Western African Submitted Names

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Western African names include those from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. See also about African names.
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ÁÁRÓNÌ m Yoruba
Yoruba form of Aaron.
ABA f Western African, Akan, Fante
Means "born on Thursday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
ABADI m Ijaw
Meaning "a big sea" in Ijaw.
ABADIBO f & m Ijaw
Means "a person from the sea" in Ijaw.
ABAKA f Western African, Akan
Means "first born" in Akan.
ABAYOMI m & f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "he came to bring me joy and happiness" or "I would have been mocked" in Yoruba.
ABDOU m Western African
Western African form of Abdul.
ABDOUL m Western African
Western African form of Abdul.
ABDOULAYE m Western African, Wolof, Fula, Serer, Manding, Akan
Form of Abdullah used in West Africa.
ABDOUL AZIZ m Western African
Western African form of Abd al-Aziz.
ABDOUL KARIM m Western African
Western African form of Abd al-Karim.
ABDOUL SALAM m Western African
Western African form of Abdus Salam.
ABDULLAHI m Somali, Nigerian
Form of Abdullah used in Somalia and Nigeria.
ABEIKU m Western African, Akan, Fante
Means "born on Wednesday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
ABI f Nigerian
Means "owner" in Izere.
ABIOLA f & m African, African American (Modern), Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "born in honor" in Yoruba.
ABIONA f & m Yoruba
Means "born during a journey" in Yoruba.
ABISADE m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.
ABISO m Yoruba
Means "given" or "acquired" in Yoruba.
ABRA f Western African, Ewe
Means "Tuesday-born girl" in Ewe.
ABUCHI m & f Igbo, Western African, Nigerian
Means "song of God" in Igbo.
ACHIKE m Igbo
Means "take the things of the world easy" in Igbo.
ADA m Idoma
Means "father" in Idoma.
ADAKU f Igbo
Means "daughter of wealth" in Igbo.
ADAMMA f Igbo
Means "daughter of beauty" in Igbo.
ADAMU m Amharic, Swahili, Hausa
Amharic, Swahili, and Hausa form of Adam.
ADEBIMPE f Yoruba
Means "the crown is complete" in Yoruba.
ADEBISI f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba. This is the name of the (Nigerian) mother of British musician Seal Samuel.
ADEDAMOLA m Yoruba
Means "my crown mixed with blessing" in Yoruba.
ADEDOYIN f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is now honey" in Yoruba.
ADEFUNKE f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given me to cherish" in Yoruba.
ADELAKUN m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown opens the womb" in Yoruba.
ADELEKE f Yoruba
Means "crown achieves happiness" in Yoruba.
ADELOWO m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown has honour" or "the crown has respect" in Yoruba.
ADEMOLA m Yoruba
Means "the crown along with wealth" or "the crown has been added to the wealth" in Yoruba.
ADEMUREWA f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown brought goodness" in Yoruba.
ADENIJI m Yoruba
Means "the crown has fame" in Yoruba.
ADENIKE f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be treasured" in Yoruba.
ADENIYI m Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "the crown is precious" in Yoruba.
ADEOLA f & m Yoruba
Means "crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.
ADEPERO f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown pacifies" or "the crown calms" in Yoruba.
ADERONKE f Yoruba
Means "crown has found something to pet" in Yoruba.
ADESIMBO f Yoruba
Means "noble birth" in Yoruba.
ADESINA f Yoruba
Means "the crown has opened the way" in Yoruba.
ADESOLA f Yoruba
Means "the crown honored us" in Yoruba.
ADESUWA f Western African, Edo
Means "in the midst of prosperity" in Edo.
ADETULA m Yoruba
Means "royalty survived again" in Yoruba.
ADETULE m Yoruba
Variant of Adetula.
ADETUTU f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is gentle" in Yoruba.
ADEWUMI m & f Yoruba
Means "royalty attracts me" in Yoruba.
ADEWUYI m & f Yoruba (Modern)
Means "royalty is prestigious" in Yoruba.
ADEYINKA f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown surrounds me" in Yoruba.
ADIA f Western African, Igede, Swahili
Means "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa adia "gift".
ADIGHEJI m Isoko (Rare)
Means "pillar of the house" in Isoko.
ADOLE m Idoma
Means "father of the house" in Idoma.
ADUKE f Yoruba
Means "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
ADWIN m Akan
Means "creative" in Akan.
AFAFA f Ewe
Means "the first child of the second husband" in Ewe.
AFRYEA f Ewe
Means "born during happy times" in Ewe.
AGANJU m African Mythology, Yoruba
The son of Obatala and Odudua. He marries his sister Yemaja and they produce a son named Orungan ("air").
