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NamyLab

Oba

male
Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"King or Ruler"

Oba is a Yoruba title meaning king, also used as a personal name or element indicating chiefly status.

Themes:yorubatitleroyaltyafricanmasculine

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct)Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Oba

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked
SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
Unranked

Oba did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
--

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Oba Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Oba.

5 ideas
obay
Nickname
obaie
Nickname
obao
Nickname
ob
Nickname
OB
Nickname

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Oba mean?
Oba means "King or Ruler". Oba is a Yoruba title meaning king, also used as a personal name or element indicating chiefly status.
What is the origin of Oba?
Oba is of Yoruba origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Oba?
According to the latest SSA data, Oba is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Oba a boy name?
Oba is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Oba?
Popular nicknames for Oba include obay, obaie, obao, ob, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Oba?
There are many names similar to Oba in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginYoruba
Syllables2
Length3 letters
Trend→ Stable
Starts withO

Explore More Boy Names Like Oba

Oba has Yoruba roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Yoruba baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Oba appears in several of our curated collections. Check out African Baby Names and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Royal Baby Names and Last Names That Mean Royalty.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Oba pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Oba beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.