UK name, mostly girls
Opeyemi
An African name meaning "Child brings happiness".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 38 boys.
Opeyemi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Opeyemi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 8 births.
This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2014. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 58 living people in the UK are called Opeyemi. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Opeyemi ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 8 girls were registered as Opeyemi.
- • Opeyemi is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 58 living people in the UK are estimated to have Opeyemi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 60.4% of Opeyemi registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5691
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
8 births
Estimated living
58
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Opeyemi
In England and Wales birth records, Opeyemi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 39.6% of registrations are for boys and 60.4% 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.
Opeyemi registered for boys
- Ranked #3,865 in 2010
- 4 boys registered in 2010
- Peak: 1998 (5 births)
Opeyemi registered for girls
- Ranked #5,691 in 2014
- 3 girls registered in 2014
- Peak: 2008 (8 births)
Meaning
What does Opeyemi mean?
The name Opeyemi originates from the Yoruba language spoken in southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin. It is a compound name composed of two words, "Ope" meaning "gratitude" or "thanks," and "Yemi" meaning "life." Together, Opeyemi can be interpreted as "My gratitude for life" or "Thanks for this life."
This name has been in use among the Yoruba people for centuries, dating back to the medieval period when the Yoruba kingdoms flourished in the region. Its roots can be traced back to the Yoruba belief system and worldview, which emphasizes gratitude and reverence for the gift of life.
While there are no known ancient texts or scriptures that directly reference the name Opeyemi, it is deeply rooted in the cultural traditions and oral histories passed down through generations of Yoruba storytellers and elders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Opeyemi can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba linguist and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria, who lived from 1809 to 1891. Crowther's works played a significant role in documenting and preserving the Yoruba language and culture.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Opeyemi, including:
1. Opeyemi Awolowo (1905-1992), a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the Federal Commissioner for Finance and the Governor of the Western Region of Nigeria.
2. Opeyemi Bamidele (born 1960), a Nigerian politician and member of the House of Representatives, representing the Ekiti North Federal Constituency.
3. Opeyemi Ogunlola (born 1981), a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for clubs in Nigeria, Sweden, and Norway.
4. Opeyemi Adebola (born 1985), a Nigerian-British former professional footballer who played as a striker for various clubs in England and Scotland.
5. Opeyemi Olagunju (born 1990), a Nigerian sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters and 200 meters events.
These individuals, spanning different eras and professions, exemplify the enduring legacy of the name Opeyemi and its deep roots in the Yoruba culture and history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Opeyemi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Opeyemi in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Opeyemi, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Opeyemi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Opeyemi 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 | #4601 | 18 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3542 | 26 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2958 | 14 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Opeyemi
- Olivia 123,111
- Orla 10,799
- Olive 6,815
- Ophelia 4,939
- Ottilie 4,407
- Oliwia 2,608
- Ocean 1,811
- Orlaith 1,357
- Olivia-Rose 1,250
- Octavia 1,243
- Olivia-Grace 618
- Orlagh 608
FAQ
Opeyemi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Opeyemi in the UK right now?
In 2014, Opeyemi was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Opeyemi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 8 babies registered as Opeyemi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Opeyemi?
An African name meaning "Child brings happiness".
How many people are called Opeyemi in the UK?
A total of 58 babies have been registered as Opeyemi across the 12 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.