UK boy's name
Olisa
An Igbo masculine name meaning "all-conquering" or "winner over all".
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.
Olisa is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Olisa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2024 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.
Olisa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Olisa. 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
- • Olisa ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 3 boys were registered as Olisa.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Olisa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2024
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Olisa mean?
The name Olisa has its origins in the Igbo culture of Nigeria. It is a combination of two Igbo words: 'Olu' meaning 'source' or 'head' and 'isa' meaning 'play' or 'to rejoice'. Together, the name can be interpreted to mean 'source of joy' or 'head of rejoicing'.
The earliest recorded use of the name Olisa dates back to the 15th century, during the height of the Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest and most influential kingdoms in Igboland. It is believed that the name was first given to children born during times of great celebration or after a period of hardship, symbolizing the joy and relief felt by their families and communities.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Olisa was Olisa Nri, a prominent ruler of the Nri Kingdom in the late 15th century. He was renowned for his wisdom, diplomacy, and efforts to promote unity among the various Igbo clans and communities.
In the 17th century, the name Olisa gained popularity among the Igbo people living in the Kingdom of Arochukwu, a major center of slave trade and commerce. Olisa Aro, a wealthy and influential merchant and slave trader, was a notable figure of this era.
During the 19th century, the name Olisa became associated with resistance and resilience against British colonial rule. Olisa Opara, a warrior and leader of the Aro Confederacy, played a significant role in the Aro Expedition of 1901-1902, a conflict between the British and the Aro people.
In more recent times, Olisa has continued to be a popular name among the Igbo people, and it has been adopted by people of other cultures and nationalities as well. Olisa Agbakoba, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, was born in 1953 and has been a vocal advocate for democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Olisa Metuh, born in 1959, is a Nigerian politician and former spokesperson for the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He served as the National Publicity Secretary of the party from 2012 to 2015.
While the name Olisa has its roots in the Igbo culture, it has transcended its origins and is now recognized and embraced by people around the world, carrying with it a sense of joy, celebration, and resilience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Olisa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Olisa 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Olisa
- 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
Olisa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Olisa in the UK right now?
In 2024, Olisa was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Olisa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 3 babies registered as Olisa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Olisa?
An Igbo masculine name meaning "all-conquering" or "winner over all".
How many people are called Olisa in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Olisa 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.