UK name, mostly girls
Femi
A feminine Yoruba name meaning love or affection.
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.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 9 boys.
Femi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Femi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4838, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 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.
Femi is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Femi. 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
- • Femi ranked #4838 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 4 girls were registered as Femi.
- • Femi is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Femi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 52.6% of Femi registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4838
2012
Births in 2012
4
Latest year
Peak year
2012
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Femi
In England and Wales birth records, Femi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 47.4% of registrations are for boys and 52.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Femi registered for boys
- Ranked #3,449 in 2022
- 5 boys registered in 2022
- Peak: 2022 (5 births)
Femi registered for girls
- Ranked #4,838 in 2012
- 4 girls registered in 2012
- Peak: 2012 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Femi mean?
The name Femi originates from the Yoruba language, an ethnic group native to southwestern Nigeria and the surrounding region. It is a shortened version of the Yoruba name Olufemi, which means "God loves me" or "God loves the son." The name dates back several centuries and has its roots in the Yoruba cultural and religious traditions.
In Yoruba culture, names often carry deep significance and are chosen for their symbolic meaning or to honor a specific event or circumstance. The prefix "Olu" in Olufemi is a common honorific title meaning "owner" or "lord," while "femi" translates to "love me." This combination reflects the belief that a child is a gift from God and should be loved and cherished.
The earliest recorded use of the name Femi can be traced back to the 16th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in present-day southwestern Nigeria. At this time, the Yoruba people had a well-established tradition of naming their children with meaningful names that reflected their cultural values and beliefs.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Femi. One prominent figure was Femi Ayinde (1934-1997), a Nigerian playwright, poet, and cultural activist who played a significant role in promoting and preserving Yoruba culture through his literary works.
Another notable Femi was Femi Kuti (born 1962), a Nigerian musician and son of the legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Femi has carried on his father's musical legacy and has been an influential figure in the Nigerian music scene for decades.
Femi Falana (born 1958) is a renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist who has been a vocal advocate for social justice and democracy in Nigeria. His tireless efforts have earned him international recognition and numerous awards.
In the realm of sports, Femi Opabunmi (born 1984) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker for several clubs in Europe and represented the Nigerian national team.
Femi Adesina (born 1959) is a Nigerian journalist and writer who currently serves as the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Media and Publicity. He has had a distinguished career in journalism and has authored several books on Nigerian politics and society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Femi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Femi in England and Wales, from 1999 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 Femi, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2012, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Femi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Femi 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 | #4838 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5061 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Femi
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Femi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Femi in the UK right now?
In 2012, Femi was ranked #4838 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Femi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 4 babies registered as Femi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Femi?
A feminine Yoruba name meaning love or affection.
How many people are called Femi in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Femi 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.