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.

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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.

Tamunonemi m Nigerian
Means "wisdom of God" in Kalabari, spoken in Nigeria.

Tamunotonye m & f Western African, Ijaw
Means "God's will" or "God's favour" in Ijaw.

Tanko m Hausa
Name given to a boy born after many girls.

Tarana f Hausa
Given for females who are born during the day.

Tari f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "love" in Ijaw.

Taribi m & f Ijaw
Means "ask for or seek love" in Ijaw.

Tariela f & m Nigerian

Tariere f Ijaw
Means "the loved woman" in Ijaw.

Tarimbele m & f Ijaw
Means "love is sweet" in Ijaw.

Tariperedei m & f Ijaw
Means "love has been given to me" in Ijaw.

Tasalla f Hausa
From the Hausa ta meaning “of” and sallā̀ meaning "prayer, religious holiday”.

Taweh m Western African
Means "go there!" in Vai, spoken in Liberia.

Tawia f Western African (Archaic)
Tawia mean "born after twins"

Tayo m & f Yoruba
Means "worth joy" in Yoruba. It is often used as a short form of names ending in tayo, such as Olatayo.

Teawa m & f Akan
Means "the slim one" in Akan.

Tegwolo m Igbo
An Igbo name from the YouTube channel House of Ajebo.

Tejumola f Yoruba
Means "one who looks forward to better days" or "stare at wealth" in Yoruba, derived from tẹ meaning "press", ojú meaning "eyes, face", mọ́ meaning "onto" and ọlá meaning "wealth".

Tekena f & m Ijaw
Means "hear my plea" in Ijaw.

Temidire m & f Yoruba
This Nigerian name means "Mine has turned to blessings" in Yoruba.

Temilola f Yoruba
Means "mine is wealth" in Yoruba.

Temiloluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "God is mine" in Yoruba.

Temitayo f & m Yoruba
Means "mine is worthy of joy" in Yoruba.

Tenabaabi m & f Akan
Means "just stay at a place" in Akan.

Teniayo f Yoruba
Means "foundation of joy" in Yoruba.

Tersoo m Tiv
Tersoo means "the father,like"

Theressa f English (American), Nigerian (Rare)
Variant of Theresa.

Tiaraoluwa f Yoruba
Supposedly means "from the body of God" in Yoruba.

Tidiane m Western African
From a French word used to refer to a follower of Tijaniyyah, a Sufi order that originated in Northern Africa.

Tidiya m & f Dagbani
It means "we have won"

Tidjani m Arabic (Maghrebi, Gallicized), Western African (Gallicized)
Variant spelling of Tijani.

Tiekuromo f & m Ijaw
Means "let's stand firmly" in Ijaw.

Tienepre f Ijaw
Stand for me

Tijani m & f Arabic (Maghrebi), Hausa, Western African, Nigerian
From Arabic تِيجَانِ (tījāni) meaning "crowns".

Tijjani m Western African, Hausa
Variant of Tijani.

Tima m Efik
Means "remember love" in Efik.

Timidi m Ijaw
Means "live to see" or "witness" in Ijaw.

Timieri m & f Ijaw
Means "live to see" in Ijaw.

Timtooni m & f Dagbani
it literally means move forward denoting prosper

Tinnie f & m Igbo
Used for very small children.

Tinu m Yoruba
Diminutive of names beginning with tinu- such as Tinuade, Tinubu, Tinuke, Tinuola, Tinuosho, Tinuoso and Tinuoye... [more]

Tipagya f & m Dagbani
Means "we thank God" in Dagbani.

Tiri f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "outsider" in Ijaw.

Titi f Yoruba
Means "forever" in Yoruba and is typically a short form for names starting with Titi such as Titilayo.

Titilola f & m African, Yoruba
Means "wealth is forever" in Yoruba.

Titiola f Yoruba

Tiyamiyu m Yoruba
Mans "my mother is the dearest" in Kwa.

Tiyumba m & f Dagbani
Means "let's love them" in Dagbani.

