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Home › Baby Names Directory › Obi

Obi

♂ Boy

Pronounced OH-bee /ˈoʊ.bi/High

Meaning: From Igbo obi, 'heart' — also a royal title (the Obi of Onitsha); galaxy-famous via Obi-WanHigh

In 30 seconds: Heart, fully charged: Obi is Igbo for the heart itself — a royal title in Onitsha and a Jedi prefix everywhere else. These are the names you're looking for.
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Origin HighIgbo
MeaningFrom Igbo obi, 'heart' — also a royal title (the Obi of Onitsha); galaxy-famous via Obi-Wan
U.S. rank (2025)#3823 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 299

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202320072025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Obi comes from Igbo obi, 'heart' — also the royal title of Onitsha's kings. Compounds like Obinna ('father's heart') spring from it; Star Wars amplified the sound.

In the U.S. it appears in Nigerian families. Rare, heart at the root, and royal.

Did you know? The Obi of Onitsha reigns as Igbo royalty — and George Lucas's Obi-Wan made the syllables a galactic blessing; Igbo families simply mean 'heart'.
Overall data confidence 82%
Igbo references — obi — etymology

Variations

ObinnaObie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Obi Toppin (1998-)
    American professional basketball player who plays as a power forward in the NBA
  • ★Obi Mikel (1987-)
    Nigerian professional footballer who played as a central midfielder for Chelsea FC and the Nigerian national team

If you like Obi…

Mazi— a fellow Igbo choice
Jidenna— another Igbo name
Ori— lands in the same popularity range
Oswin— the same royal feel
Duncan— the same royal feel

Explore names like Obi

By themeroyalnigerianigbo
By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Obi mean?

Obi is Igbo for 'heart', and a royal title in Onitsha.

How do you pronounce Obi?

It's said OH-bee /ˈoʊ.bi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Obi a boy or girl name?

Obi is a boy's name.

How popular is Obi?

Obi is a rare name in the U.S.

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