UK boy's name
Olabode
A masculine Yoruba name meaning "honor has come home".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Olabode is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Olabode popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1997 to 2012. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Olabode. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Olabode ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 boys were registered as Olabode.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Olabode as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Olabode mean?
Olabode is a masculine given name of Yoruba origin, derived from the combination of the words "Ola" meaning "wealth" and "bode" meaning "to wake up or arise." It is believed to have originated in the southwestern region of present-day Nigeria, where the Yoruba people have their ancestral homeland.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Olabode can be traced back to the 16th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba kingdom that flourished in the region. It is possible that the name was initially borne by individuals who were born into wealthy families or whose birth was seen as a symbol of prosperity.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who carried the name Olabode. One of the earliest recorded figures was Olabode Ogunlana (c. 1560 - 1620), a renowned warrior and military strategist who played a crucial role in the expansion of the Oyo Empire during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Another prominent figure was Olabode Aboderin (1876 - 1954), a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Aboderin family empire, which included interests in real estate, agriculture, and transportation. He is remembered for his contributions to the economic development of Lagos and his support for educational initiatives.
In the realm of literature, Olabode Olawale (1926 - 2005) was a celebrated Nigerian poet and playwright whose works explored themes of cultural identity, social justice, and the complexities of post-colonial society. His most notable works include the plays "The New Dawn" and "The Broken Calabash."
Olabode Adefemi (1942 - 2018) was a Nigerian journalist and human rights activist who played a significant role in the pro-democracy movement during the military dictatorships of the late 20th century. He was a vocal critic of government corruption and a champion of press freedom.
In the field of academia, Olabode Ibironke (1934 - 2012) was a renowned linguist and scholar of Yoruba language and culture. He served as a professor at various universities in Nigeria and authored several books on Yoruba grammar, literature, and history, making significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba cultural heritage.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Olabode throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural traditions and diverse contributions of those who carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Olabode over time
The chart below shows babies named Olabode registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Olabode, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Olabode by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Olabode 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Olabode
- 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
Olabode: questions and answers
How popular is the name Olabode in the UK right now?
In 2012, Olabode was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Olabode most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Olabode in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Olabode?
A masculine Yoruba name meaning "honor has come home".
How many people are called Olabode in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Olabode across the 3 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.