Babatunde
A boy's name of Yoruba origin with 344 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 9 letters and three syllables, Babatunde is a longer name that carries presence on a page and formality in full, while likely inviting a natural nickname in daily life. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 1971, with 344 total recorded births.
Babatunde is not in the current top 1,000, which means your child is unlikely to share the name with a classmate — a plus for parents who value distinctiveness.
Babatunde is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Babatunde is a boy's baby name of Yoruba origin, from the Yoruba meaning 'father returns' — from baba (father) and tunde (returns again) — expressing the belief in reincarnation, specifically that the grandfather or another paternal ancestor has returned in the form of the newborn child.
Babatunde is one of the Yoruba tradition's most meaningful names — a declaration that the ancestral spirit lives on. It's widely used across Nigeria and the Yoruba diaspora worldwide. The name carries the deep West African philosophical tradition of ancestral continuity, where birth and rebirth are expressions of the same unbroken spiritual lineage.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Babatunde's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Babatunde softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Babatunde's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Babatunde has 37+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1971.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 65 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 108 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 83 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 81 | — |
The Story of Babatunde
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1995, Babatunde is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Babatunde are most likely born between 1985 and 2005.
How rare is Babatunde?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Babatunde is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1971, peaked in the 1990s with 108 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Babatunde by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(37 years, 1971–2010)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 | #9796 |
| 2009 | 6 | #11150 |
| 2008 | 7 | #9967 |
| 2007 | 8 | #9002 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9225 |
| 2004 | 7 | #9030 |
| 2003 | 10 | #6775 |
| 2002 | 8 | #7714 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10733 |
| 2000 | 7 | #8287 |
| 1999 | 8 | #7214 |
| 1998 | 11 | #5500 |
| 1997 | 8 | #6670 |
| 1996 | 11 | #5218 |
| 1995 | 20 | #3313 |
| 1993 | 14 | #4249 |
| 1992 | 18 | #3468 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7352 |
| 1990 | 12 | #4433 |
| 1989 | 13 | #4036 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Babatunde a boy's or girl's name?
When was Babatunde most popular?
How popular is the name Babatunde?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2010