Holding steady, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Olajuwon since 1983
Babies named Olajuwon per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 167 |
| 1990s | 273 |
| 2000s | 76 |
| 2010s | 87 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Olajuwon is a Yoruba name of debated derivation, brought into the American naming consciousness by basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1983 and reached its peak rank of 8,910 in 1994, the year Hakeem led the Houston Rockets to their first NBA championship. As of 2025, it remains uncommon, with an occurrence rate of roughly 1 in 213,510 births. Its trajectory has been stable in recent years, and though it has no dominant state association, the name carries a strong African cultural heritage and a direct link to one of basketball's greats.
Olajuwon is a Yoruba name from Nigeria, composed of elements "ola" (wealth) and "juwon" (honor/respect), though the exact derivation is debated. It gained international recognition through Nigerian-born basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon, a dominant center for the Houston Rockets. The name remains rare in the United States, with its peak popularity in 1994 coinciding with the player's NBA championship wins.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ola, Juwon
Sibling names for Olajuwon
Names that share Olajuwon's style, for a brother or sister.
