Western African Submitted Names

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.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Oluwasolafunmi m & f Yoruba
Means "God has made wealth for me" in Yoruba.
Oluwateniola m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "God spread the mat (or rug) of wealth" in Yoruba.
Oluwatimileyin m & f Yoruba
The name OLUWATIMILEYIN is of Yoruba language Origin in Nigeria which means "God Supported me".Children in Nigeria are widely named Oluwatimileyin because of the Cultural believe that the name holds a Prayer with it "God supported me" or "God, support me".
Oluwatobi m & f Yoruba
Means "God is great" in Yoruba.
Oluwatobiloba f & m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the lord is great as king" in Yoruba.
Oluwatomi m & f Yoruba
Means "God is enough for me" in Yoruba.
Oluwatomiwa m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "God searched for me" in Yoruba.
Oluwatoni m & f Yoruba (Modern, Archaic)
Means "the lord is worth having" in Yoruba.
Oluwatoniloba f Yoruba
Means "God is good to have a king" in Yoruba. This is the full given name of the winner of "Germany's Next Top Model" 2018, Oluwatoniloba Dreher-Adnuga.
Oluwatosin m & f Yoruba
Means "God is worth worshiping" in Yoruba.
Oluwatoyosi f & m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "God is worthy to rejoice unto" in Yoruba.
Oluwayemi f Yoruba
Means "I am deserving of God" in Yoruba.
Oluyemi m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "The lord is worthy of me" in Yoruba.
Oluyinka m & f Yoruba
This is a name use by the Abeokuta's family meaning " I'm surrounded by God".
Omanukwue m & f Igbo
Means "let the one who knows speak" in Igbo.
Omerogo f Igbo
Comes from the Igbo people of Nigeria.
Ominira m & f Yoruba
Means "freedom, independence" in Yoruba.
Omodunni f & m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "having a child is joyful" in Yoruba.
Omojayogbe m Yoruba
Is an Ekiti name from the Yoruba speaking South-Western Nigeria.... [more]
Omolayo f Yoruba
Means "the child is joy" in Yoruba.
Omolola m & f Yoruba
Means "the child is wealthy" in Yoruba.
Omonefue f Western African, Edo
Means "the child is more than weight" in Edo language.
Omonigho m & f Urhobo
Omonigho is a name of Edoid (Benin, Isoko, Urhobo) origin and it means "A Child is greater than money."
Omorinsola f & m Yoruba
The name “OMORINSOLA” means child walks to wealth or affluence
Omoruyi m & f Western African, Edo
Means "son of glory" or "child is one's glory" in Edo language.
Omotanwa f Yoruba
Means "the child we searched for" in Yoruba.
Omotola f & m Yoruba
Means "child is as worthy as wealth" in Yoruba.... [more]
Omotunde m Yoruba
Means "the child has returned" in Yoruba, typically given to an Abiku child. Abiku are spirits that are believed to enter a pregnant woman and move in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth... [more]
Omoye f & m Nigerian
A name of African Origin meaning ‘a loved child’.
Ondoukari m Ijaw
Means "pray for long life" in Ijaw.
Ondoutuapere f & m Ijaw
Means "add more life to me" in Ijaw.
Onumajuru m Igbo
Means "let anger cease" in Igbo.
Oñumsinachi m & f Igbo
Means "my joy is from God" in Igbo.
Onwuegbunam m & f Igbo
Means "let death not kill me" in Igbo.
Onwutalobi m Igbo
Means "death has eaten the kingdom", a shortened form of the sentence I ga adi makana onwu talu obi, roughly translating as "you will endure as death has claimed our entire family".
Onyakopon m Akan
Onyakopon is the God of the Akan people of Ghana. The name means "he who knows and sees everything" and "omniscient, omnipotent sky god" in the Akan language. ... [more]
Onyeche f Idoma
Means "Who agrees?" in Idoma.
Onyedikachi m & f Igbo, African
Means "who is greater than God?" in Igbo.
Onyedikachukwu m Igbo
Means "who is like God?" in Igbo.
Onyekaozulu m Igbo
Means "who is self-sufficient?" in Igbo.
Onyemaechi m Igbo
Means "who knows tomorrow?" in Igbo.
