Nigerian Names

Abdullahi m Hausa
Hausa form of Abd Allah.

Abeni f Yoruba
Means "we prayed and we received" in Yoruba.

Abidemi m & f Yoruba
Means "born in my absence" in Yoruba. It is typically given to children born when the father is away.

Abimbola f & m Yoruba
Means "born to me with wealth" in Yoruba.

Abiodun m & f Yoruba
Means "born on a festival" in Yoruba.

Abiola f & m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

Abioye m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.

Abosede f Yoruba
Means "comes with the start of the week" in Yoruba, given when the child is born on Sunday.

Abubakar m Hausa, Fula
Form of Abu Bakr used in Nigeria.

Adaeze f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the king" in Igbo.

Adanna f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the father" in Igbo.

Adannaya f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of her father" in Igbo.

Ade 1 m & f Yoruba
From Yoruba adé meaning "crown", also a short form of other names beginning with this element.

Adebayo m Yoruba
Means "the crown meets joy" in Yoruba.

Adebola m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown meets wealth" in Yoruba.

Adebowale m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown has returned home" in Yoruba.

Adedayo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown becomes joy" in Yoruba.

Adegoke m Yoruba
Means "the crown has ascended the mountain" in Yoruba.

Adekunle m Yoruba
Means "the crown has filled the home" in Yoruba.

Ademola m Yoruba
Means "the crown is with wealth" in Yoruba.

Adenike f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be cared for" in Yoruba.

Adeola f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.

Adetokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown returns from over the sea" in Yoruba.

Adewale m Yoruba
Means "the crown has come home" in Yoruba.

Adisa m & f Yoruba
Means "bundled up and set to dry" in Yoruba.

Afolabi m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

Ahmadu m Hausa
Hausa form of Ahmad.

Aisha f Arabic, Urdu, Hausa, Swahili, Kazakh, African American
Means "living, alive" in Arabic. This was the name of Muhammad's third wife, the daughter of Abu Bakr. Some time after Muhammad's death she went to war against Ali, the fourth caliph, but was defeated. Her name is used more by Sunni Muslims and less by Shias.... [more]

Aishatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Aisha.

Akachi m & f Igbo
Means "the hand of God" in Igbo.

Akpan m Ibibio
Means "first-born son" in Ibibio.

Akpofure m & f Urhobo
Means "life is peaceful" in Urhobo.

Akuchi f & m Igbo
Means "wealth from God" in Igbo.

Alaba f & m Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.

Alhaji m Hausa
Means "the pilgrim" in Hausa, a derivative of Arabic حَجّ (hajj) meaning "pilgrimage, hajj". It is typically a title, not a name.

Alheri f Hausa
Means "the charitable, the good" in Hausa, from Arabic خير (khayr).

Aliyu m Hausa
Hausa form of Ali 1.

Amadi 1 m Igbo
Means "freeborn man" in Igbo.

Amadi 2 m Yoruba (Rare)
Possibly means "seemed destined to die at birth" in Yoruba.

Amaka f Igbo
Short form of Chiamaka.

Amara f Igbo
Means "grace" in Igbo.

Amarachi f Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo.

Amina f Arabic, Bosnian, Tatar, Kazakh, Swahili, Hausa
Alternate transcription of Arabic Aminah 1 or Aminah 2, as well as the form in several other languages.

Aminu m Hausa
Hausa form of Amin.

Anuli f Igbo
Means "joy" in Igbo.

Asabe f Hausa
From Hausa Asabar meaning "Saturday" (of Arabic origin).

Asma'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Asma.

Ayo f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ayọ̀ meaning "joy", or a short form of other names containing this element.

Ayodele m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come home" in Yoruba.

Ayokunle m Yoruba
Means "joy has filled the home" in Yoruba.

Ayomide f & m Yoruba
Means "my joy has arrived" in Yoruba.

Ayotunde m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come again" in Yoruba.

Ayuba m Hausa
Hausa form of Job.

Azubuike m Igbo
Means "the past is your strength" or "your back is your strength" in Igbo.

Babajide m Yoruba
Means "father has awakened" in Yoruba.

Babatunde m Yoruba
Means "father has come again" in Yoruba.

Balarabe m Hausa
Means "born on Wednesday" in Hausa, derived from Laraba "Wednesday".

Bamidele m & f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba.

Bello m Fula, Hausa
Possibly from Fula ballo meaning "helper". This name was borne by Muhammad Bello (1781-1837), the second leader of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Bilƙisu f Hausa
Hausa form of Bilqis.

Bitrus m Hausa
Hausa form of Peter.

