UK boy's name
Adedeji
A Yoruba name meaning "the crown complements the child".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Adedeji is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Adedeji popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Adedeji. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Adedeji ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 boys were registered as Adedeji.
- • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Adedeji as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
28
2026
Meaning
What does Adedeji mean?
The name Adedeji is a traditional Yoruba name from West Africa. It has its origins in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in southwestern Nigeria, as well as parts of Benin and Togo. The name can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier, during the height of the Oyo Empire in what is now southwestern Nigeria.
Adedeji is a combination of two Yoruba words: "ade" meaning "crown" or "royalty," and "deji" meaning "watcher" or "guardian." Together, the name can be interpreted as "the crown watcher" or "the guardian of royalty." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals tasked with protecting or serving members of the royal family or nobility within the Yoruba kingdoms.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Adedeji can be found in the oral traditions and historical accounts of the Oyo Empire. According to these sources, there was an Adedeji who served as a prominent military commander and advisor to the Alaafin (the ruler) of Oyo in the 16th century. However, specific details about this individual's life and accomplishments are scarce due to the limitations of historical records from that era.
Throughout the centuries, the name Adedeji has been borne by various notable figures within the Yoruba culture and beyond. One such individual was Adedeji Alao (1882-1959), a prominent Nigerian educator and political activist who played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement in the early 20th century.
Another notable bearer of the name was Adedeji Bodunrin (1939-2021), a Nigerian philosopher and academic who made significant contributions to the fields of African philosophy, ethics, and political theory. He served as a professor at various universities in Nigeria and the United States, and was widely respected for his scholarly work.
In the realm of sports, Adedeji Alami (born 1985) is a Nigerian-born professional basketball player who has represented the Nigerian national team and played in several professional leagues around the world, including the NBA G League.
Adedeji Ogundeji (born 1998) is a Nigerian-American football player currently playing as a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL).
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Adedeji throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance within the Yoruba culture and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Adedeji over time
The chart below shows babies named Adedeji registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Adedeji, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Adedeji by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Adedeji was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4555 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3926 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3622 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Adedeji
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Adedeji: questions and answers
How popular is the name Adedeji in the UK right now?
In 2024, Adedeji was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Adedeji most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Adedeji in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Adedeji?
A Yoruba name meaning "the crown complements the child".
How many people are called Adedeji in the UK?
A total of 28 babies have been registered as Adedeji across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.