UK boy's name
Chigozie
An Igbo name meaning "God's blessed footpath".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chigozie is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Chigozie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 6 births.
This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 to 2015. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Chigozie. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chigozie ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 boys were registered as Chigozie.
- • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chigozie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
6 births
Estimated living
39
2026
Meaning
What does Chigozie mean?
Chigozie is a name of Nigerian origin, derived from the Igbo language spoken by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The name is a combination of two Igbo words, "Chi" meaning "God" or "the spiritual force," and "gozie" meaning "to bless" or "to protect."
The earliest recorded use of the name Chigozie dates back to the 19th century when the Igbo people were predominantly practicing traditional African religions. At that time, the name was given to children as a way of expressing gratitude to God or the spiritual forces for the blessing of a child.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Chigozie was Chigozie Obieze, a prominent Igbo chief who lived in the late 19th century. He was renowned for his leadership and diplomacy during the period of British colonial rule in Nigeria.
In the 20th century, the name Chigozie gained popularity among Christians in Nigeria, particularly Catholics and Anglicans. This was due to the influence of Christian missionaries who encouraged the use of Igbo names with religious meanings.
One notable person with the name Chigozie was Chigozie Obioha, a Nigerian writer and poet who was born in 1934 and died in 2005. He was known for his works that explored themes of African identity and cultural heritage.
Another famous bearer of the name was Chigozie Agwu, a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for various clubs in Nigeria and Europe during the 1980s and 1990s. He was a member of the Nigerian national team and participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Chigozie Iloeje, born in 1965, is a Nigerian-American actor and filmmaker who has appeared in several Hollywood films and television shows. He is known for his roles in films such as "The Interpretor" and "The Green Book."
Chigozie Obidiegwu, born in 1973, is a Nigerian business executive and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of a successful technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria.
The name Chigozie continues to be popular among the Igbo people of Nigeria and is often given to children as a way of expressing gratitude for the gift of a child and seeking divine protection and blessings.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chigozie over time
The chart below shows babies named Chigozie registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chigozie, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chigozie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chigozie 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 | #4311 | 14 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3515 | 22 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Chigozie
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Chigozie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chigozie in the UK right now?
In 2015, Chigozie was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Chigozie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Chigozie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chigozie?
An Igbo name meaning "God's blessed footpath".
How many people are called Chigozie in the UK?
A total of 39 babies have been registered as Chigozie across the 11 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.