Bolanle f Yoruba
Means "find wealth at home" in Yoruba.

Bose f Yoruba
Short form of Bosede.

Bosede f Yoruba
Variant of Abosede.

Bukar m Hausa
Short form of Abubakar.

Bukola f Yoruba
Means "add to wealth" in Yoruba.

Chi 2 m & f Igbo Mythology, Igbo
Means "god, spiritual being" in Igbo, referring to the personal spiritual guardian that each person is believed to have. Christian Igbo people use it as a name for the personal Christian god (as opposed to the omnipresent Chukwu, though the names are used synonymously in some contexts). This can also be a short form of the many Igbo names that begin with this element.

Chiamaka f Igbo
Means "God is more beautiful" in Igbo.

Chibueze m Igbo
Means "God is the king" in Igbo.

Chibuike m Igbo
Means "God is strength" in Igbo.

Chibuzo m & f Igbo
Means "God is the way" in Igbo.

Chichi f Igbo
Diminutive of Chi 2.

Chidi m & f Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and dị meaning "is". It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chidi.

Chidiebele m & f Igbo
Variant of Chidiebere.

Chidiebere m & f Igbo
Means "God is merciful" in Igbo.

Chidiebube m & f Igbo
Means "God is wonderful" in Igbo.

Chidiegwu m Igbo (Rare)
Means "God is awe-inspiring" in Igbo.

Chidike m Igbo
Means "God is strong" in Igbo.

Chidimma f Igbo
Means "God is good" in Igbo.

Chidinma f Igbo
Variant of Chidimma.

Chidubem m & f Igbo
Means "God is guiding me" in Igbo.

Chiemeka m & f Igbo
Means "God did a greater deed" in Igbo.

Chigozie m & f Igbo
Means "God bless" in Igbo.

Chijindum m & f Igbo (Rare)
Means "God holds my life" in Igbo.

Chijioke m Igbo
Means "God holds a portion" in Igbo.

Chika 1 f & m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

Chike m Igbo
Means "God of strength" in Igbo.

Chikelu m & f Igbo
Variant of Chikere.

Chikere m & f Igbo
Means "God created" in Igbo.

Chima m & f Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and má meaning "know".

Chimezie m & f Igbo
Means "God rectify" in Igbo.

Chinasa f Igbo
Means "God is answering" in Igbo.

Chinedu m Igbo
Means "God is leading" in Igbo.

Chinenye f Igbo
Means "God is giving" in Igbo.

Chinonso m & f Igbo
Means "God is nearby" in Igbo.

Chinwe f Igbo
Means "God possesses" in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chinwe.

Chinweike m Igbo
Means "God possesses power" in Igbo.

Chinwendu f & m Igbo
Means "God possesses life" in Igbo.

Chinweuba m Igbo
Means "God possesses plenty" in Igbo.

Chinyelu f Igbo
Variant of Chinyere.

Chinyere f Igbo
Means "God gave" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and nyè meaning "give".

Chioma f Igbo
Means "good God" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Chisom f & m Igbo
Means "God goes with me" in Igbo.

Chizoba f & m Igbo
Means "God continues to save" in Igbo.

Chuks m Igbo
Diminutive of Igbo names beginning with the element Chukwu meaning "God".

Chukwudi m Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo (a variant of Chidi using Chukwu as the first element).

Chukwuebuka m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

Chukwuemeka m Igbo
Means "God did a greater deed" in Igbo.

Chukwuma m Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo (a variant of Chima using Chukwu as the first element).

Dada m & f Yoruba
Means "curly hair" in Yoruba.

Ɗanjuma m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Jumma'a "Friday".

Ɗanladi m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Lahadi "Sunday".

Ɗanlami m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Alhamis "Thursday".

Dayo m & f Yoruba
Means "joy arrives" in Yoruba.

Ebele f Igbo
Variant of Ebere.

Ebere f Igbo
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.

Ebuka m Igbo
Short form of Chukwuebuka and other Igbo names ending with the same element.

Efe 2 m & f Urhobo
Short form of Efemena and other names containing efe "wealth".

Efemena m & f Urhobo
Means "here is my wealth" in Urhobo.

Ejike m Igbo
Means "one having strength" in Igbo.

Ejiro m & f Urhobo
Short form of Ejiroghene and other names containing ejiro "praise".

Ejiroghene m & f Urhobo
Means "praise God" in Urhobo.

Ekene m & f Igbo
Means "thanks, gratitude" in Igbo.

Ekenedilichukwu m & f Igbo
Means "gratitude belongs to God" in Igbo.

Ekundayo f & m Yoruba
Means "tears become joy" in Yoruba.

