UK girl's name
Yemi
A feminine Nigerian name meaning "wealth, abundance".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yemi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yemi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2021 to 2021. 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.
Yemi is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Yemi. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yemi ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 3 girls were registered as Yemi.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yemi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Yemi mean?
The name Yemi originates from the Yoruba language of West Africa, primarily spoken in Nigeria. It is a unisex name that can be given to both boys and girls. The name is derived from the Yoruba word "emi," which means "gift" or "beautiful gift."
In Yoruba culture, names carry deep significance and are often chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents for their child. The name Yemi is believed to have its roots in the 16th century or earlier, when the Yoruba people were a prominent ethnic group in the region.
While there are no known direct historical references to the name Yemi in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is a name that has been passed down through generations within the Yoruba community. Some of the earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing the name Yemi can be found in historical records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Yemi was Yemi Elebuibon, a renowned Yoruba chief and custodian of Ifa, the traditional Yoruba religion. He was born in 1936 and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.
Another prominent individual with the name Yemi was Yemi Ogunbiyi, a Nigerian drama practitioner, scholar, and playwright. Born in 1954, he made significant contributions to the development of Nigerian theater and literature.
In the field of sports, Yemi Tella was a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for various clubs in Nigeria and abroad during the 1980s and 1990s. He was born in 1960 and represented Nigeria in international competitions.
Yemi Alade, born in 1989, is a contemporary Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, and actress. She has gained widespread recognition for her music and has won numerous awards, including multiple Headies Awards and a BET Award.
Yemi Akinbamijo, born in 1985, is a Nigerian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He has directed several successful Nollywood films and is known for his innovative storytelling techniques.
These are just a few examples of historical and contemporary individuals who have borne the name Yemi. Throughout its history, the name has maintained its significance and popularity within the Yoruba community and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Yemi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yemi 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 | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Yemi
- Yasmin 10,052
- Yusra 2,725
- Yasmine 2,474
- Yara 1,487
- Yazmin 806
- Yumna 601
- Yasmeen 527
- Yasmina 518
- Yasemin 513
- Yana 452
- Yvie 377
- Yvonne 368
FAQ
Yemi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yemi in the UK right now?
In 2021, Yemi was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Yemi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 3 babies registered as Yemi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yemi?
A feminine Nigerian name meaning "wealth, abundance".
How many people are called Yemi in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Yemi 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.