AGBANI f Nigerian
Meaning unknown.
AÏCHA f Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Maghrebi and Western African variant of Aisha.
AICHA f Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Variant transcription of Aïcha.
AÏCHATA f Western African
Western African elaboration of Aïcha (see Aisha).
AÏCHATOU f Western African
Western African elaboration of Aïcha (see Aisha).
AIDEVO f Yoruba
Means "no one can change my destiny but God" in Yoruba.
AINA f Yoruba
Means "difficult birth" in Yoruba.
AINOSE f & m Esan
Means "no one is greater than God" in Esan.
AISSA f Western African
Form of Aisha used in West African countries (primarily Mali, Senegal, and Cameroon).
AÏSSATOU f Western African
Western African elaboration of Aisha.
AJANI m & f Jamaican Patois, Yoruba
Means "one (we) fought to have" in Yoruba.
AJOKE f Yoruba
Means "jointly beloved" in Yoruba.
AKACHUKWU m Igbo
Means "hand of God" in Igbo.
AKANDE m Yoruba, Nigerian
means "first born"
AKHERE m & f Western African, Esan
Means "the younger twin" in Esan.
AKIN m Yoruba
Means "the brave one" in Yoruba.
AKINBOLADE m Yoruba
Means "bravery comes with wealth" in Yoruba.
AKINFELA m Yoruba
Means "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
AKINTUNDE m Yoruba
Means "bravery returns" in Yoruba.
AKISSI f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
AKONAWE m Isoko
Means "let the teeth laugh" in Isoko.
AKPO m & f Edo
Means "short person" in Edo.
AKPOEBI f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "life is good" in Ijaw.
AKPOMATUNEMIBOFA m & f Ijaw
Means "nobody has a knowledge of the world" in Ijaw.
AKPOMOFA f & m Ijaw
Means "the world is not as you think of it" in Ijaw.
AKU m Igbo
Means "wealth" in Igbo.
AKÚ f Akan
Means "Wednesday" in Akan.
AKÚÁ f Akan
Variant of Akua.
AKUNNA f Igbo
Means "father's wealth" in Igbo, from aku meaning "property, wealth" and nna meaning "father".
AKUWUEZIUKA f & m Igbo
Means "prosperity is a good talk" in Igbo.
AKWA m Efik, Ibibio
Means "elder, senior" in Efik and Ibibio.
AKWETE f Western African
Means "eldest of twins" in Ga.
ALABRAH m Ijaw
Means "how long" in Ijaw.
ALADEINYEFA f & m Ijaw
Means "nothing is superior to royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAERE f Ijaw
Means "queen, woman of substance" in Ijaw.
ALAOWEI m Ijaw
Means "noble man" in Ijaw.
ALATA f Ijaw
Means "royal wife" in Ijaw.
ALATARI m & f Ijaw
Means "king's love" or "love of royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAYINGI f Ijaw (Rare)
Means "royal mother" in Ijaw.
ALAZIDEI m Ijaw
Meaning "I have given birth to royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAZIMO f & m Ijaw
Means "born into royalty" in Ijaw.
ALBARKA f Hausa
Feminine form of Barak (2).
ALERA f & m Ogoni
Means "enough" or "it is enough" in Khana.
ALHERI f & m Dagbani
Means "gift" or "kindness" in Dagbani.
ALIOUNE m Western African, Wolof, Fula, Serer
Form of Ali (1) used in parts of western Africa (chiefly Senegalese and Mauritanian).
ALLSWELL m & f Western African (Rare), English (African, Rare, ?)
Presumably from the English phrase all's well.
AMADIOHA m Igbo
Amadioha is the Igbo alusi of thunder and lightening.
AMAITARI m Ijaw
Means "the town loves me" in Ijaw.
AMAKAI f & m Western African
Meaning unknown.
AMAKAMA m Ijaw
Means "feast for the town" in Ijaw.
AMAKEDI m Ijaw
Means "look upon the town" in Ijaw.
AMARACHUKWU f Nigerian, Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo. (See Amara and Chukwu).
AMARI m African, Western African
A noted bearer was a Damel of Cayor, Amari Ngoné Ndella, who ruled from 1790 AD to 1809 AD. The Kingdom of Cayor was one of the largest of most powerful kingdoms in what is now Senegal, existing from 1549 AD to 1879 AD.
AMENAGHAWON f & m Western African, Edo
Literally translated to "the water you shall drink" in Edo, from the proverb Amen na gha won ighi le se omwan rhae, meaning "the water you shall drink will surely come to be", implying that what is destined to be, will be.