Ekwueme m Igbo
Means "one says, one does" in Igbo, indicating a person who is truthful about his behaviour.

Emeka m Igbo
Short form of Chukwuemeka and other Igbo names ending with the same element.

Emem m & f Ibibio
Means "peace" in Ibibio.

Eniola f & m Yoruba
Means "person of wealth" in Yoruba.

Enitan m & f Yoruba
Means "person with a story, storied person" in Yoruba.

Enyinnaya m Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.

Ese f & m Urhobo
Means "gift" in Urhobo.

Eseoghene m & f Urhobo
Means "God's gift" in Urhobo.

Faɗimatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Fatimah.

Femi m Yoruba
Short form of Olufemi.

Folami m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "respect and honour me" in Yoruba.

Fumnanya f & m Igbo
Means "love me" in Igbo.

Funke f Yoruba
Short form of Olufunke.

Funmilayo f Yoruba
Means "give me joy" in Yoruba, also a short form of Olufunmilayo or Oluwafunmilayo.

Gbemisola f Yoruba
Means "carry me into wealth" in Yoruba.

Hadiza f Hausa
Hausa form of Khadija.

Hadizatu f Hausa
Hausa variant form of Khadija.

Hafsat f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Hafsatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Halima f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili
Alternate transcription of Arabic حليمة (see Halimah), as well as the usual form in several other languages.

Halimat f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Halimatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Hamisu m Hausa
From Arabic خامس (khamis) meaning "fifth", sometimes added to a given name to indicate the fifth sibling bearing it.

Haruna 2 m Hausa, Fula
Hausa and Fula form of Harun.

Hauwa f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawa.

Hauwa'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawa.

Ibrahim m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian, Pashto, Urdu, Kazakh, Tatar, Bashkir, Avar, Bosnian, Dhivehi, Albanian, Hausa, Swahili
Arabic form of Abraham, also used in several other languages.

Idowu m & f Yoruba
Means "born after twins" in Yoruba.

Ife f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ìfẹ́ meaning "love".

Ifeanyi m Igbo
Means "we can do anything" in Igbo. It can be a short form of Ifeanyichukwu.

Ifeanyichukwu m Igbo
Means "we can do anything with God" in Igbo.

Ifeoma f Igbo
Means "good thing" in Igbo, derived from ífé meaning "thing" and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Ifiok m & f Ibibio
Means "wisdom" in Ibibio.

Ifunanya f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo (literally "to see in one's eye").

Ige f & m Yoruba
Means "born feet first" in Yoruba.

Ijeoma f Igbo
Means "good journey" in Igbo.

Ikechukwu m Igbo
Means "power of God" in Igbo.

Ikenna m Igbo
Means "power of the father" in Igbo.

Ime 1 m & f Ibibio
Means "patience" in Ibibio.

Iniobong m & f Ibibio
Means "God's time" in Ibibio.

Inyene m & f Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.

Itoro m & f Ibibio
Means "praise, glory" in Ibibio.

Iyabo f Yoruba
Means "mother has returned" in Yoruba.

Jamila f Arabic, Urdu, Hausa
Alternate transcription of Arabic جميلة (see Jamilah), as well as the usual Urdu and Hausa form.

Jatau m Hausa
Means "fair-coloured, light" in Hausa.

Jummai f Hausa
From Hausa Jumma'a meaning "Friday" (of Arabic origin).

Kayin 1 m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "celebrate" in Yoruba.

Kayode m Yoruba
Means "bringing joy" in Yoruba.

Kehinde m & f Yoruba
Means "comes last" in Yoruba. It is typically given to the second of twins.

Kelechi m & f Igbo
Means "thank God" in Igbo.

Kyauta m & f Hausa
Means "gift" in Hausa.

Ladi f Hausa
From Hausa Lahadi meaning "Sunday" (of Arabic origin).

Lanre m Yoruba
Short form of Olanrewaju.

Lawal m Hausa
From Arabic أوّل (awwal) meaning "first". It is sometimes added to the name of the first of multiple siblings who share the same given name.

Lawali m Hausa
Variant of Lawal.

Lekan m Yoruba
Short form of Olamilekan.

Mamman m Hausa
Contracted form of Muhammadu.

Maryamu f Hausa
Hausa form of Maryam.

Mojisola f Yoruba
Means "I wake up to wealth" in Yoruba.

Monifa f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "I am lucky" in Yoruba.

Muhammadu m Hausa, Fula
Hausa and Fula form of Muhammad.

Musa m Arabic, Turkish, Hausa
Arabic, Turkish and Hausa form of Moses.