Onyemechi m & f Igbo, Western African
Means "who knows tomorrow?" from Igbo onye "who", ma "knows" and echi "tomorrow".
Onyemelukwe m Igbo
Means "who has done evil and agreed to it?" in Igbo.
Onyemowo f Idoma
Means "Who knows God's thoughts" or "Who knows God's plans" in Idoma.
Onyenwuwa m Igbo
Means "who owns the world?" in Igbo.
Onyeyabocoma m & f Agatu
Means "Who can act as God?" in Agatu.
Onyinyechukwu f & m Igbo, Nigerian
Means "God's gift" from Igbo onyinye meaning "gift, present" and chukwu meaning "God".
Opara f & m Igbo
Opara is common as a surname or literal word in Nigeria. The oldest son, who has inherited the rights and responsibilities of his father after his father has died.
Opei m Akan
Oldest child in Akuapem Twi
Opukiri m Ijaw
Means "big land" in Ijaw.
Orakwue m Igbo
Means "let the folks have their say" in Igbo.
Orelias m & f Nigerian (Latinized, Rare)
Variation of Orelia meaning "Golden One". ... [more]
Oreoluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "gift from God" in Yoruba.
Orezi m & f Nigerian
A unisex name from a Nigerian origin meaning "Precious, your heart desire".
Orieji f Igbo
Old school Igbo name
Orisabunmi f Yoruba
Means "the gods have provided for me" in Yoruba.
Ornicar m Popular Culture, Western African (Rare)
From the phrase Mais où est donc Ornicar? that is a mnemonic of the French coordinating conjunctions. The phrase is also the title of a movie and part of the French Chuck Norris fact Chuck Norris knows where Ornicar is.
Osaretin m Western African, Edo
Means "God is strength" in Edo language.
Osatohamwen m & f Western African, Edo
Means "the mercy of God is upon me" in Edo language.
Osazee m Edo
This is a religious name. It deals with Osanobua, the creator god, intervention from Edo mythology. There are different meanings apparently. In the case of Osazee one is "God's chosen one." Another case for Osazee is "Osanobua has reconciled us." In the case of Osaze its "God delivered me." In the Osaze situation it deals with conflict and family stress... [more]
Ose m & f Esan
Means "god" in Esan. This is also the short form of names that begin in this element.
Osebo m Akan
Osebo is a LEOPARD in the ancient stories of Ananse, the "Spider Man". He was PHYSICALLY STRONG.
Osehonlen m & f Esan
GOD HAS HEARD, SAME AS SAMUEL
Osemegbe m & f Esan
Means "God is too good" in Esan.
Osemundianmen m & f Esan
Means "God is standing with me" in Esan.
Oseremen m Esan
Means: God has given me.
Osezua m Esan
"IS GOD THAT GIVES WEALTH" ... [more]
Osikani m Akan
Means "rich man" in Akan.
Osine m Edo
Means "God is great" in Edo.
Osita m Igbo
Osita is a shorter form of Osita di nma which means from today onwards it will be better.
Ositadimma m Igbo
Meaning: from today things will be good... [more]
Osondu m Igbo
Means "race of life" in Igbo.
Otaiku m Yoruba (Modern, Rare)
This name means a hard stone can not die. In Ijebu land, which a part of the "Yoruba" race, a fine polished hard stone commonly found in the bed of rivers is called Ota. ... [more]
Otiko f Western African
The given name of the Ghanaian politician Otiko Afisa Djaba.
Oto-obong f Efik
Means "from God" in Efik.
Otu m Efik
Means "chief; king" in Efik.
Otuekongabasi f Efik
Means "warrior" in Efik.
Oumou f Western African
Means "latecomer" in Bambara.
Ousman m Western African
Form of Uthman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Ousmanou m Western African
Form of Uthman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Ousseynou m Western African
Form of Husayn used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Ovie m Nigerian
Ovie means “King” in Urhobo, a language that belongs to the Urhobo people of Nigeria. It will have baby walking (or crawling) around with all the swagger deserving of a monarch.
Ovo f & m Western African
Likely related to Owo.
Owariladei f & m Ijaw
Means "we have come home" in Ijaw.
Oweikorogha m Ijaw
Means "men will never fall" in Ijaw.
Oweiyai m Ijaw
Means "Jesus Christ" in Ijaw.
Owolabi m Yoruba
Means "we have given birth to a wealthy person," from 'owo' meaning "money," 'a' meaning "we," and 'abi' meaning "beget."
Owro m Urhobo
OWRO male child, meaning shining eyes, original urhobo ethnic groups in Nigeria
Owura m Akan
Means "mister" or "man" in Akan.
Oyabrade f Ijaw
Means "I have forgotten my worries" in Ijaw.
Oye f Akan
It means 'it is good'
Oyebisi m & f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "honour gave birth to more" in Yoruba.
Oyenike f Yoruba
Means "the title has need of pampering" or "honor has care" in Yoruba.
Oyetunde m Yoruba
Means "honour has returned" in Yoruba.
Oyin f Yoruba
Means "honey" in Yoruba.
Oyinbodei f Ijaw
OYINBODEI is an ijaw tribe name of west africa meaning "OUR MOTHER HAS RETURNED" A name given to children believed to have #REINCARNITATED
Oyindamola f & m Yoruba
Means "honey mixed with wealth" in Yoruba.
Oyinedidei f & m Ijaw
Means "God has cared for me" in Ijaw.
Oyinkansola f Yoruba
Means "sweetness is dropped into wealth" in Yoruba.
Oyintari f & m Ijaw
Means "God loves me" in Ijaw.
Ozichi f & m Igbo, African
The name originates from Eastern part of Nigeria from the Igbo speaking states. Predominatly from Imo state.... [more]
Ozioma m & f Igbo
Means, "God's good news" in Igbo.
Ozoemena m Igbo
Means " let what has happened before not happen again" in Igbo.
Paaye m Ijaw
Means "all things will pass in this world" in Ijaw.
Pagnaa f Dagbani
Means "queen" in Dagbani.
Pakuteh m Mende
Means "powerful man" or "strong man" in Mende.
Pamilekunayo m & f Yoruba
Means "cause me to cry tears of joy" in Yoruba.
Panyin m & f Akan
Oldest twin
Pathé m French (African), Western African
Transferred use of the surname Pathé.
Pekeikakai f & m Ijaw
Means "morning star" in Ijaw.
Pelumi f & m Yoruba
Means "with me" in Yoruba.
Penda f Fula
Given to the third child.
Pengwendé m Mossi
Not available.
Pere f & m Ijaw
Means "wealthy" in Ijaw.
Pereagbe m & f Ijaw
Means "wealth suits me" in Ijaw.
Pereama m Ijaw
Means "rich town" in Ijaw.
Pereasuodei f Ijaw
Means "wealth has entered me" in Ijaw.
Perebo f & m Ijaw
Means "person of wealth" in Ijaw.
Pere-ere f Ijaw
Means "rich woman" in Ijaw.
Perezimo f & m Ijaw
Means "born into wealth" in Ijaw.
Piesie m & f Akan
Traditionally given to the first born child - the name literally means "erupting from an anthill", from pie "erupt from a place", and sie meaning "anthill".
Pinaere f Ijaw
PINAERE an ijaw tribe name of west Africa meaning "LIGHT SKINNED WOMAN" Pina
Pini m & f Dagbani
Means "gift" in Dagbani.
Pipeloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "God is perfect" in Yoruba.
Poko f Mossi
Of unknown meaning.... [more]
Poukon m & f Ijaw
Means "born on the riverside" in Ijaw.
Prah f Western African
Used in Ghana, West Africa among Akan peoples. Shortened form of the name of the river spirit Bohsum-Prah. Usually used together with Nana: Nana-Prah.
Prezi m Ijaw
Means "born to affluence" in Ijaw.
Puumaya f & m Dagbani
It means the means the womb is cool.... [more]
Qidy m Igbo
Variant of Chidi.
Quamdeen m Yoruba
Means "pillar of (the) faith" in Yoruba.
Rafiatu f Yoruba
Variation of Rafiah.
Rahama f Hausa
Means "mercy" in Hausa.
Remi f Yoruba
Short form of Oluremi.
Ritek m & f Afizere
Means "goodness" in Afizere.
Rokhaya f Western African
Form of Ruqayyah used in parts of western Africa (particularly Senegal).
Rotimi m Yoruba
Means "stay with me" or "stand by me" in Yoruba. Sometimes used as a short form for Olurotimi or Oluwarotimi.
