Yoruba Boy Names
Yoruba male names come from the Yoruba language of southwestern Nigeria and nearby regions. Many use compound elements that signal rank or valor: Ade- (crown, royalty) and Akin- (bravery, warrior) are especially frequent in boys’ names, and titles such as Alaafin/Alafin appear as given names. Elements like -tunde (returns) occur across genders, so overall structures are similar to female names, but themes of kingship, achievement, and fatherhood (Baba-) are notably common for males.
In modern use, Yoruba male names appear both as given names and surnames, and shortened forms are common. Examples include Adewale, Adebowale, Adetokunbo, Adegoke, Adewole, Ajani, Afolabi, Agboola, Akintunde, and Babafemi.
Showing 50
of 121 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajani | He who wins the struggle; the conqueror | Yoruba | Boy | 653 #1 | |
| Olan | Varies by origin - in Gaelic an old personal name (possibly linked to Saint Olán); in Yoruba a short form of names beginning with 'Ola-' meaning 'wealth' or 'honor'. | Irish, Yoruba | Boy | 261 #2 | |
| Akin | Yoruba: 'brave, valiant, warrior'; Turkish: 'raid, onslaught' | Turkish, Yoruba | Boy | 123 #3 | |
| Oluwafemi | God loves me | Yoruba | Boy | 73 #4 | |
| Ayodeji | My joy has doubled | Yoruba | Boy | 70 #5 | |
| Adewale | The crown has come home | Yoruba | Boy | 63 #6 | |
| Olumide | The Lord/God has come (literally: Olu-mi-de) | Yoruba | Boy | 38 #7 | |
| Kehinde | Second-born twin | Yoruba | Boy | 37 #8 | |
| Femi | God loves me | Yoruba | Boy | 31 #9 | |
| Olufemi | God loves me | Yoruba | Boy | 30 #10 | |
| Adetokunbo | The crown/royalty has come or returned from across the sea (often given to a child born abroad) | Yoruba | Boy | 20 #11 | |
| Taiwo | First to taste the world | Yoruba | Boy | 18 #12 | |
| Lemi | {'Yoruba': 'Often part of names meaning related to honor/blessings (e.g., in longer names such as Oluwalemi)', 'Samoan': 'Meaning varies by family/tradition; used as a personal name', 'Other/uncertain': 'Varies by language and region; no single universal meaning'} | Samoan, Yoruba | Boy | 16 #13 | |
| Olanrewaju | Wealth/prosperity is moving forward | Yoruba | Boy | 16 #14 | |
| Oba | King; ruler; monarch | Yoruba | Boy | 15 #15 | |
| Abayomi | Brings me joy / comes to bring joy to me | Yoruba | Boy | 6 #16 | |
| Adebowale | The crown/royalty has come home | Yoruba | Boy | 5 #17 | |
| Ajaye | Yoruba: variant of Ajayi - related to fighting/one who wins; Sanskrit/Indian: variant of Ajay - "unconquered". | Indian, Sanskrit, Yoruba | Boy | 5 #18 | |
| Akinola | Brave/warrior of wealth (valor and wealth/honor) | Yoruba | Boy | 5 #19 | |
| Adegoke | The crown/royalty has ascended | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adekin | From Yoruba 'Ade' (crown/royalty) + diminutive '-kin' - 'little crown' or 'royal child.' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adekun | The crown is full / the crown fills (from 'ade' = crown, 'kun' = to fill) | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adeniran | From Ade (crown) + ni (has) + ran (help) - 'the crown/royalty provides help' or 'the crown has become a helper' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adetunji | The crown reawakens | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adewole | The crown/royalty has come home | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adewuyi | The crown brings honor/dignity | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Adigun | The crown is strong / royalty is mighty | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Affolatan | Likely related to wealth or good fortune - roughly 'born into wealth' or 'wealth has arrived' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Afolabi | Born into wealth / child born with wealth | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Agboola | One who gathers or accumulates wealth; 'wealth has gathered' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Aju | Often used as a pet form of Ajay/Ajit meaning "unconquered" or "victorious" in Indian contexts; meanings may vary or be absent in other languages. | Indian, Korean, Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinbode | The brave/warrior has come home | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinlolu | God's warrior / brave one of God | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinmade | Likely "the warrior/brave one has come" | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinosun | From Yoruba Akin (brave/warrior) + Oṣun (the river-goddess Oshun) - 'warrior favored by Oshun' or 'brave like Oshun'. | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinrin | From Akin (brave/warrior) + rin (to walk/journey) - 'brave walker' or 'valiant journeyman' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinsanya | From Yoruba 'Akin' (brave/warrior) + 'sanya'; commonly interpreted as 'bravery is rewarded' or 'the brave are vindicated'. | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinsowon | Combines 'Akin' (brave/warrior) with a second element likely meaning 'cherished/admired' - roughly 'cherished/celebrated warrior.' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akintayo | Bravery/warrior brings joy ("brave one brings joy") | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akintola | From Yoruba 'Akin' (brave/warrior) + 'tola' (worthy of wealth) - 'valiant warrior who brings or merits wealth.' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akintunde | The brave/warrior has returned | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinwole | The brave/warrior has come home | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinwoye | From Yoruba Akin (brave/warrior) + woye (has come into honor) - 'the brave/warrior has come into honor' or 'an honored/esteemed warrior'. | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinyele | From Yoruba 'Akin' (brave/warrior) + 'yele' (befits honor/dignified) - 'brave one who is dignified' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Akinyemi | "Bravery/warrior befits me" - Akin = brave/warrior, yemi = befits me | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Alaafin | Owner of the palace; ruler of the palace - title of the king of Oyo | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Alafin | Owner of the palace; king or traditional ruler (title used for the monarch of Oyo). | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Alake | Title-name meaning 'ruler/chief (owner) of Ake' | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Alao | In Yoruba usage often interpreted as 'owner/possessor' or associated with authority/wealth; exact meanings vary by family and region | Yoruba | Boy | — | |
| Alimi | Knowing; learned | Arabic, Hausa, Yoruba | Boy | — |
Yoruba Boys name popularity over time
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Yoruba-origin name in our dataset.
121
Names in this origin
9
With data in 2024
149
Births 2024
410
Peak year 0