UK boy's name
Obiora
An Igbo name meaning "the heart's desire".
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.
Obiora is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Obiora popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2014 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.
Obiora is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Obiora. 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
- • Obiora ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 4 boys were registered as Obiora.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Obiora as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2024
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Obiora mean?
The name Obiora originates from the Igbo culture of southeastern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Igbo words: "obi" meaning heart, and "ora" meaning good or righteous. Thus, the name Obiora means "good heart" or "righteous heart".
The Igbo people have a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries, with a strong emphasis on names carrying significant meanings and representing important virtues or aspirations for the child. The name Obiora is believed to have been in use among the Igbo people for several centuries, although its exact origins are difficult to trace due to the oral tradition of the culture.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Obiora can be found in the book "Things Fall Apart" by the renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, published in 1958. In the novel, Obiora is the name of a character, highlighting the name's deep roots in Igbo culture.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Obiora. One of the most famous was Obiora Nwokedi (1916-1984), a Nigerian politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement and served as a Minister in the post-independence government.
Another prominent figure with the name Obiora was Obiora Udechukwu (1926-2005), a Nigerian sculptor and artist who gained international recognition for his works showcasing Igbo cultural themes and traditions. His sculptures can be found in various museums and public spaces around the world.
In the realm of sports, Obiora Nwankwo (born 1976) is a former Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for various clubs in Nigeria and Europe, including the Nigerian national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian footballers of his generation.
Obiora Ike (born 1971) is a Nigerian author and professor of English literature, known for his novels and short stories that explore themes of identity, tradition, and social issues in contemporary Nigerian society. His works have received critical acclaim and have been translated into several languages.
Obiora Udechukwu (born 1967) is a Nigerian-American engineer and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the field of information technology. He is the founder and CEO of a successful software company and has been recognized for his innovative work in developing enterprise software solutions.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Obiora, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name within the Igbo community and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Obiora over time
The chart below shows babies named Obiora registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Obiora, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Obiora by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Obiora 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 | #4270 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4632 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Obiora
- Oliver 157,197
- Oscar 67,495
- Owen 33,517
- Ollie 13,193
- Oakley 9,838
- Omar 6,823
- Otis 6,395
- Oskar 4,827
- Olly 4,403
- Otto 3,839
- Osian 3,145
- Owain 2,310
FAQ
Obiora: questions and answers
How popular is the name Obiora in the UK right now?
In 2024, Obiora was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Obiora most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 4 babies registered as Obiora in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Obiora?
An Igbo name meaning "the heart's desire".
How many people are called Obiora in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Obiora across the 2 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.