UK boy's name
Odera
Of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially related to a word meaning "light".
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.
Odera is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Odera popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2870, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 5 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.
Odera is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 5 living people in the UK are called Odera. 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
- • Odera ranked #2870 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Odera.
- • About 5 living people in the UK are estimated to have Odera as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2870
2006
Births in 2006
5
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
5
2026
Meaning
What does Odera mean?
The name Odera is of Luo origin, an ethnic group from western Kenya and parts of Tanzania. Its roots can be traced back to the Nilotic languages spoken in the region for centuries. The name Odera is derived from the word "oder," which means "born during the rains" or "born after the rains" in the Dholuo language.
In traditional Luo culture, names often carried symbolic meanings related to the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents. The name Odera likely emerged as a way to commemorate a birth that occurred during or after the rainy season, a time of renewed life and fertility in the region.
While the exact origins of the name are difficult to pinpoint, some historians believe it may have been in use among the Luo people as early as the 16th century. However, the earliest recorded instances of the name Odera appear in colonial-era records and missionary accounts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One notable figure bearing the name Odera was Odera Akang'o, a prominent Luo chief and leader who played a significant role in the resistance against British colonial rule in Kenya in the early 20th century. He was born in 1872 and died in 1944, leaving a lasting legacy as a defender of Luo traditions and land rights.
Another historical figure with the name Odera was Odera Okelo, a Kenyan politician and member of the Legislative Council in the 1950s. He was born in 1904 and was actively involved in the fight for Kenya's independence from British rule.
In the realm of literature, Odera Oruko was a renowned Kenyan poet and writer who gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. Born in 1940, he was known for his use of the Dholuo language in his works, which explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues.
Odera Kamara, born in 1961, is a Kenyan academic and educator who has made significant contributions to the field of education and curriculum development in Kenya and beyond.
Lastly, Odera Guya, born in 1982, is a contemporary Kenyan artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally, often exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human experience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Odera by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Odera 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 | #2870 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Odera
- 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
Odera: questions and answers
How popular is the name Odera in the UK right now?
In 2006, Odera was ranked #2870 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Odera most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Odera in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Odera?
Of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially related to a word meaning "light".
How many people are called Odera in the UK?
A total of 5 babies have been registered as Odera 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.