AMEWUSIKA f Ewe
Means "people are more valuable than material things" in Ewe.
AMEYO f Akan
Means "Saturday" in Akan.
AMINATA f Western African
Western African elaboration of Aminah.
AMINATOU f Western African
Western African elaboration of Amina.
AMINATTA f Western African (Rare)
Variant of Aminata. This is borne by Aminatta Forna (1964-), a British writer of Scottish and Sierra Leonean descent.
AMOGECHUKWU f Igbo
Means "no one knows God's timing" in Igbo.
AMOKE f & m Yoruba
Means "loving stroke" in Yoruba.
ANAMZOOYA m Dagbani
Means "your power is great" in Dagbani.
ANANÉ m Akan
Means "fourth born" in Akan.
ANAZIA f African American (Modern), Nigerian
Originally a Nigerian surname of unknown meaning.
ANDI m & f Dagbani
Means "you will win" or "victor" in Dagbani.
ANEKWE m Igbo
Means "let the gods not agree to bad things" in Igbo.
ANFANI m & f Dagbani
Means "benefit" in Dagbani.
ANIEFIOK m & f Nigerian, Ibibio
Means "who knows tomorrow?" in Ibibio.
ANIEKANABASI m Western African, Ibibio, Nigerian
Means "who is greater than God?" in Ibibio.
ANISUNG f & m Dagbani
Means "good intention" in Dagbani.
ANKOMA m Western African, Akan
Means "last born of parents" in Akan.
ANNAN m Akan
Variant of Anan (1).
ANTOBAM f Akan
Means "posthumous child" in Fante. It is typically given to a child whose father died before they were born.
ANUOLUWAPO m & f Yoruba
Means "God's mercy is plenty" in Yoruba.
ANYA-KATI m & f Afizere
Means "favour" in Afizere.
ANYIM m Nigerian
A notable bearer is Anyim Pius Anyim, a Nigerian politician.
ANZANSI m & f Dagbani
Means "courage" or "persistence" in Dagbani.
APAADI m Yoruba
Means "hell" in Yoruba.
APAPA m Ijaw
Means "groundnut" in Ijaw.
ARALOLA f Yoruba
Means "family is wealth" in Yoruba.
ARCHIBONG m Efik, Ibibio
of Efik Origin, originally pronounced asibong but changed by the british to Archibong, meaning Kings Father, Kings Friend, (amasi Obong)
AROUNA m Western African, Kwa
Form of Harun. Possibly a name from the Kwa languages.
ARUKUBU f & m Ijaw
Means "a child born in a canoe" in Ijaw.
ARZIKI f Hausa
Means "wealth, prosperity" in Hausa.
ASABI f Yoruba
Means "one selected for birth" in Yoruba.
ASADE m & f Western African
West African form and rare feminine form of Asad.
ASANA f African, Dagbani
The name Asana is a derivative of Hassan. ... [more]
ASEYIOWU m Yoruba
Means "success" in Yoruba.
ASHILAME m Nigerian, Eggon
Means "he saves me" in Eggon.
ASHON m Akan
Means "seventh born son" in Akan.
ASISAT f Nigerian
The name of the professional woman football player Asisat Oshoala, playing for FC Barcelona.
ASWA m & f Western African
Means "one who moves through darkness toward the light".
ATA m Western African, Akan, Fante
Means "one of twins" in Fante, dialect of Akan.
ATERI f Nigerian, Eggon
Means "victory" in Eggon.
ATIBA m & f Yoruba
Means "understanding" in Yoruba.
ATSEN m Afizere
Atsen which means"Visitor" is a male given name among the Afizere people of Nigeria. who are predominantly in Jos Plateau and Bauchi State Nigeria.
ATSI m Afizere
Means "priest" in Afizere.
ATTA m Akan
Means "twin" in Fante, an Akan language.
AWARAN m & f Ijaw
Means "a child born during the august break in the rainy season" in Ijaw.
AWOTWE m Akan
Means "eighth born" in Akan.
AWUSUNG m & f Western African, Saya
Means "extremely sweet and great" in Saya, spoken in Nigeria.
AYABA f African American (Rare), Yoruba (Rare), Nigerian (Rare), African (Rare)
From the Yoruba ayaba meaning "queen".
AYAKPO f & m Ijaw
Meaning "new world or life" in Ijaw.
AYIBAEMI f & m Ijaw
Means "God exists" in Ijaw.
AYIBAIFIE f Ijaw
Means "God's own time" in Ijaw.
AYIBANUA f & m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.
AYIBATONBARA f & m Ijaw
Means "the will of God" in Ijaw.
AYINDE m & f Yoruba
Means "we gave praises and he came" in Yoruba.
AYITA f English (Modern, Rare, ?), African American (Rare), Western African (Rare)
The origins of this name are uncertain. Though it is popularly claimed to mean "first to dance" in Cherokee, this appears to be untrue.... [more]
AYOBAMI m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has met me" in Yoruba.
AYODEJI m Yoruba
Means "joy has become two" in Yoruba.
AYOKA f Yoruba
Means "one we rejoice to pluck" in Yoruba.
AYOMIDELE m & f Yoruba
Means "my joy has come home" in Yoruba.
AYOOLA m & f Yoruba
Means "the joy of success" in Yoruba.
AYUBA m Nigerian
From أيّوب (ayyūb), the Arabic form of Job.
AZU m Igbo
Means "fish" in Igbo.
AZUBIKE m Igbo
Variant of Azubuike.
AZUKA m Igbo
Means "the past is greater" or "my back is greater" in Igbo.
BADE m Nigerian
The use of the name in Nigeria is likely due to the Bade Emirate, a traditional state in Yobe State, Nigeria, the home of the Bade people.
BADRA m & f Western African, Arabic
Possibly a variant of Badr.
BADÚWAA f Akan
Means "tenth born" in Akan.
BALARABE m Western African, Hausa
Means "born on Wednesday" in Hausa from element laraba "Wednesday".
BALIMA f & m Dagbani
Means "persuasion" in Dagbani.
BANBANGTABA m & f Dagbani
Means "those who know each other" in Dagbani.
BANGBEBU m & f Dagbani
Means "be careful" in Dagbani.
BANGDA m & f Dagbani
Means "knowledgeable person" in Dagbani.
BANKOLE m Western African, Yoruba
Means "build my house for me" in Yoruba.
BARIDAKARA f & m Ogoni
Means "God answers prayer(s)" in Khana.
BARIDILO m & f Ogoni
God is with me
BARIKPOA m Ogoni
Means "God save" in Khana.
BARILEDUM m Ogoni (Modern)
Means "God is alive" in Khana.
BARINEDUM m & f Khana, Gokana, Ogoni
"God give life".
BARISUA f & m Ogoni
Means "God knows" in Khana.
BATIFEORI m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "how we want it to be" in Yoruba.
BEBEBOMOBO f & m Ijaw
Means "interpreter" in Ijaw.
BEDUNA m Nigerian, Ngas
The name BEDUNA is from plateau state Nigeria which means" is it bad? its a question name, when someone utter a word that is not good and didn't come to pass then you can ask him BEDUNA " is it bad?
BEJIDE m Yoruba
Means "(one that) come(s) with rain" in Yoruba.
BEKE m & f Ijaw, Ogoni
Means "America" or "American" in Khana and "English" in Ijaw.
BEKEARA f Ijaw
Means "Englishwoman" in Ijaw.
BEKES f Ijaw
Short form of Bekeara.
BEKOE m Akan
Means "war time" in Akan, typically used for a child born in war.
BELEUZI f & m Ijaw
Means "first born" in Ijaw.
BENINYE f & m Dagbani
Means "stay and witness" in Dagbani.
BEREDUGO f & m Ijaw
Means "judgement" in Ijaw.
BERITDA m Ngas
BERITDA in Ngas language of plateau state means."""it turns out to be good?... [more]
BIBINIDEI f Ijaw
Means "I have believed or accepted" in Ijaw.
BIBOYE f Ijaw
Means "destiny" in Ijaw.
BIEBELE f & m Ijaw
Means "joyful" in Ijaw.
BINETI f & m Dagbani
Means "they have enlightened us" in Dagbani.
BINTOU f Western African
Derived from Arabic بِنْت (bint) meaning "daughter, girl".
BIODUN m & f Yoruba
Means "born during a festival" in Yoruba.
BISI m & f Yoruba
Short form of names containing bisi, such as Adebisi.
BOBOLAYEFA f Ijaw
Means "nothing can be compared to my own" in Ijaw.
BOBOMIEGHA f Ijaw
Means "I didn't do it on my own" in Ijaw.
BODISERE f Ijaw
Means "she likes to come to the world" in Ijaw.
BOLADE m & f Yoruba
Means "comes with wealth" in Yoruba.
BOLOUIKIE m & f Ijaw
Means "think of the future" in Ijaw.
BOLUWAJI m & f Yoruba
Means "wakes up with the lord" in Yoruba.
BOMO f & m Ijaw
Means "praise" in Ijaw.
