Obi

Obi - A very unique male name

Obi appeared on the charts for the first time in 2009 on position #4317. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Obi and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Obi? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Obi. The baby boy name Obi was given to 5 baby boys in 2025, ranking #4206 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 293,257 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Obi peaked in popularity 3 years ago in 2023 on position 2877.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Obi, 1-5?

Obi is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Obi is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #2,706 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,706.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Obi is where you live.

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Obi origin and meaning

Igbo (Nigerian)

Uncertain — in Igbo use, obi is a word for 'heart' and the name of a traditional meeting house, but American use also draws on Obadiah short forms and the Star Wars name Obi-Wan

Obi entered US data in 2009 and peaked in 2023. For Nigerian families it is an Igbo word-name; for others it is a short, striking form helped by the fame of Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose full fictional name is Obi-Wan, not Obi. With several live sources, its origin here is honestly mixed.

Origin uncertain

Obi is a 3 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Obi, pop culture references for the name Obi and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Obi

We've found the following names that sound similar to Obi, sorted by popularity.

Obie / Ova / Opie / Ovie / Oiva / Opha / Ovey / Obbie / Oba /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Obi

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Obi a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Obi?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

OH-bee · /ˈoʊbi/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Obadiah — The biblical name for which Obi can be a short form

Famous bearers

None yet — the name first appears in the data in 2009, and its oldest bearers are still young.

Style

InternationalShort form

Why parents choose it

Short, warm and memorable, with a genuine Igbo word behind one of its sources.

Worth knowing

• The Star Wars association is dominant for many Americans, and in Japanese obi is a kimono sash — expect both comments.