Nigerian Names

[TokenGinger]

Hello!

DP is of Nigerian heritage and I'm white British. I'd really like to have a Nigerian name within baby's name, either as a first name or as a middle name to link back to baby's heritage. His tribe is Yoruba.

If it's a first name, I'd like something that's not too complicated to announce, eg Kemi, Eniola etc.

I just wondered if any of you could share with me any Nigerian names (and their meanings if possible, but I can google if not), so I can have a go of rolling some off my tongue to see how they sound.

Thank you 💜

Isn’t the awesome Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi Yoruba? You could do worse after naming a DD after her!

She is indeed awesome but she is Igbo.

How about Similola for a girl - Simi for short?

The first boy I ever kissed was half Nigerian half Swiss, he was absolutely beautiful and I have completely forgotten his name but it was something like Femi. I do remember that his brother was called Michael, and in fact lots of the Nigerian heritage boys round my way (big community) have biblical names. Girls are often given aspirational or virtue names.

Is there any tradition of "blessing"/"virtue" names? Some of those are lovely.

Damn, as soon as I posted that Inhad a nasty feeling I’d got that wrong.

My friends father was Nigerian. Her name is Chinyera. I think it's a beautiful name

I knew a Olaoluwa but his name was constantly mispronounced and mis-spelt - most people pronounced it as "Oluluwa".

I also have a friend called Olayinka but I think that might be old-fashioned and/or quite common (as in popular!!!)

Ife (female) means love.

There's so many beautiful suggestions. I didn't think I'd get much of a response on this one. Thank you so much. I'm off to google their meanings ❤️

@GeorgeTheHippo I love that idea. We're having some issues with the pregnancy, so if it turns out to be viable, it must definitely will be our blessing. I'll search for names with that meaning xx

I have an Ngozi (DDmiddle name) which means blessing.

Also DS is an Uche. Both have "traditional" first names.

My Yoruba fiancé chose our daughters middle name which is Omolara , Lara for short and I love it

Ayomide
Bamidele
Enitan
Kayin
Kayode
Ayo
Yetunde
Abeni
Monifa

I know a Nkoyo which I think is a lovely name (no idea about tribal origins though). It means queen.

Nkoyo is lovely but unfortunately a different tribe.

I love Omolara! How nice.

Kayin is also up there as a favourite!

Aramide is pretty nice

My Dad is white Nigerian called Tunde, I think it's a lovely name

Tunde is lovely!

A friend of mine is Olayinka -Yinka for short, it's unisex and Yoruba, she says it means surrounded by wealth (but meaning good fortune rather than money)

There are some lovely names. Do check the long/full versions of the names as Kemi/Femi on its own is a part-name/short-name.

It might be worth asking his parents/family for suggestions/pronunciations and meanings. I like knowing the meaning behind my name relates to the cirumstances around my birth and isn't a random choice. Traditionally the child would have been given multiple names and some given to them by elder family members.

Some family names we have used:
Ekundayo - sorrow turns to joy
Ayodele - joy comes to our home
Olubunmi - god has given the child as a gift to me

Ayodele is lovely!

Sadly his mother has passed away and his dad is in Nigeria, but I hope when we tell his aunt, she'll have some lovely suggestions for us.

We'll use his mum's name as the middle name for a girl if it's a girl.

I love researching the meaning behind the names. It's beautiful.

There was a Sierra Leonean girl at school called Ayodele, always thought it was a lovely name. She was Ayo for short.

I've taught a lot of Nigerian children but I'm not sure what tribe their names originate from. Some examples ...

Girls:
Feyikemi (nn Fei pn Faye)
Adesuwa (nn Ade pn Addy)
Neriah
Chinzaor (nn Nazor)
Tolulope (nn Tolu)
Chizara (nn Zara)
Patience
Eliah
Didara

Boys:
Oluwakorede (nn Korede)
Oluwatoni (nn Toni)
Oluwatomiwa (nn Tomi)
Oluwatimi (nn Timi)
Ademola
Oladipo
Gafar
Olusola
Tito (has a longer version but can't remember it offhand)
Taofeeq
Kaito (has a longer version but can't remember it offhand)
Ishe (has a longer version but can't remember it offhand)

Looked up the full versions:

Kaito = Kaitochukwa
Ishe = Isheanesu
Tito = Titobil'oluwa