UK girl's name
Funmilayo
A Yoruba feminine name meaning "A beautiful child has arrived".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Funmilayo is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Funmilayo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5061, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2006 to 2006. 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.
Funmilayo is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Funmilayo. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Funmilayo ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 girls were registered as Funmilayo.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Funmilayo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5061
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Funmilayo mean?
The name Funmilayo is a Yoruba name originating from southwestern Nigeria in West Africa. The name has its roots in the Yoruba language, which is spoken by over 30 million people, primarily in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
Funmilayo is a combination of two Yoruba words: "fun" meaning "to give" or "to spend," and "milayo" meaning "wealth" or "honor." The name can be interpreted as "give me honor" or "spend wealth on me." It is a beautiful name that reflects the Yoruba culture's emphasis on wealth, honor, and respect.
The earliest recorded use of the name Funmilayo can be traced back to the 16th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in present-day southwestern Nigeria. The name was given to both male and female children, although it has become more commonly associated with females in modern times.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Funmilayo was Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978), a Nigerian women's rights activist, and traditional aristocrat. She played a significant role in the anti-colonial movement and the struggle for women's rights in Nigeria. Her activism and leadership during the Abeokuta Women's Revolt of 1949 earned her the title "Funmilayo, the Lioness of Lisabi."
Another prominent figure with the name Funmilayo was Funmilayo Olayinka Doherty (1867-1942), a pioneering Nigerian businesswoman and trader. She was one of the wealthiest individuals in West Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, amassing a fortune through her extensive trading empire.
In the realm of literature, Funmilayo Fakunle (1928-1958) was a Nigerian writer and playwright. Her play "The Broken Calabash" addressed issues of gender inequality and women's rights in traditional Yoruba society.
In the field of medicine, Funmilayo Ogunsola (1921-2012) was a pioneering Nigerian obstetrician and gynecologist. She was the first female consultant in her field in Nigeria and played a significant role in improving maternal and child healthcare in the country.
Funmilayo Olayinka (1930-2019) was a Nigerian traditional ruler and the Ayaba (Queen) of Iwoland in Osun State, Nigeria. She was known for her efforts in promoting education, cultural preservation, and community development.
While the name Funmilayo has origins in the Yoruba culture, it has gained popularity beyond Nigeria and is now used by people of various cultural backgrounds around the world, transcending its original linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Funmilayo by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Funmilayo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5061 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Funmilayo
- 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
Funmilayo: questions and answers
How popular is the name Funmilayo in the UK right now?
In 2006, Funmilayo was ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Funmilayo most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Funmilayo in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Funmilayo?
A Yoruba feminine name meaning "A beautiful child has arrived".
How many people are called Funmilayo in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Funmilayo across the 1 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.