Ndidi f & m Igbo
Means "patience" in Igbo.

Ndubuisi m Igbo
Means "life is foremost" in Igbo.

Ngozi f Igbo
Means "blessing" in Igbo.

Nkechi f Igbo
Short form of Nkechinyere.

Nkechinyere f Igbo
Means "this which God gave" in Igbo.

Nkemdilim f Igbo
Means "that which is mine belongs to me" in Igbo.

Nkiru f Igbo
Short form of Nkiruka.

Nkiruka f Igbo
Means "that to come is greater" in Igbo.

Nnamdi m Igbo
Means "my father is alive" in Igbo. This name is given to a child when it is believed that he is a reincarnation of his grandfather.

Nneka f Igbo
Means "mother is greater" in Igbo.

Nnenna f Igbo
Means "father's mother" in Igbo. This name is given in honour of the child's paternal grandmother.

Nnenne f Igbo
Means "mother's mother" in Igbo. This name is given in honour of the child's maternal grandmother.

Nonso m Igbo
Short form of Chinonso.

Nwanneka f Igbo
Means "sibling is greater" in Igbo.

Obi m & f Igbo
Means "heart" in Igbo.

Obinna m Igbo
Means "heart of the father" in Igbo, from óbì "heart, mind" and ńnà "father".

Ogechi f Igbo
Means "God's time" in Igbo.

Ogechukwu f Igbo
Means "God's time" in Igbo (a variant of Ogechi using Chukwu as the second element).

Ogechukwukamma f Igbo (Rare)
Means "God's time is greater" in Igbo.

Oghenekaro m & f Urhobo
Means "God first" in Urhobo.

Oghenekevwe m & f Urhobo
Means "God provided for me" in Urhobo.

Oghenero m & f Urhobo
Means "God exists" in Urhobo.

Ogochukwu f & m Igbo
Means "favour of God" in Igbo.

Okafor m Igbo
Means "boy (born on) Afor" in Igbo, Afor being one of the four days of the Igbo week.

Okechukwu m Igbo
Means "portion of God" in Igbo.

Okeke m Igbo
Means "boy (born on) Eke" in Igbo, Eke being one of the four days of the Igbo week.

Okonkwo m Igbo
Means "boy (born on) Nkwo" in Igbo, Nkwo being one of the four days of the Igbo week.

Okorie m Igbo
Means "boy (born on) Orie" in Igbo, Orie being one of the four days of the Igbo week.

Okoro m Igbo
Means "boy, young man" in Igbo.

Ola 3 m & f Yoruba
From Yoruba ọlà meaning "wealth" or the related ọlá meaning "honour, respect". It is also a short form of names containing those elements.

Olabode m Yoruba
Means "wealth returns" in Yoruba.

Olalekan m Yoruba
Means "wealth is increased by one" in Yoruba.

Olamide m & f Yoruba
Means "my wealth has arrived" in Yoruba.

Olamilekan m Yoruba
Means "my wealth is increased by one" in Yoruba.

Olanrewaju m Yoruba
Means "wealth goes forward" in Yoruba.

Olawale m Yoruba
Means "wealth has come home" in Yoruba.

Olayinka f & m Yoruba
Means "wealth surrounds me" in Yoruba.

Olu m Yoruba
Short form of Yoruba names beginning with olú or olúwa meaning "lord, God".

Olubunmi f Yoruba
Means "God gives to me" in Yoruba.

Oluchi f Igbo
Means "work of God" in Igbo.

Olufemi m Yoruba
Means "God loves me" in Yoruba.

Olufunke f Yoruba
Means "God gives care" in Yoruba.

Olufunmilayo f Yoruba
Means "God gives me joy" in Yoruba.

Olufunmilola f Yoruba
Means "God gives me wealth" in Yoruba.

Olujimi m Yoruba
Means "God forgives me" in Yoruba.

Olukayode m Yoruba
Means "God brings happiness" in Yoruba.

Olumide m Yoruba
Means "my God has come" in Yoruba.

Olusegun m Yoruba
Means "God conquers" in Yoruba.

Olusola m & f Yoruba
Means "God makes wealth" in Yoruba.

Oluwafemi m Yoruba
Variant of Olufemi.

Oluwafunmilayo f Yoruba
Variant of Olufunmilayo.

Oluwakanyinsola f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "God has dropped honey into wealth" in Yoruba.

Oluwasegun m Yoruba
Variant of Olusegun.

Oluwaseun m & f Yoruba
Means "God, thank you" in Yoruba.

Oluwaseyi f & m Yoruba
Means "God made this" in Yoruba.

