The beauty of coming from such a diverse country as Nigeria is the plethora of cultures and tribes that make up the country. Every now and then I meet someone with a unique name and I am amazed at the thoughtfulness that goes into naming children in Nigeria.

From the Igbos to the Itsekiris, Yorubas to the Fulanis, Nigerian names are unique and beautiful in every way. And unlike other cultures foreign to ours, newborns are given names that have a significance and meaning.

The process of naming children in Nigeria is very important, a child’s name matters and has religious or cultural connotations. Nigerian parents take the process of choosing names for their children very seriously. Names chosen should have special significance to the child, as powerful forces are known to shape the life of the child through his/her name. Also the name of the child is the child’s identity.

Nigerian parents give their children cultural names and the more significant and cultural the name is, the better. However, not all Nigerian parents, give their children Nigerian/African names, some prefer Western/English names.

The habit of naming Nigerians Western/English names, was as a result of British colonialists who weren’t able to pronounce African names and so required Africans to acquire Western names.

The colonialists ensured that this habit endured by enforcing Western first names for Nigerian employees and ensuring that all who desired to get an education through the mission schools, changed their names. My late Grandmother, Grace for example was also forced to pick a western name when she was about to begin primary school in the 1930’s. She had been known all her life by her Yoruba name, Bisola, but had to change her ‘identity’ for the missionaries.

So what is in a Nigerian name?

A Nigerian name confers identity on a child. They are stories behind Nigerian names, rich family history with cultural or religious significance.

In the Igbo culture, for example, children may be named according to the circumstance that the child was born in e.g. Okonkwo. Igbo names also have religious significance with many names having the prefix or suffix, Chi (which means God). See Nkechi, Chinedu and Chizoba for example.

The Hausa ethnic group, generally follow Islamic traditions with popular names like Mohammed, Mariam and Ibrahim for example.

Every Yoruba name has a character and significance of its own. No Yoruba child is given a name without a cause, the name must tell a clear story, whether it be of the circumstances surrounding the child’s birth, the state of the parents or family affairs when the child is born. The Yorubas believe that a person’s name represents his/her character and the essence of his/her personality.

The name Taiwo for example is given to the first child of twins, that name in full is Eni ti o wá tọ̀ aiye wó – translation: ‘He who came to taste the world’-. The story behind it is that the second child, Kehinde (‘He who comes after’), tells the senior twin, when the time comes for them to come into the world, “You go first into the world and taste it, if it is sweet, give me a shout and I will come down.”

It is believed that if the first twin for any reason does not cry, it will be difficult to get the second to follow.

The Yorubas pay attention to the tradition and history of the family before giving names to their children. Yoruba names have religious undertones and even before the advent of christianity or Islam in Yoruba land children have been given names with the prefix, Olu shortened form of Olorun, God, owner of the sky or universe. e.g. Oluwatobi, Olusegun and Folorunsho.

Yoruba names given to those born into royal families or lineages, almost always begin with ‘Ade’ as in Adebayo, Adekoya or Ademola.

The process of naming children in Nigeria is both thoughtful and beautiful. A parent deciding to name their child, should ensure that the name chosen, conforms not only with the culture, tradition and religion of the family but confers the proper identity for the child.

How easy was it naming your child? What was the significance of the name chosen? And are you happy with your choice?