NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Oghosa

A masculine Nigerian name meaning "great hunter".

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 15 boys.

Oghosa is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Oghosa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 7 births.

This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2011 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.

Oghosa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Oghosa. 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

  • Oghosa ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 7 girls were registered as Oghosa.
  • Oghosa is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Oghosa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 53.1% of Oghosa registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2024

7 births

Estimated living

17

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Oghosa

In England and Wales birth records, Oghosa has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 46.9% of registrations are for boys and 53.1% 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.

47% boys
53% girls
Boys15 (46.9%)Girls17 (53.1%)

Oghosa registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,991 in 2023
  • 3 boys registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2018 (5 births)

Oghosa registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,318 in 2024
  • 7 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (7 births)

Meaning

What does Oghosa mean?

The name Oghosa has its roots in the Edo language spoken by the Edo people of southern Nigeria. It first emerged in the region known as the Kingdom of Benin, which existed from the 13th to the 19th century. The name is derived from the Edo words "ogho" meaning "wealth" and "sa" meaning "born into." Thus, Oghosa can be interpreted as "born into wealth" or "born into prosperity."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Oghosa can be traced back to the 15th century, during the height of the Benin Empire. It was a name often given to children born into noble or royal families, as a symbol of their privileged status and the expectation of prosperity in their life.

One of the most notable historical figures with the name Oghosa was Oghosa Ekekhuan, a powerful and influential Oba (king) of the Benin Empire who ruled from 1532 to 1552. He was known for his military conquests and for expanding the territories under Benin control during his reign.

Another prominent figure named Oghosa was Oghosa Okhuaetor, a renowned Benin warrior and military strategist who lived in the late 16th century. He was widely celebrated for his bravery and tactical prowess in battles against neighboring kingdoms.

In the 17th century, there was Oghosa Edo, a skilled craftsman and sculptor who was part of the Benin Ivory Carvers Guild. His intricate ivory carvings depicting scenes from Benin history and mythology are still highly regarded works of art.

During the 18th century, Oghosa Ekhator was a respected Benin chief and advisor to the Oba. He was known for his wisdom, diplomacy, and ability to resolve conflicts peacefully.

In more recent times, Oghosa Browne was a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Nigerian Constituent Assembly in the late 1970s. He played a significant role in drafting the Nigerian Constitution.

While the name Oghosa has its origins in the Edo culture of Nigeria, it has since been adopted by people of various ethnic backgrounds within the country and beyond, particularly in the African diaspora. However, its historical roots and cultural significance remain deeply tied to the Benin Kingdom and the Edo people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Oghosa over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Oghosa in England and Wales, from 2009 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 Oghosa, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02457200920162024

Decades

Oghosa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Oghosa 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 #4014 11 2
2010s #5775 6 2

Related

Names similar to Oghosa

FAQ

Oghosa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Oghosa in the UK right now?

In 2024, Oghosa was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Oghosa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 7 babies registered as Oghosa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Oghosa?

A masculine Nigerian name meaning "great hunter".

How many people are called Oghosa in the UK?

A total of 17 babies have been registered as Oghosa across the 4 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.