UK boy's name
Adekunle
Adekunle is a Yoruba name meaning "the crown has arrived".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Adekunle is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Adekunle popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 23 living people in the UK are called Adekunle. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Adekunle ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 boys were registered as Adekunle.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Adekunle as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Meaning
What does Adekunle mean?
The name Adekunle originates from the Yoruba culture of West Africa, primarily among the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two words: "Ade," meaning "crown" or "royalty," and "Kunle," a shortened form of "Okunleru," meaning "he who is filled with knowledge." Thus, Adekunle can be interpreted as "the crown or royalty filled with knowledge."
The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries, and their naming traditions hold significant importance. Adekunle was likely a name given to male children born into royal or noble families, signifying the expectation that they would grow up to be wise and knowledgeable leaders.
While there are no specific historical references to the name Adekunle in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the concept of naming children after desirable qualities or aspirations is deeply rooted in Yoruba culture. The earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing the name Adekunle can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
One notable historical figure named Adekunle was Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), a Nigerian military officer and the first military governor of the Western Region of Nigeria. He was assassinated during the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966. Adekunle Ajashin (1837-1905) was a renowned warrior and military leader from the town of Ibadan, known for his bravery and strategic skills in defending the city against various invaders.
Another prominent individual with the name Adekunle was Adekunle Ajasin (1908-1997), a Nigerian politician and leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He served as the Governor of Ondo State from 1979 to 1983. Adekunle Olumofin (born 1950) is a Nigerian academic and educator who has held various leadership positions in Nigerian universities.
Adekunle Gold (born 1987) is a contemporary Nigerian singer and songwriter, known for his fusion of Afropop, reggae, and high-life music. He has gained widespread popularity and critical acclaim for his music, which often draws inspiration from Yoruba culture and traditions.
While the name Adekunle has its roots in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, it has also been adopted by individuals of other ethnic groups within West Africa, as well as by members of the African diaspora around the world. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains closely tied to its Yoruba origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Adekunle over time
The chart below shows babies named Adekunle registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Adekunle, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Adekunle by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Adekunle 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 | #4890 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4678 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2573 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Adekunle
- 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
Adekunle: questions and answers
How popular is the name Adekunle in the UK right now?
In 2023, Adekunle was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Adekunle most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Adekunle in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Adekunle?
Adekunle is a Yoruba name meaning "the crown has arrived".
How many people are called Adekunle in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Adekunle across the 7 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.