name
Common
Obama
oh-BAH-muh
Obama (name) means a Luo surname, notably borne by Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, and also the name of a Japanese city and samurai clan. Example: “Barack Obama served two terms as U.S. president.”
name
1
A Luo surname, notably borne by Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, and also the name of a Japanese city and samurai clan.
"(The Browns gave the Obamas an ornate penholder made from the timber of a Victorian antislave ship.)"
— Helene Cooper, Obama’s Star Turn at Summit Gets Mixed Results (2009)
"Barack Obama served two terms as U.S. president."
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Obama.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Obamas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Barack _____ served two terms as U.S. president.
Etymology
As a Luo surname, a corruption of the by-name Mobam, "born with a crooked back."
Rhymes for Obama
See all rhymes for Obama →Frequently asked questions
What does “Obama” mean?
The word “Obama” means a Luo surname, notably borne by Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, and also the name of a Japanese city and samurai clan.
How do you pronounce “Obama”?
“Obama” is pronounced oh-BAH-muh (/oʊˈbɑ.mə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Obama” in a sentence?
Here is “Obama” used in a sentence: “Barack Obama served two terms as U.S. president.”
What part of speech is “Obama”?
“Obama” is a name.
Is “Obama” a common word?
“Obama” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Where does the surname Obama come from?
Obama is a surname from the Luo people of East Africa, especially Kenya, where it is fairly common. It reached global recognition through Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, whose father was a Luo Kenyan. Coincidentally, Obama is also an unrelated place name in Japan.
Is Obama also a place in Japan?
Yes. Obama is a small coastal city in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, and the name has no connection to the Luo surname — the two simply share a spelling. There was also a historical Obama samurai clan. The Japanese city drew attention in 2008 for sharing its name with the candidate.
Who is the most famous person named Obama?
Barack Obama is by far the best-known bearer of the name. He served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the country's first African-American president. His wife Michelle Obama and their daughters also made the surname internationally recognisable.
What does the name Obama mean?
Obama is a traditional Luo personal and family name from East Africa. As with many Luo names, its precise meaning is tied to the circumstances of birth and can vary between families, so sources give differing interpretations. What is consistent is its origin in Luo naming custom rather than any single fixed definition.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Obama:
