UK girl's name
Ijeoma
A feminine name of Igbo (Nigerian) origin meaning "safe journey".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ijeoma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ijeoma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 8 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Ijeoma. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ijeoma ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 8 girls were registered as Ijeoma.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ijeoma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
8 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Ijeoma mean?
The name Ijeoma has its origins in the Igbo language of southeastern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Igbo words: "ije" meaning "journey" and "oma" meaning "good" or "beautiful." The name can be translated to mean "a journey is good" or "a safe and beautiful journey."
Ijeoma is a name that has been in use among the Igbo people for centuries, with records of its use dating back to the 15th century. The name was often given to children as a way of wishing them a safe and prosperous journey through life.
In Igbo culture, names carry significant meaning and are carefully chosen to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the parents for their child. Ijeoma was a popular name for girls, as it embodied the desire for a life filled with positivity, success, and blessings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ijeoma appears in the book "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" written by Olaudah Equiano, a former slave who became a prominent abolitionist in the late 18th century. In the book, Equiano mentions an Igbo woman named Ijeoma who played a significant role in his early life.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ijeoma:
1. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu (born 1965) - A Nigerian writer and academic known for her work on African literature and gender studies.
2. Ijeoma Oluo (born 1980) - An American writer and speaker, best known for her book "So You Want to Talk About Race."
3. Ijeoma Umebinyuo (1941-2021) - A Nigerian poet, playwright, and academic who was a pioneer in the field of African literature.
4. Ijeoma Nwogu (born 1970) - A Nigerian women's rights activist and former government official.
5. Ijeoma Ene (born 1982) - A Nigerian-American author and entrepreneur known for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology industry.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Ijeoma throughout history, each making their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ijeoma over time
The chart below shows babies named Ijeoma registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ijeoma, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ijeoma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ijeoma 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 | #5736 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4210 | 19 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3959 | 30 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3822 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ijeoma
- Isabella 58,822
- Isla 51,854
- Isabelle 46,163
- Imogen 33,758
- Ivy 23,306
- Isabel 20,895
- Isobel 19,706
- Iris 10,353
- India 8,371
- Iqra 4,452
- Indie 3,873
- Iona 3,682
FAQ
Ijeoma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ijeoma in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ijeoma was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ijeoma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 8 babies registered as Ijeoma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ijeoma?
A feminine name of Igbo (Nigerian) origin meaning "safe journey".
How many people are called Ijeoma in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Ijeoma across the 16 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.