Obi is a distinctive choice, ranked #1066 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Obi in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#1066
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About the Name Obi
Obi is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 83 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #758 in 2022 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1998.
Obi is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Obi in their class.
⭐ Famous People Named Obi
Obi Cubana — Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, is a Nigerian businessman, socialite, entertainer and philanthropist.
Powell Obinna Obi — Powell Obinna Obi is a Japanese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Vissel Kobe.
Peter Obi — Peter Gregory Obi is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Anambra State from 17 March 2006 until his impeachment on 2 November 2006.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Obi
Unlikely. With around 28 UK babies named Obi per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Obi in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Obi has been fairly steady, ranked #1,066 in 2025 against #1,051 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #758 in 2022.
Obi is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Obi include: Obi Cubana, Powell Obinna Obi and Peter Obi. Short summaries for each appear below.
Obi does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Obis in the wild.
28
UK babies named Obi (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 15 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Obi
Almost certainly the only Obi in the class
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UK Popularity (1998–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Obi
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Peter Gregory Obi is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Anambra State from 17 March 2006 until his impeachment on 2 November 2006.
Chidozie Obi-Martin, commonly known as Chido Obi, is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United.