Oshaye
A feminine name of West African origin meaning "joy arrives".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Oshaye. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Oshaye today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Oshaye births was 1994 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Oshaye. 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 Oshaye. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1994
5 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
1995 SSA rank
#9,899
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Oshaye: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Oshaye 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 Oshaye during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Oshaye
The name Oshaye is believed to have originated from the Yoruba culture of West Africa, specifically in present-day Nigeria. It is a feminine name that has been in use for centuries. The name is derived from the Yoruba word "ọşẹ," which means "visitor" or "guest."
In traditional Yoruba culture, hospitality and welcoming guests were highly valued. Naming a child Oshaye was a way of expressing the hope that the child would bring joy and blessings to the family, much like a cherished visitor. The name also carried the symbolism of the child being a gift from the divine realm.
While the exact origins of the name are difficult to trace, some historical references suggest that it was already in use among the Yoruba people as early as the 16th century. This period coincided with the rise of powerful Yoruba kingdoms, such as the Oyo Empire, which played a significant role in the cultural and political landscape of West Africa.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Oshaye was Oshaye Aderibigbe, a renowned Yoruba poet and storyteller who lived in the late 18th century. Her poetic works, which celebrated Yoruba traditions and values, were passed down through oral traditions and have become an important part of the cultural heritage.
Another notable figure was Oshaye Akinpelu (1850-1920), a respected leader and advisor to the Alaafin (king) of the Oyo Empire. Her wisdom and diplomatic skills were highly regarded, and she played a crucial role in mediating conflicts and promoting peace during a turbulent period in the region.
In the realm of music, Oshaye Ifadare (1910-1988) was a celebrated Yoruba singer and performer. She was renowned for her mastery of traditional Yoruba music styles and her ability to captivate audiences with her powerful voice and stage presence. Her contributions helped preserve and popularize Yoruba musical traditions.
The name Oshaye also gained recognition in the literary world with Oshaye Ogundipe (1935-2001), a prominent Nigerian author and academic. Her novels and essays explored themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in Africa. She was a pioneering voice in the African feminist movement and an advocate for education and empowerment.
Another notable figure was Oshaye Bankole (1942-2010), a celebrated Yoruba actress and cultural ambassador. Through her numerous roles in Nigerian films and television, she helped promote and preserve the richness of Yoruba culture and traditions. Her performances were widely acclaimed for their authenticity and depth.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the name Oshaye throughout history, each contributing to the cultural, artistic, and intellectual fabric of their communities and beyond.
People
Oshaye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Oshaye 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
Oshaye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Oshaye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Oshaye 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 Oshaye a common name?
We classify Oshaye 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 Oshaye most popular?
The single biggest year for Oshaye was 1994, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Oshaye is about 31 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 Oshaye in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Oshaye a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Oshaye 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 Oshaye still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Oshaye 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 Oshaye 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 have the name Oshaye?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Oshaye on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.