Tiyumtaba m & f Dagbani (Modern)
Meaning: "Let's love one another"

Toba m Yoruba
Short form of Oloruntuba.

Tobechukwu m Igbo
Means "praise God" in Igbo.

Tofunmi m & f Yoruba
a strong desire for success and all the amenities of affluence.

Tokoni f Ijaw
Means "praise" in Ijaw.

Tokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "returned from overseas". It is often given to children born abroad and brought home.

Tola m & f Yoruba
Means "prominent for success" in Yoruba, derived from tó meaning "as prominent as" and ọlá meaning "wealth, success, nobility". It is also a short form of longer names such as Omotola, Oyètọ́lá, Tọ́lání and Tọ́láṣe.

Tolulope f & m Yoruba
Means "to the Lord be Praise" in Yoruba.

Toluwani f Nigerian

Toluwanimi m & f Yoruba
Means "I belong to the lord" in Yoruba.

Tomegah f Ewe

Tomi m Nigerian
Means "the people" in Kalarbari, spoken in Nigeria.

Tomi f Nigerian
Nigerian for "sufficient"

Tomisin m & f Nigerian
Originated from yoruba culture in Nigeria,

Tonye m & f Ijaw
Short form of Ayibatonye.

Topbie m Ogoni

Tor m Tiv
Means "king" in Tiv.

Toroabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "thank god" in Ibibio.

Tosin m & f Western African, Yoruba
Short form of Oluwatosin.

Toyosi m & f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "something to rejoice about" in Yoruba, also used as a short form for other names ending in -toyosi including Olutoyosi or Oluwatoyosi.

Tsofo m Hausa
Means "old" in Hausa.

Tuabia f Ogoni

Tuburuode m Western African, Ijaw
Means "they have moved northward" in Ijaw.

Tunau m Hausa
Means "remember" in Hausa.

Tuntum m Akan
Means "the black" in Akan.

Turai f Hausa
Name given to a girl born on a Tuesday.

Tutu m & f Western African, South African
Means "cliff dweller".

Tyjani f & m Western African (Rare)
Variant of Tijani.

Ubonemem m & f Efik (Modern)
Means "offspring of peace" in Efik.

Ubong m & f Efik
Means "my glory" in Efik.

Uchechea m Igbo
Means “think about it” in Igbo.

Uchechukwu m & f Igbo, African
Based on the IGBO belief in a Supreme deity, Chukwu whose decision or will is final in the determination of human fate or destiny. It is a combination of two words of the Igbo (IBO), language, UCHE (WISH,WILL,THOUGHT) and CHUKWU (GOD)... [more]

Udemeobong m Efik
Means "my share from God" in Efik.

Udo m Efik
Means "second son" in Efik.

Udofia m Efik
Means "fourth son" in Efik.

Udofia m Ibibio
Means "third son" in Ibibio.

Udofot m Efik
Means "fourth son" in Efik.

Udoh m Efik
Means "second son" in Efik.

Udoh-udoh m Efik
Means "third son" in Efik.

Udoka m Nigerian, Igbo
Allegedly an Igbo name meaning "peace is above all else"; compare Udo 2.

Udom m Efik
Means "right" in Efik.

Udonna m Igbo
Means "Father's Peace" in Igbo.

Udonne f Igbo
Means "Mother's Peace" in Igbo.

Uduakabasi m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "will of God" in Ibibio and Efik.

Uduma m Igbo
The name means serenity, quietness. It's derived from the deity god of river, Uduma mmiri. A deity believed to be responsible for maintaining stillness of the waters in ohafia community in Igbo race.

Ufot m Efik
Means "third son" in Efik.

Ugo m & f Igbo
Means "eagle" in Igbo. It is also a short form of names containing the element ùgó.

Ugonma f Igbo (Modern)

Ugonna m Igbo
Meaning "eagle of the father" or "father's glory" in Igbo.

Ugwu m Igbo
From Igbo Ùgwù meaning "respect; reverence; dignity" or Úgwú meaning "hill, mountain; highland" or also "north". ... [more]

Uke m & f Igbo
Short form of names beginning with or containing Uke-.

