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Rotimi

roh-TEE-mee /roʊˈti.mi/ Yoruba

At a glance

In short
Rotimi, a Yoruba name meaning "stay with me," reflects deep bonds.
U.S. rank 2025
Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2022 (#12,330)
Babies in 2022
5 (<0.01% of boys)
Peak
#6,721 in 1986
First recorded
1986

Meaning of Rotimi

Rotimi is a distinctive and meaningful name for boys, originating from the Yoruba culture in Nigeria. Pronounced as roh-TEE-mee (/roʊˈti.mi/), this name carries a rich cultural heritage and often signifies "stay with me" or "continue with me," reflecting deep familial bonds and continuity. Although relatively rare in the United States, with only a handful of occurrences each year, Rotimi has seen periodic use since at least 1986. The name's unique sound and profound meaning make it an excellent choice for parents seeking a name that stands out while honoring African roots.

How to pronounce Rotimi

Yoruba

Popularity of Rotimi in the U.S.

Rotimi was last recorded in the U.S. in 2022, ranked #12,330 with 5 babies. It peaked at #6,721 in 1986. It first appears in the records in 1986.

Bar and line chart: Rotimi in the U.S., 1986–2022. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 5 in 1986 and 5 in 2022. Line: rank among boy names, peak #6,721 in 1986, #12,330 in 2022.
  • Boys named Rotimi (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1986–2022. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 1986⁠–⁠2022 3 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2022512,330▼ 184
2021512,146back
198656,721new

Notable people named Rotimi

  • Rotimi Fani-Kayode was a Nigerian photographer whose powerful portraits explored sexuality, race and culture and helped shape British contemporary art.
  • Rotimi Akeredolu — Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 2017 to 2023.
  • Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Nigerian politician who served as transportation minister and governor of Rivers State.
  • Rotimi is a Nigerian-American actor and singer known for his roles in Boss, Power and The Chi.