Choosing a Nigerian baby name means diving into the rich world of the countryās diversity.
Nigeria boasts over 500 languages and 250 ethnic groups ā so when we speak about Nigerian baby names, weāre covering a lot of ground.
The Nigerian diaspora is so vast that unofficial estimates reach up to 15 million people.
From athletes to writers to intellectuals, doctors, and comedians, Nigerians have made their mark in a variety of industries.
And in the world of powerful baby names.
Yes, whether you have Nigerian heritage or are just inspired by the beating heart of this West African nation, Nigerian names offer an inspiring mix of deep meaning and beautiful sounds.
Just cast your eye over the 118 popular, unique, and classic Nigerian baby names weāve gathered below.
In this article: š
- How do Nigerians name their babies?
- What are the most common Nigerian names?
- What is a Nigerian name for a girl?
- What is a Nigerian boy name?
How do Nigerians name their babies?
With moniker meanings like āthe first twin to taste the worldā, ājoy has filled our homeā, and āmy siblings are powerfulā, nothing about Nigerian names feels accidental or impulsive.
Meaning and context matter a great deal.
But Nigeria is also a highly ethnically diverse country, with each distinct ethnic group holding its own naming traditions.
So, if youāre looking for one singular Nigerian naming practice, it doesnāt exist.
But its four major ethnic groups ā the Hausa-Falani, the Igbo, the Yoruba, and the Ijaw ā do offer insight into the most common approaches to picking baby names for Nigerian parents.
Because of colonial influence, itās not uncommon for Ijaw to have European names, Biblical titles, or anglicized versions of their names.
Meanwhile, the Hausa-Fulani people hold naming ceremonies seven days after the birth of the child, with Hausa names often stemming from the Muslim religion.
In the Southwest of Nigeria, Yoruba babies can expect to receive two names.
The first is their oruku name, which often describes the circumstances of their birth ā Abiodun means āborn during a festivalā, while Abidemi means āborn during fatherās absenceā.
Later, parents will bestow an OrĆkƬ name (a praise name) that reflects the qualities they believe their child has or will come to possess.
Equally, for Igbo parents, naming their baby is an intentional act, with many choices based on affirming greatness, honoring circumstances (like a long TTC journey), or hopes for the future.
Each ethnic group has its own unique approach, but many align on one common ground: a name is more than an identity ā it can be a story, a generational message, or even an homage to a respected family member.
Across Nigeria, children are named for, amongst other things, the conditions of their birth, the day they were born, their protectors in the world, and the state of their families.
With all that beautiful complexity in mind, letās explore the most popular Nigerian names.
What are the most common Nigerian names?
Letās start by looking at what name is at the top of the charts:
What is the most popular name in Nigeria?
According to Forebears.io, the most popular name in Nigeria is drum roll, please:
- Musa: This name means prophet and is the Arabic version of the name Moses ā a name that comes from the phrase ādrawn out of the waterā.
But, because there are so many different cultures and languages, there are many other names that vie for the top position.
Here are some of the most common Nigerian names:
Most common Nigerian girl names:
Before we get going, itās important to note that while weāve separated this list, many Nigerian names are gender-neutral.
Itās also worth noting that many Nigerian female names rooted in Igbo often stem from Ada, meaning āfirst daughterā.
Keep your eyes peeled for the variations:
- Kehinde: Meaning āarrived lastā. This name is often given to the second of a set of twins.
- Chioma: Meaning āGod is goodā. Chioma is a popular Igbo name
- Adaku: Meaning āa girl who brings wealth to the family she is born intoā.
- Fatima: An Arabic girlās name meaning āthe one who abstainsā.
- Adanna: Meaning āthe fatherās daughterā.
- Sade: Meaning āhonor grants a crownā. š
- Patience: A common Ijaw virtue name meaning āenduringā or, of course, āpatienceā.
- Fadekemi: Meaning āgrace me with the crownā.