Ukeme f Efik
Means "ability" in Efik.

Ukeme m Ibibio
Means "strength" in Ibibio.

Ukoakpan m Ibibio
Means "brave first son" in Ibibio.

Ukorebi m Efik

Ukpahyugoco m & f Agatu
Means "power of God" in Agatu.

Ukpong m & f Efik

Ukpono m & f Ibibio
Means "respect" in Ibibio.

Ukume f Nigerian
"Ukume" means "sound of rain in water/ river" in nigerian

Uloma f Igbo
Means "beautiful home" in Igbo.

Ulu f Igbo
Given for the second-born female.

Umoh m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.

Umoh m & f Efik
Means "born during a festival" in Efik.

Unwana m & f Ibibio
Means "light" in Ibibio.

Unwanaabasi m Efik
Means "Lord's light" in Efik.

Urenna f Igbo
Means "father's pride" in Igbo.

Uruchi f Nigerian (Rare, ?)

Usen m Efik
Means "the day" in Efik.

Usorọ m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "festival" in Ibibio and Efik.

Usuman m Hausa
Hausa form of Osman.

Usumanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Uthman.

Utibe m Efik
Means "marvelous: wonderful" in Efik.

Utibeima f Ibibio
Means "wonderful love" in Ibibio.

Utin m & f Ibibio
Means "sun" in Ibibio.

Utong f Efik

Uwa f Hausa
Means "mother" in Hausa.

Uwem m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "life" in Ibibio and Efik.

Uwemediemoh m & f Efik
Means "health is wealth" in Efik.

Uwemedimoh m & f Efik
Means "life is wealth" in Efik,

Uyai f Efik
Means "beauty" in Efik.

Uyobong m Efik
Means "God's voice" in Efik.

Uzo f & m Nigerian
Short form of Uzoamaka.

Uzoaku f Igbo
Means "a way to wealth" in Igbo.

Uzoamaka f Igbo, African
Means "a good path" in Igbo.

Uzoamani f Igbo
Means "the road to aspirations" in Igbo.

Uzoechina m & f Igbo
Means "let the road not be closed" in Igbo.

Uzondu m Igbo
Means "way of life; road of life" in Igbo.

Valsero m Western African
Created from Serval by inverting the order of syllables.... [more]

Varney m & f English (Rare), English (African), Western African
Transferred use of the surname Varney. It is mainly used in Liberia.

Velim f Dagbani
Means "beauty" in Dagbani.

Wafuletbo f Bandial
Means "there is nothing there" in Bandial.

Waibodei m & f Ijaw
Means "has returned again" in Ijaw.

Walshak m Ngas
WAL means "cry", shak means "one another". Which Literally means Feel for one another

Wandoo m & f Tiv
Means "a child is good" in Tiv.

Wariboko f Ijaw
Derived from the Ijaw word wari meaning "house" and boko meaning "harbinger of riches".

Waridabo m & f Ijaw
Means "lord of the household" in Ijaw.

Watna m Western African
Means "let's go" in Balanta, spoken in Guinea Bissau.

Wenikado f & m Ijaw
Means "I have worked too much" in Ijaw.

Wina f African, Nigerian
means gift of God

Wodzi f Ewe

Wole m Yoruba
“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.

Wombo m Igbo

Woyengiemi m & f Ijaw
Means "God is alive" in Ijaw.

Woyinbode f & m Ijaw
Means "God has come" in Ijaw.

Woyinkule m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.

Wumda f & m Dagbani
Means "obedient one" in Dagbani.

Wumpini m & f Dagbani
Means "God's gift" in Dagbani.

Wundeiya m & f Dagbani
"God has accepted"

Wuninmi m & f Dagbani
Means "God knows" in Dagbani.

Wunintira m & f Dagbani
Means "it is God who gives" in Dagbani.

Wunko m & f Dagbani
Means "only God" in Dagbani.

Wunnam m & f Dagbani
Means "God's creation" in Dagbani.

Wuntia m & f Dagbani
Means "God has given" in Dagbani.

Wuntima f & m Dagbani
Means "God has given me" in Dagbani.