Rotji m Nigerian, Ngas
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning of the name is "love has come"
Ruƙayyatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Ruqayyah.
Saadiya f Western African, Indian (Muslim)
Form of Sa'dia used in Western Africa and India.
Saarabi m & f Akan
Means "just like that" in Akan.
Sabo m Hausa
Means "new" in Hausa.
Sadatu f Western African
Name of Liberian Orgin
Sadau m & f Hausa
From the Hausa sā̀du meaning "get together”.
Safiatou f Western African
Form of Safiyyah used in western Africa.
Sagtiti m & f Dagbani
This name means "Agree with us" or "Accept us"
Saha f & m Dagbani
Means "good luck" in Dagbani.
Saïdou m Western African
Form of Sa'id used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Sa'idu m Hausa
Hausa form of Sa'id.
Sainabou f Western African
Form of Zaynab used in Gambia.
Sakinah f Hausa
Means "tranquility, peace of mind" in Hausa.
Sakura m Western African (?)
Mansa Sakura, sixth mansa of the Mali Empire, was a famous bearer.... [more]
Sale m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Salih.
Salemite m Efik
Means "offspring of peace" in Efik.
Salimata f Western African
Form of Salima used in parts of western Africa.
Saliou m Western African
Form of Salih used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Sallan m Hausa
Means "born on a feast day" in Hausa.
Sallau m Hausa
From the Hausa sallā̀ meaning “prayer, religious holiday”.
Salpawuni m & f Dagbani
"Human is not God" denoting "man is not God"
Samb m Western African
Senegalese name
Samba m Western African, Fula
Senegalese Fula name used to denote a second-born son.
Sambala f Hausa
Feminine form of Sambali.
Sambali m Hausa
Means "tall, well-formed" in Hausa.
Sanama f Efik, Ibibio
Means "completely pure" in Efik and Ibibio.
Sando m Dagbani, Kusaal
Means "stranger" or "traveler" in Dagbani and Kusaal.
Ṣàngó m Western African
Yoruba spelling of Shango.
Sãngo f Bariba
Name traditionally given to girls born on a Sunday.
Sanusi m Indonesian, Malay, Nigerian, Fula, Hausa
From Arabic سَنُوسِيّ (sannūsī), the name of a Sufi order and clan that existed in Libya and the Sudan region. The sect was named after its founder, Muslim theologian Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi (1787-1859).
Saran f Western African, Manding, Jula
Means "joy" in Jula.
Saratu f Hausa
Hausa form of Sara.
Sarki m Hausa
Means "chief" in Hausa.
Saro m Ogoni
Means "first son" in Khana.
Sarraounia f Hausa
From the name of Sarraounia Mangou, a Nigerian chief or priestess who fought the French colonial troops of the Voulet–Chanoine Mission at the Battle of Lougou in 1899. According to Wikipedia, her name means "queen" or "female chief".
Satou f Western African
Short form of Isatou.... [more]
Sayo f & m Yoruba
Means "make joy" in Yoruba.
Seiakumokumo f Ijaw
Means "do not take me in a bad way" in Ijaw.
Seihia f Tiv
The name Originates from Tiv and it means "Peaceful Bird" or "One of a kind"
Seko m & f Western African
child of the sun
Sekou m Fula
Fula form of the Arabic title Sheikh.
Seku m Fula
Older form of Sekou.
Sele f & m Ijaw
Means "judge or plan carefully" in Ijaw.
Seledebo m & f Ijaw
Means "the chosen one" in Ijaw.
Selekumo m Ijaw
Means "don't abound me" in Dagbani.
Sélom m Western African
Komi Sélom Klassou is Prime Minister of Togo.
Selom m & f Western African
A Western African name used for both genders.
Selorm m & f Western African, Ewe
Means "God loves me" or "divine love" in Ewe.
Semshak m African, Nigerian, Ngas
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Means "stay together".
Sereba m & f Akan
Means "silver" in Akan.
Serval m Western African
Directly taken from the name of the African cat species.
Sesan m Yoruba
Means "God has avenged me" in Yoruba.
Seyni m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.
Shadari m Hausa
Means "born during the cold season" in Hausa.
Shango m Western African
The name of a fire god in the traditional Yoruba religion.
