Yomo
Of African origin, meaning "lives forever" or "eternity".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Yomo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yomo today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yomo births was 1971 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yomo. 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 Yomo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1971
5 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1971 SSA rank
#5,648
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Yomo: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yomo 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 Yomo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yomo
The given name Yomo is believed to have originated from the Yoruba language, spoken predominantly in southwestern Nigeria and the surrounding region. The earliest known origins of the name can be traced back to the 15th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba kingdom that dominated much of present-day western Nigeria.
Linguists suggest that the name Yomo is derived from the Yoruba word "omo," which translates to "child" or "offspring." It is likely that the name was initially used to refer to a child or a newborn, although its precise meaning and significance within the Yoruba culture is not well documented.
While there are no known historical references to the name Yomo in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some records indicate that it was used among the Yoruba people for several centuries. The earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing the name Yomo are found in oral histories and genealogical records from the 16th and 17th centuries.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Yomo was Yomo Akinsanya, a prominent Yoruba trader and diplomat who lived in the late 18th century. Akinsanya played a crucial role in facilitating trade relationships between the Oyo Empire and European merchants, and his name is mentioned in several historical accounts from that period.
Another individual of historical significance was Yomo Abiodun, a Yoruba chief and military leader who lived in the early 19th century. Abiodun was instrumental in defending the Oyo Empire against the expansionist efforts of the Sokoto Caliphate, and his bravery and leadership skills are celebrated in Yoruba folklore.
In the realm of arts and culture, Yomo Toki was a renowned Yoruba sculptor and wood carver who lived in the late 19th century. Toki's intricate woodcarvings, which often depicted scenes from Yoruba mythology and daily life, are highly regarded and can be found in several museums and private collections around the world.
Yomo Bankole, born in 1909, was a prominent Yoruba writer and educator who played a significant role in preserving and promoting Yoruba language and literature. He authored several books and worked tirelessly to establish Yoruba as a respected language of instruction in schools and universities.
Finally, Yomo Akindele, born in 1929, was a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom. He was widely respected for his diplomatic skills and his efforts to foster international cooperation and understanding.
People
Yomo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yomo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yomo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yomo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yomo 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Yomo a common name?
We classify Yomo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% 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 Yomo most popular?
The single biggest year for Yomo was 1971, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yomo is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yomo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yomo 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.