Oba

Q: What is the origin of Oba?

Oba is of Yoruba origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Oba?

According to the latest SSA data, Oba is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Oba a boy name?

Oba is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

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

Royal Regal Unique Rare

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.

Year

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

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Baby Name Lists That Include Oba

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Oba, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

13 linked lists

❓ 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

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Ajani Ayomide Ayinde Ade Akin

Sisters

Ayomide Adeola Abeni Anjolaoluwa Ajani

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.