- Chiamaka: Meaning āGod is beautifulā.
- Dayo: Meaning ājoy arrivesā. Nothing sums up babyās debut better.
Most common Nigerian boy names:
You may notice many Nigerian names for boys have Arabic origin.
This is largely down to the majority of Hausa people being devout Muslims.
So, if you see male Nigerian names with a distinctive Islamic influence, youāll know they stem from Northwestern Nigeria:
- Ibrahim: Meaning āmy father is exaltedā.
- Umar: Meaning āflourisingā.
- Ola: Meaning āwealthā, Ola often finds itself at the beginning of longer Yoruba names.
- Chinua: Meaning āGodās blessingsā. The name of the famous writer, Chinua Achebe ā highly regarded as Africaās greatest storyteller.
- Sani: Meaning āradianceā. āļø
- Adebowale: Meaning āthe crown has returned homeā.
- Oluwa: This is the Yoruba word for āGodā.
- Olufela: Meaning āGod increases wealthā. And, in its shortened form, itās the name of the famous musician, Fela Kuti.
- Abubaker: Meaning āfather of a young camelā. A popular Muslim name, Abubaker is often named for the senior companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr.
- Mahammadu: This is the Hausa version of the prophet Muhammad.
What is a Nigerian name for a girl?
So, weāve mentioned above the popularity of the Igbo root Ada, but letās not forget the prevalence of Chi.
Chi is a key spiritual concept in Nigeria that represents a guardian spirit or the āIgbo personal life forceā.
Itās often used in female Nigerian names to keep baby under the protection of a personal spiritual guardian for their whole lives.
Which variation will grab you?
- Abebi: Meaning āwe asked for a girlā.
- Abeni: Meaning āwe asked for her and she arrivedā.
- Abosede: Meaning āa girl who is born on a Sundayā.
- Adaeze: Meaning āthe daughter of the kingā.
- Adaego: Meaning āthe daughter of wealthā.
- Adamma: Meaning ābeautiful girlā.
- Akachi: Meaning āthe hand of Godā.
- Alaba: Meaning āsecond child after twinsā.
- Alheri: Meaning āgraceā.
- Alika: Meaning āmost beautifulā.
- Amara: Meaning āgraceā.
- Ayo: Meaning ājoyā. Many names start with Ayo to show joy as part of a larger naming story.
- Ayodele: Meaning ājoy has arrivedā.
- Ayotunde: Meaning ājoy has returnedā.
- Chi: Chi means āGodā and is often used as the first part of a name.
- Chiagozie: Meaning āGod has blessed meā.
- Chidi: Meaning āGod is realā.
- Chidinma: Meaning āGod is goodā.
- Chika: Meaning āGod is the greatestā.
- Chimamanda: Meaning āGod will not fail meā. And yes, like the renowned feminist and writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
- Chinara: Meaning āGod receivesā.
- Dada: Meaning ācurly-haired childā.
- Ebele: Meaning ākindnessā.
- Efe: Meaning āwealthā.
- Ekundayo: Meaning āsadness has become joyā.
- Funanya: Meaning āloveā.
- Hadiza: The Hausa version of the name Khadija*, Hadiza means āthe one who comes firstā.
- Ife: Meaning āloveā. ā¤ļø
- Ifeoma: Meaning āgood thingā.
- Ifiok: Meaning āwisdomā.
- Ige: Meaning āborn feet firstā.
- Ime: Meaning āpatienceā.
- Kayin: Meaning ācelebrated oneā.
- Lolade: Meaning āGod is with youā.
- Maryamu: The Hausa form of Maryam. This name has a range of connotations, from being connected to the Biblical Miriam (the sister of Moses) to meaning āa sea of bitternessā.
- Mojisola: Meaning āwake up to wealthā.
- Monifa: Meaning āI am luckyā.
- Ndidi: Meaning āpatienceā.
- Ngozi: Meaning āblessingā.