Shanono m & f Hausa
Means "drink milk" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to a child born when calves are being delivered.
Sharifiya f Hausa
Means "born during Ramadan" in Hausa.
Shekarau m Hausa
From the Hausa shḕkarà meaning “spend the year”.
Shibkan m Hausa
Means "beans in the sowing season" in Hausa.
Shima m & f Tiv
Shima means heart in Tiv language
Shitobu m Dagbani
Name of the founder of Dagbong Kingdom
Shola m & f Yoruba, African
Short form of names that end with "sola", such as Olusola or Adesola. R&B singer Shola Ama is a well-known bearer.
Siaka m Western African
Siaka, meaning ''chief'', was the one who made the tribes in primarily West Africa. In old culture every family had to name at least one son Siaka.
Sibiri m Dagbani
"Saturday Born" Sibdoo
Siendou m Manding
This name is originally from the Arabic name Said. Among West Africa's Manding people, mainly in Northern Cote d'Ivoire in places like Kong, Dabakala, Satama Sokura and Sokoro. A variant of the name in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea where the same Mande people with differing dialects live, Seydou... [more]
Sihon m Western African
Masculine name often found in Burkina Faso & neighboring regions.
Síilene m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) make (birds) fly" in Bandial.
Sijuola f Yoruba
Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Simi f Yoruba
Short form of Simidele.
Simidele f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba. ... [more]
Simileoluwa f & m Yoruba
I rest on the Lord
Sinmiloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "rest in the lord" in Yoruba.
Sípimbore m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) face each other" in Bandial.
Sira f Ogoni
Means "first daughter" in Khana.
Sirlord m Western African
Probably composed from the English words sir and lord.
Sitefanu m Yoruba (Rare)
Yoruba form of Stephen.
Sogo m & f Yoruba
Means "makes glory", a short form of Oluwasogo.
Somtochukwu f & m Western African, Igbo
Means "praise God with me" in Igbo.
Sona f Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
Sonomo f & m Ijaw
Means "seven" in Ijaw. It is typically given to a seventh child, or a child born prematurely in the seventh month.
Sope m & f Yoruba
Means "be grateful" in Yoruba.
Sordum f & m Ogoni
Means "time of life" in Khana.
Sorle f & m Ogoni
Khana for "there's time" (as in, you have time to do something)... [more]
Sorniabari f & m Ogoni
Means "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [more]
Sotonte m Ijaw
Means "Heaven/God has decided"
Souleymanou m Western African
Form of Sulayman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Soumaïla m Western African
Form of Isma'il used in parts of French-influenced western Africa (particularly Mali).
Sowunmi m Yoruba, African
Means "the sorcerer is attractive to me" in Yoruba.
Sroda f Western African
Means "respect".
Suanu f & m Ogoni
Means "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.
Suara m Yoruba
Derived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.
Suglo m & f Dagbani
Means "patience" in Dagbani.
Sugrinongma m & f Mossi
Means "patience is sweet" in Mossi, spoken in Burkina Faso.
Suhidoo m & f Dagbani
Means "peace" in Dagbani.
Suhipelli m & f Dagbani
Means "happiness" in Dagbani.
Suhiyini m & f Dagbani
it literally means one heart, denoting `clean heart`
Sulaimanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Sulemanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Sulola f Yoruba
Of Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.
Sunebari m & f Ogoni
Means "give to God" in Khana.
Sunubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Sunday" in Ijaw.
Suoton f Ijaw
Means "as planned" in Ijaw.
Suoyo f & m Ijaw
Means "profit or gain" in Ijaw.
Swaa m Bariba
Means "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.
Taali-mbo f & m Dagbani
Means "thank you so much" in Dagbani.
Tabi m Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tafa m & f Yoruba
Means "belonging to the white oracle" in Yoruba, derived from ti meaning "belonging to", àlà meaning "white cloth; banner" and ifá meaning "divination; oracle". It is possibly used as diminutive of a longer name as well.
Tahama m & f Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Tahirou m Western African
Western African elaboration of Tahir.
Taio m Yoruba, Papuan
Variant of Tayo 1. A famous bearer is British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz (1985-), born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, the son of a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother.
Tamaha f & m Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Tamaralaifa f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "there's none like God" in Ijaw.
Tamuno-imim m Ijaw
Means "there is God" in Ijaw.