BÓTWE m & f Akan
Means "eighth born" in Akan.
BOUKAZI m & f Ijaw
Means "a child born in a bush" in Ijaw.
BOZOMA f Western African
From Ghana.
BUBOUPAKUMO f Ijaw
Means "don't grow alone" in Ijaw.
BUKOLA m & f Yoruba
Means "adds to wealth, success" in Yoruba.
BUKUNMI m & f Yoruba
Means "add to me" in Yoruba.
BURABARI f & m Ogoni
Means "God's will" in Ogoni.
BUSAYO m & f Yoruba
Means "added joy" in Yoruba.
BUSOLA m & f Yoruba
Means "added wealth" in Yoruba.
BUWOZI m & f Ijaw
Means "a child whose feet came out first before the head during birth" in Ijaw.
CHALPANG f Dagbani
Means "forgive" in Dagbani.
CHAT f Nigerian
F, Bajju name from nigeria; it means, love or like
CHEIKH m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Western African and Maghrebi variant of Sheikh.
CHEIKHA f Arabic (Maghrebi, Rare), Western African (Rare)
Feminine form of Sheikh (chiefly Algerian and Mauritanian).
CHENTIWUNI f & m Dagbani
Means "leave it to God" in Dagbani.
CHÉRIF m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Variant of Sharif based on French orthography.
CHIAZAM f & m Igbo
God has answered my prayer. ... [more]
CHIAZO m & f Igbo
From Chi (2) and Azo, "battle, struggles".
CHIAZOR f & m Igbo (Anglicized)
An Igbo name that became noticeable about the 1960's..Meaning: God saves or God is the one that saves or God has saved. This name is tone and dialect dependent.
CHIBUIFEM m & f Igbo (Latinized, Rare)
An emerging name common among the people of south-eastern zone of nigeria. It was first coined and named by the family of Sir Christopher Anthony Chibuife Onyia. It means "God is my light" or "God is the light to my pathway so I fear no evil and don't grope in darkness... [more]
CHIBUZOR f & m Igbo
Means "God is the way" in Igbo.
CHIBWELA f Igbo
All we know that the chi in Igbo means God
CHIDERA m Igbo
Means "God is here" in Igbo.
CHIDILI m Igbo
Means "God be with me" in Igbo.
CHIDINMA f Igbo
F - CHIDINMA or CHIDIMMA - "God is good"
CHIDIRIM f & m Igbo
Means "God is With me" in Igbo.
CHIEDOZIE m Igbo
Means "God will repair" in Igbo.
CHIGBATA m Nigerian
Igbo man and he is from Anambra state,Nigeria
CHIGOZIE m & f Igbo
Means "God bless" in Igbo.
CHIKAMARA m & f Igbo
Means "God knows best" or "God is wisdom" in Igbo.
CHIKANMA f & m Igbo
Means "God is the best" in Igbo.
CHIKODINAKA f African, Igbo
Means "in God's hands" in Igbo.
CHIKWENDU m Igbo, African
This name - Chikwendu is a typical Igbo name. It is an "expressive" wish or desire for God (Chi) to 'allow, permit or grant' (kwe) life (ndu) to someone you consider dear.... [more]
CHIMAMANDA f Igbo
Means "my God will not fail me" in Igbo. A famous bearer is Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
CHIMDINDU m Igbo
Means "my God is alive" in Igbo.
CHINCIA f Igbo
Variant of Chinasa.
CHINELO m Igbo
Meaning the 'The thoughts of personal God'. 'Chi' meaning in igbo
CHINEMERE m & f Igbo
Means "God is doing" in Igbo.
CHINENYE f Western African, Igbo
Means "God gives" or "God is giving" in Igbo (compare Chichi, Chinyere).
CHINETO f & m Igbo
"God praises" "God uplifts" "God glorifies" "God gives talent"
CHINUA m African, Nigerian, Igbo
meaning: god's own blessing... [more]
CHINUALUMOGU m Nigerian (Rare), Igbo (Rare)
Means "may God fight on my behalf" in Igbo. This was the full birth name of Chinua Achebe (1930-2013), a Nigerian writer.
CHINWEMMERI f & m Igbo
Chinwe is a short form of a variety such as Chinwendu, Chinweizu, Chinwemmeri and others. Chinwe in itself means "God's own." Chinwemmeri means "God's own victory." These names are synonymous with the Igbo ethnic group from the south eastern Nigeria.
CHINWENDUM m & f Igbo (Modern, Rare)
Means "I am consecrated to God" or "I am owned by God" in Igbo.
CHIONYE m Igbo
Means "God will give to him what he prays for" in Igbo.