Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Obi is a boy's baby name of African origin, from the Igbo language of Nigeria, meaning 'heart' — the organ of life, emotion, and the seat of the soul in Igbo cultural tradition. It is one of the most important given names in Igbo communities.
The Igbo concept of obi as heart encompasses courage, generosity, and the essential life force. Star Wars fans recognize Obi-Wan Kenobi — whose name George Lucas partly drew from West African linguistic tradition — giving this ancient Igbo name a global fictional presence. For Nigerian families, it needs no fictional association; it has been meaningful for centuries.