UK girl's name
Arinola
A feminine Yoruba name meaning "To be honored and favored".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arinola is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Arinola popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2014 to 2022. 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.
Arinola is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Arinola. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arinola ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 girls were registered as Arinola.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arinola as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3970
2022
Births in 2022
5
Latest year
Peak year
2022
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Arinola mean?
The given name Arinola has its origins in the Yoruba language spoken predominantly in southwestern Nigeria, as well as neighboring countries like Benin and Togo. It is a compound name derived from the words "Arin" meaning "traveler" or "wanderer" and "Ola" meaning "wealth" or "riches". Together, Arinola can be interpreted as "a wealthy traveler" or "one who acquires wealth through travel".
Historically, the Yoruba people have been known for their thriving trade networks and entrepreneurial spirit, which could explain the significance of a name that evokes the idea of prosperous journeys. The name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were successful merchants or explorers, or as an aspirational name, wishing the bearer a life of affluence and adventure.
While there are no direct references to the name Arinola in ancient Yoruba texts or historical records, it is considered a traditional Yoruba name that has been in use for centuries. Some of the earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing this name can be traced back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
One notable figure in history with the name Arinola was Arinola Ogunsola (1832-1908), a prominent Yoruba trader and businesswoman from Lagos, who played a significant role in the development of the city's commerce during the late 19th century. Another individual was Arinola Akinsanya (1875-1940), a respected educator and community leader in Abeokuta, who established several schools and advocated for women's education.
In more recent times, Arinola Oloko (1914-1992) was a renowned Yoruba playwright and author, whose works explored themes of cultural identity and societal issues. Arinola Salu (1927-2005) was a Nigerian politician and feminist activist who fought for women's rights and served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives.
Arinola Adewopo (born 1962) is a contemporary Nigerian author and journalist, known for her novels and contributions to various publications, highlighting the experiences of women and various societal issues.
While the name Arinola continues to be used in modern times, particularly within Yoruba communities, its historical roots and cultural significance remain deeply rooted in the language and traditions of the Yoruba people.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arinola over time
The chart below shows babies named Arinola registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arinola, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arinola by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arinola 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 | #3970 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5728 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Arinola
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Arinola: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arinola in the UK right now?
In 2022, Arinola was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Arinola most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Arinola in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arinola?
A feminine Yoruba name meaning "To be honored and favored".
How many people are called Arinola in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Arinola across the 3 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.