Obi is a very common given name and surname of Igbo origin. Igbo being a tonal language, Obi can, depending on its pronunciation, either mean âÂÂheartâÂÂ, âÂÂchestâÂÂ, âÂÂdesireâÂÂ, âÂÂmindâ (ÃÂbì); or describe the central part of the homestead (ÃÂbÃÂ) where guests were traditionally received. The latter is depicted in many of Chinua Achebe's works, for instance.