Uba
An indigenous African name meaning "great" or "excellent".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Uba. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Uba today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Uba births was 1914 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Uba. 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 Uba. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1914
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1914 SSA rank
#4,149
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Uba: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Uba 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 Uba during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Uba
The given name Uba has its origins in the Yoruba language, spoken primarily in present-day Nigeria and surrounding regions of West Africa. The name can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier, during the height of the Oyo Empire and the spread of Yoruba culture.
Uba is derived from the Yoruba word "ọba," meaning "king" or "ruler." It was likely bestowed upon male children with the hope that they would grow to become leaders or achieve a position of prominence within the community. In some cases, the name may have been given to children born into royal or noble families.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Uba can be found in the oral traditions and folklore of the Yoruba people. Several folktales and proverbs reference individuals bearing this name, although specific dates and historical contexts are often unclear.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who carried the name Uba. One prominent example is Uba Nana, a Yoruba military leader and warrior who lived in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Oyo Empire and is celebrated for his strategic military prowess.
Another notable bearer of the name was Uba Umeiza, a Yoruba trader and merchant who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his extensive trade networks and influence in the region, contributing to the economic development of the Yoruba people.
In the 19th century, Uba Ojo was a respected Yoruba chief and community leader. He was renowned for his wisdom, diplomacy, and efforts to maintain peace and stability during a period of political turmoil in the region.
Uba Bakare was a Yoruba scholar and historian who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He dedicated his life to preserving and documenting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Yoruba people, leaving behind a valuable legacy of written works.
Another notable figure was Uba Igwe, a Yoruba artist and sculptor who lived in the early 20th century. His intricate woodcarvings and sculptures captured the essence of Yoruba mythology and symbolism, earning him recognition as a master craftsman.
While the name Uba has its roots in the Yoruba culture, it has since been adopted and used by various communities across West Africa and beyond, reflecting the cultural exchange and influence of the Yoruba people throughout history.
People
Uba + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Uba as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Uba: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Uba?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Uba 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 - US residents.
Is Uba a common name?
We classify Uba as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Uba most popular?
The single biggest year for Uba was 1914, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Uba is about 0 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 Uba in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Uba a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Uba in the SSA data are female. 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 Uba still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Uba 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 Uba 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 Americans are named Uba?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.