UK boy's name
Afolabi
A Yoruba name meaning "one who is born to become a crown" or "born to honor".
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.
Afolabi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Afolabi 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 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Afolabi. 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
- • Afolabi ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 boys were registered as Afolabi.
- • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Afolabi 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
2009
5 births
Estimated living
32
2026
Meaning
What does Afolabi mean?
The given name Afolabi originated from the Yoruba people of western Nigeria. It is a compound word made up of the Yoruba words "afe" meaning "nobility, royalty or greatness" and "olabi" meaning "birth" or "days of life". Thus, the name Afolabi means "born into royalty or greatness".
The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries. The name Afolabi likely emerged during the time of the powerful Oyo Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in present-day southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin from the 16th to 19th centuries. It was a period when noble titles and lineages held great significance.
While there are no known direct mentions of the name Afolabi in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it reflects the Yoruba tradition of giving names that convey positive attributes, aspirations, and circumstances surrounding a child's birth. Similar names in the Yoruba language include Afolayan (meaning "royalty walks with honor") and Afolake (meaning "wealth comes to nobility").
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Afolabi can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891), a Yoruba linguist, and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria. In his works, he documented various Yoruba names and their meanings, including Afolabi.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Afolabi:
1. Afolabi Akinyele (1842-1916) was a prominent Yoruba chief and military leader who played a significant role in the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars.
2. Afolabi Olabimtan (1926-2009) was a Nigerian playwright, poet, and cultural activist who wrote extensively about Yoruba folklore and traditions.
3. Afolabi Aroloye (born 1961) is a Nigerian film director and producer, known for his contributions to the Nollywood film industry.
4. Afolabi Sotunde (born 1968) is a renowned Nigerian mathematician and academic, known for his research in algebraic geometry and commutative algebra.
5. Afolabi Muheeb (born 1984) is a professional basketball player from Nigeria who has played in several European leagues and represented his country in international competitions.
While these are just a few examples, the name Afolabi has been borne by many individuals throughout history, reflecting the cultural significance and aspirations associated with it among the Yoruba people.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Afolabi over time
The chart below shows babies named Afolabi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Afolabi, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Afolabi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Afolabi 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 | #4966 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3822 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3904 | 11 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2347 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Afolabi
- 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
Afolabi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Afolabi in the UK right now?
In 2024, Afolabi was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Afolabi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Afolabi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Afolabi?
A Yoruba name meaning "one who is born to become a crown" or "born to honor".
How many people are called Afolabi in the UK?
A total of 32 babies have been registered as Afolabi across the 9 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.