Obinna
Meaningfather's heart · Igbo
Obinna is an African boy name meaning “father's heart”, with Igbo roots. Igbo names frequently express faith, gratitude or a family's feelings about a child's arrival. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationObinna peaked in 1984, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Obinna you'd meet today is about 41 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Obinnas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Obinna would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 106,383 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryObinna first shows up in US birth records in 1977, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 48 years since.
US births per million boys, 1977–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Obinna
Obinna is a boy name of African origin meaning “father's heart”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1980s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Obinna
What does the name Obinna mean?
Obinna means “father's heart” and comes from Igbo. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Axel (“father of peace”), Abraham (“father of many”), Ibrahim (“father of many”) and Abby (“father's joy”).
What is the origin of the name Obinna?
Obinna is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Igbo. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Obinna a boy or girl name?
Obinna is a boy name. In 2025, 16 US boys were named Obinna.
How popular is the name Obinna?
Obinna ranked #5,608 for US boys in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1984, when it reached #2,706. Over the last five years it has climbed 372 places.
What names are similar to Obinna?
If you like Obinna, you might also like Axel, Abraham, Ibrahim and Abby.
What should I know before naming my baby Obinna?
Obinna is an African boy name meaning “father's heart”, with Igbo roots. Igbo names frequently express faith, gratitude or a family's feelings about a child's arrival. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.