UK boy's name
Babatunde
A Yoruba name meaning "father has returned again" or "the returned father".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Babatunde is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Babatunde popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3987, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 13 births.
This profile covers 83 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 82 living people in the UK are called Babatunde. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Babatunde ranked #3987 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 13 boys were registered as Babatunde.
- • About 82 living people in the UK are estimated to have Babatunde as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3987
2012
Births in 2012
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
13 births
Estimated living
82
2026
Meaning
What does Babatunde mean?
The name Babatunde is of Yoruba origin, a language spoken by the Yoruba people who are primarily found in southwestern Nigeria, as well as parts of Benin and Togo. It is a compound name combining the Yoruba words "baba" meaning "father" and "tunde" which means "to return" or "to repeat". Thus, the name Babatunde can be interpreted as "father returns" or "the father has returned".
The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back several centuries, and their naming traditions have played a significant role in preserving their history and values. The name Babatunde reflects the importance placed on the role of the father in Yoruba society, as well as the concept of reincarnation and the belief that a child may be the reincarnation of an ancestor.
While the exact origins of the name Babatunde are difficult to trace, it is believed to have been in use among the Yoruba people for centuries. The name has been mentioned in various Yoruba folktales and oral traditions, which have been passed down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Babatunde can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba explorer and linguist who lived in the 19th century (1809-1891). Crowther played a significant role in documenting the Yoruba language and culture, and his works provide valuable insights into the naming traditions of the Yoruba people.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Babatunde. One of the most famous was Babatunde Olatunji (1927-2003), a Nigerian drummer and musician who was instrumental in introducing Yoruba music to the West. Another prominent individual was Babatunde Obafemi (1925-1994), a Nigerian writer and academic who made significant contributions to the field of African literature.
Other notable individuals with the name Babatunde include Babatunde Fashola (born 1963), a Nigerian politician and former Governor of Lagos State, and Babatunde Eleyinmi (born 1950), a Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings.
Additionally, the name Babatunde has been used in various works of literature and popular culture, further solidifying its place in the cultural landscape. For example, Babatunde is a character in the novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, one of the most celebrated works of African literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Babatunde over time
The chart below shows babies named Babatunde registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Babatunde, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2012, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Babatunde by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Babatunde 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3909 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #2657 | 46 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2035 | 29 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Babatunde
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Babatunde: questions and answers
How popular is the name Babatunde in the UK right now?
In 2012, Babatunde was ranked #3987 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Babatunde most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 13 babies registered as Babatunde in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Babatunde?
A Yoruba name meaning "father has returned again" or "the returned father".
How many people are called Babatunde in the UK?
A total of 83 babies have been registered as Babatunde across the 14 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.