Nigerian names

[Noddyrocks]

I am English and my Husband is English-Nigerian

We already have one DD and I thought it was fair that she have an English first name if the middle and last Nigerian names. So that worked out ok.
But OH wants the next one coming up to have a first Nigerian name as well. I have looked a littl into Nigerian names but not really seen any I like.
I quite like Tobi for a boy I guess.

Any other ideas on Nigerian names please for boys and girls. (our first daughter's middle name is Eniola)Yuroba

I know a girl named Shakina, whose father is Nigerian. I am not sure if it is of Nigerian origin, though.

Thanks Body, I just looked it up and it is African not sure which country though. It means beautiful onw which is nice.

I know very little about Nigerian names but a quick search found these, which I think are very pretty:

Adeola
Sulola
Omolara

Eniola is beautiful, btw.

Thanks freerange. :) I think I have seen Omolara which is nice too.

I will have a look for their meanings!

Thanks, I like Eniola too.

I knew a Nigerian mum called yemisi shortened occasionally to Yemi.

Boys

Ekon
Abayomi
Nwake
Azi
Akintunde
Kayin

Girls

Abebi
Adesina
Adanya
Adanna
Jumoke
Sade

Thanks pepsi - oh yes I remember I saw Kayin, I like that!
I quite like Adesina and Adanna too!

Thanks

I only know one Nigerian person. Her name is Omotayo and we call her Tayo for short.

Nigerians have different tribes . The most common in England is the Yoruba and igbo tribes.
Your dh originates from the yoruba tribe .

Girls- Sade (like the singer Sade)
Temi

I think that Adanna may be an Igbo name.

My housemate at Uni was Nigerian, so i know a lot about the culture

No he wouldnt be happy with an Igbo name!

I have been to Nigeria on a few occasions forehead :)

Kemi's nice for a girl, and I'm pretty sure it's Yoruba. Don't think it's short for anything but might be wrong.

I don't know that much about Yoruba names (so apologies in advance if I spill over into other West African).

Names I've come across and like:

Girls: Abena, Simisola (bur the book!), Mojisola, Temitope

Boys: Enitan, Ayo (is this a nn?), Kayin, Kwesi

Have taught an Oluwalofemi (Femi) and Oluwalosemilore (Ore) which I think are both Yoruban names.

Ife is nice too.

Kemi, Yomi, Yemi, Aina, Ajani, Akani, Jadesola or Sola, Kayin, Olaiya, Tobi, Tolani (could nn Lani), Tomori or Mori, Yeni, Yemisi or Misi

These are more Anglo-friendly Yoruba names...mostly they can be quite long and difficult to pronounce and spell (as I'm sure you already know, sorry if I'm patronising). I think they are all lovely. Kayin, Yemi, Kemi, Olaiya and Yeni are personal faves.

Girls: Kemi, Morenike, my sister is Adenike (shortened Ade), Adeola

Boys: Femi, Adetokumbo (I don't think I spelt that properly), Oladipo (shortened to Ladi), Bayo, Deji, Ayo

Anyway, there are lots of beautiful Yoruba names. Has his family not suggested any names? I had everybody in my family wanting to name me when I was born and I ended up with 5 Yoruba names!

I say this as someone expecting a mixed race child - won't it be a little strange if one of your children has an English name, and the other a Nigerian name? I think once you've decided on a "pattern" (i.e. English first name, Nigerian middle name) aren't you duty bound to stick with it?

Maybe I over think these things

I think you are overthinking slowshow. I come from a mixed raced family and one of us has a English name and the other has a Nigerian name. It has not been strange. When you are in a mixed family those are the things that happen. In fact now that I have started my own family our first child has a Italian name and Nigerian middle name, our next child will have a nigerian first name.

Slowshow I do agree and I personally think they should have at least one English name so if I dont get the first name to be English the middle name will be!

My first daughter's name is actually Elisa (so not entirely English)

Samoa, would you have preferred an Eglish name for your child or are you ok with going Nigerian and would you have a middle name?

I still do like Kayin so will check if it is Yuroba :)

We have quite a few Dejis,Tundes and Ayos in the family, not that that matters but it would be nice to have something different.

Nutlla, I like Oleiya,Tobi and Kayin so will add those to me books Thanks! :)

Thanks everyone :)

Eglish !! Duh!

Noddyrocks, I am mixed Nigerian and have a Nigerian first name, my sister has an English first name and Nigerian second name. We are both very happy with our names and I am proud to have my Nigerian name.

My partner understood that it is important for me to have one of my children with a Yoruba first name, as it is part of my heritage. We had already agreed that if our first child was a girl she should get an Italian first name and then my grandmother would choose a Yoruba middle name. Both names (Italian first and Yoruba middle) really sound nice together. Now for our second child he/she will have a Nigerian first name and Italian middle name.

Hasn't your OH family offered any ideas for Yoruba names. Some of the Yoruba names have beautiful meanings.

Anyway, best of luck with choosing one!

Grr, just lost my message in reply Samoa.

Its still early days so most of his extended family don't know yet. His parents are both deceased and apart from one brother in the UK and his family we rarely see the others. (although they all came over for our wedding)

I think meanings are really important too.

Don't they usually have a naming ceremony in Nigeria after the baby is born?

Noddyrocks, We do have naming ceremonies in Nigeria. We never did it. You would have to make enquiries into into what the Yoruba naming ceremony entails. I could ask my grandmother but I cannot guarantee that she remembers!

Enitan, Temitope, Okiki, Ayomide, Simisola for girls

My daughter's father is Nigerian and she has first English name (v. popular from top 10) followed by two Nigerian middle names : Oyinade which means Royalty is Sweet and Omotoyosi which means Child of Joy, all followed by Nigerian surname on top!

I used to work with a Nigerian lady named Olufunmilola. She was known as Fumni or Olufunmi to her Nigerian friends, and Lola to her English friends.