemeka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Olisaemeka 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
Olisaemeka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Olisaemeka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Olisaemeka 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Olisaemeka a common name?
We classify Olisaemeka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Olisaemeka most popular?
The single biggest year for Olisaemeka was 2011, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Olisaemeka is about 14 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 Olisaemeka in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Olisaemeka a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Olisaemeka 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.
Is Olisaemeka still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Olisaemeka 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 Olisaemeka 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 share the name Olisaemeka?
Want to know how many people have the name Olisaemeka? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.