Wunzalgu m & f Dagbani
Means "God's plan" in Dagbani.

Wura f Yoruba
Means "gold" in Yoruba.

Wuraola f Yoruba
Means "gold of wealth" or "shining treasure of wealth" in Yoruba.

Xetsa f Ewe
Means "twin" in Ewe.

Xewqa f Ewe

Yaabari m & f Ogoni
Means "thank God" in Khana.

Yaba f & m Nigerian, Yoruba

Yahaya m Malay, Western African, Hausa
Malay and Hausa form of Yahya.

Yakasu m Bariba
Means "bush" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born in the bush.

Yaƙutu f Hausa
Refers to a sapphire, ruby, jacinth, corundum, or similar stone.

Yalsumah m & f Dagbani
Means "good things" in Dagbani.

Yambo m Western African
A famous bearer was Yambo Ouologuem (1940–2017) a Malian writer. Possibly from the Dogon language.

Yamiche f Akan
Means "god's gift" in Akan.

Yankoï m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.

Yany m & f Western African
Named from the Kingdom of Yany in Gambia, a diminutive of Yanimarew.

Yao m Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".

Yaounou m & f Western African

'Yarja f Hausa
Means "fair" in Hausa.

Yarra f & m Western African, Yoruba, Arabic (Maghrebi), Northern African
Means "child" in Yoruba, Nago and Kanga, spoken in Northern and Western Africa.

Yawa f Western African, Ewe
Means "born on Thursday" in Ewe.

Yawo m Western African, Akan
Means "born on Thursday" in Akan. It is tipically given to a boy born this day.

Yaya m Indonesian, Western African
Indonesian form of Yahya as well as the form used in parts of western Africa.

Yeggul-ngon m & f Wolof
Wolof 'death prevention' name meaning "s/he has not reached the afternoon".

Yemi m & f Yoruba
Means "I am honourable" in Yoruba.

Yengiga f Wolof, Western African

Yeni m Yoruba
Means "fit" in Yoruba.

Yennenga f Mossi
Yennenga is a legendary princess, and is considered to be the mother of the Mossi people. Her son Ouedraogo was the founder of the Mossi Kingdoms.

Yenpape m Manding, Western African

Yerda f & m Dagbani
Means "trust" in Dagbani.

Yetty f Nigerian
Diminutive of Yetunde.

Yeye m & f Nigerian (Rare)

Yezo m Fula, Western African
A name used by the Fula people, who are the largest ethnic group in Western Africa and the Sahel.

Yiko m & f Dagbani
Means "power" in Dagbani.

Yinah f Nigerian (Rare), Afro-American (Slavery-era)

Yinlayefa f Ijaw
Means "nothing can be compared to a mother" in Ijaw.

Yma f Western African, Manding
Manding and Susu form of Mary.

Yobanna f Igbo
Unknown meaning.

Yobe m Western African

Yognon f French Creole, Western African

Yohance m African American (Rare), Hausa (?)
Used by American comedian, writer and civil rights activist Dick Gregory for his son born 1973. According to a 1973 issue of Jet magazine, Gregory and his wife Lillian found the name in a book called Names from Africa, and Yohance 'means "God's gift" in the Hausa language of Nigeria.'

Yohanna f Amharic, Swedish (Rare), Nigerian (Rare), Various
Amharic form of Johanna as well as a variant in other languages. In Amharic, this makes it the feminine form of Yohannes.

Yohanse f Hausa
Variant of Yohance.

Yome m Western African

Yoon f Bariba
Name traditionally given to the first born daughter.

Yoonduaru f Bariba
Means "born near a river" in Bariba.

Yoongura f Bariba
Means "born whilst it was raining" in Bariba.

Yoonsua f Bariba
Means "born on the road" in Bariba.

Yoro m Wolof

Yoroakpo f Ijaw
Means "a woman's life" in Ijaw.

Younoussi m Manding

Youssou m Western African

Youssouf m Western African
Form of Yusuf chiefly used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.

Yumzaa m & f Dagbani
Means "love all" in Dagbani.