Oluwatoyin f & m Yoruba
Means "God is worthy of praise" in Yoruba.

Oluwayemisi f Yoruba
Means "God honours me" in Yoruba.

Omobolanle f Yoruba
Means "child finds wealth at home" in Yoruba.

Omolara f Yoruba
Means "child is family" in Yoruba.

Oni f & m Yoruba
Means "today" in Yoruba.

Onyebuchi m Igbo
Means "who is equal to God?" in Igbo.

Onyeka m & f Igbo
Short form of Onyekachi.

Onyekachi m & f Igbo
Means "who is greater than God?" in Igbo.

Onyekachukwu m & f Igbo
Means "who is greater than God?" in Igbo (a variant of Onyekachi using Chukwu as the second element).

Onyinye f Igbo
Means "gift" in Igbo.

Onyinyechi f Igbo
Means "gift from God" in Igbo.

Opeyemi f & m Yoruba
Means "gratitude is suitable for me" in Yoruba.

Otobong m & f Ibibio
Means "from God" in Ibibio.

Oyibo m & f Urhobo
Means "white" in Urhobo.

Rabiu m Hausa
From Arabic رابع (rabi') meaning "fourth", sometimes added to a given name to indicate the fourth sibling bearing it.

Rakiya f Hausa
Hausa form of Ruqayyah.

Safiya f Hausa, Kazakh, Arabic
Hausa and Kazakh form of Safiyyah. It is also an alternate transcription of the Arabic name.

Salisu m Hausa
From Arabic ثالث (thalith) meaning "third", sometimes added to a shared given name to indicate the third sibling bearing it.

Sani 2 m Hausa
From Arabic ثان (thani) meaning "second". If two or more siblings share the same given name, this name may be appended to that of the second.

Segun m Yoruba
Means "conquer" in Yoruba, also a short form of Olusegun or Oluwasegun.

Shehu m Hausa
From Arabic شيخ (shaykh) meaning "elder, chief, sheikh", a title of Usman dan Fodio (1754-1817), the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Simisola f Yoruba
Means "rest in wealth" in Yoruba.

Taiwo m & f Yoruba
Means "taste the world, taste life" in Yoruba.

Talatu f Hausa
From Hausa Talata meaning "Tuesday" (of Arabic origin).

Temitope f & m Yoruba
Means "mine is worthy of gratitude" in Yoruba.

Titilayo f Yoruba
Means "eternal happiness" in Yoruba.

Tochukwu m & f Igbo
Means "praise God" in Igbo.

Toyin f & m Yoruba
Means "worthy of praise" in Yoruba, also a short form of Oluwatoyin.

Tunde m Yoruba
Means "return, come again" in Yoruba, also a short form of names containing that element.

Uche m & f Igbo
Means "wisdom, sense, mind" in Igbo.

Uchenna m & f Igbo
Means "wisdom of the father, sense of the father" in Igbo.

Udo 2 m & f Igbo
Means "peace" in Igbo.

Uduak m & f Ibibio
Means "will, desire" in Ibibio.

Uduakobong m & f Ibibio
Means "God's will" in Ibibio.

Ufuoma m & f Urhobo
Means "peace of mind" in Urhobo.

Ugochi f Igbo
Means "eagle of God" in Igbo, from ùgó meaning "eagle, honour" and Chi 2, referring to God.

Ugochukwu m Igbo
Means "eagle of God" in Igbo.

Uju f Igbo
Means "fullness, plenty" in Igbo.

Umar m Arabic, Urdu, Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, Indonesian, Hausa
Means "populous, flourishing", derived from Arabic عمر ('umr) meaning "life". Umar was a companion and strong supporter of the Prophet Muhammad who became the second caliph of the Muslims. He is considered to be one of the great founders of the Muslim state. The name was also borne by a 12th-century poet from Persia, Umar Khayyam.

Umaru m Hausa
Hausa variant of Umar.

Umukoro m Urhobo
Means "young man" in Urhobo.

Usman m Urdu, Indonesian, Hausa
Urdu, Indonesian and Hausa form of Uthman.

Uzochi m & f Igbo
Means "way of God" in Igbo.

Uzoma m & f Igbo
Means "good way" in Igbo.

Yaƙubu m Hausa
Hausa form of Yaqub.

Yalwa f & m Hausa
Means "abundance" in Hausa.

Yejide f Yoruba
Means "mother has awakened" in Yoruba.

Yetunde f Yoruba
Means "mother has come again" in Yoruba.

Yewande f Yoruba
Means "mother has found me" in Yoruba.

Zainabu f Swahili, Hausa
Swahili and Hausa form of Zaynab.