- Nkiruka: Meaning āthe future is greater with youā.
- Nneka: Meaning āmy mother is supremeā (yep, that sounds about right).
- Nnenna: This name is sometimes given to a child who is believed to be the reincarnation of their fatherās mother.
- Nnenne: Similar to Nnenna, Nnenne is given to a child believed to be the reincarnation of their motherās mother.
- Nwanneka: Meaning āmy siblings are powerfulā.
- Oghenekevwe: Meaning āGod has providedā.
- Olubunmi: Meaning āgift from Godā.
- Omolara: Meaning āa child is familyā.
- Oni: Meaning āborn in a sacred homeā.
- Sarauniya: Meaning āqueenā. š
- Taiwo: Often given to the first of a set of twins, Taiwo means āthe first twin to taste the worldā.
- Titilayo: Meaning āeverlasting joyā.
- Ufuoma: Meaning āpeace of mindā.
- Yejide: Meaning āshe looks like her motherā.
- Yetunde: Meaning āmother has returnedā.
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What is a Nigerian boy name?
As you may have noticed, the first letters of Nigerian baby names often carry key clues to their ethnicity.
Just as many Igbo names contain the word chi (often for a girl), many others contain the word chukwu, meaning āthe almightyā or āmost highā, in reference to the high god.
Complex doesnāt even cut it for Nigerian names:
- Achebe: Meaning āYou are protectedā.
- Ade: Meaning ācrownā(You will see this as the prefix to many other names that hold the crown).
- Adebayo: Meaning āthe joyful crownā.
- Adebola: Meaning āthe crown and wealthā.
- Adetokunbo: Meaning āthe crown that came from overseasā.
- Adisa: Meaning āsomeone who has clarityā.
- Abidemi: Meaning āborn while father was awayā.
- Abimbola: Meaning āborn wealthyā.
- Afolabi: Meaning āborn into wealth and high statusā.
- Akpan: Meaning āfirstborn sonā.
- Akpofure: Meaning ālife is peacefulā.
- Alhaji: Meaning āpilgrimā.
- Amadi: Meaning āfreemanā.
- Ayokunle: Meaning ājoy has filled our homeā.
- Azubuike: Meaning āyour past is your strengthā.
- Babatunde: Baba means āfatherā. Tunde means āreturnedā. So, Babatunde means āfather has returnedā.
- Bamidele: Meaning āfollow me homeā.
- Bitrus: Meaning āthe Hausa version of Peterā.
- Chiemeka: Meaning āGod has performed great deedsā.
- Chizoba: Meaning āGod protect usā.
- Ekene: Meaning āthanks and praiseā.
- Ekwueme: Meaning āhe does what he says he is going to doā.
- Emem: Meaning āpeaceā.
- Enitan: Meaning āa person with a storyā.
- Enyinnaya: Meaning āfatherās friendā.
- Folami: Meaning ārespect and honorā.
- Idowu: Meaning āborn after twinsā.
- Ifeanyichukwu: Meaning ānothing is impossible with Godā.
- Ikechukwu: Meaning āthe power of Godā.
- Itoro: Meaning āpraise godā.
- Kayode: Meaning āhe who brings joyā.
- Kyauta: Meaning āgiftā.
- Obi: Meaning āheartā. ā¤ļø
- Okoro: Meaning āmanā.
- Olamide: Meaning āwealth has arrivedā.
- Olamilekan: Meaning āwealth is increasedā.
- Olu: Meaning āGodā, Olu is often seen at the beginning of a greater name.
- Olufemi: Meaning āGod loves meā.
- Olufunmilayo: Meaning āGod has given me joyā.
- Olumide: Meaning āGod has comeā.
- Sadiq: A Hausa name, Sadiq means āloyalā.
- Uduak: Meaning ādesireā.
- Wole: As in the Noble Prize-winning playwright, Wole Soyinka. His name means āhas come home toā.
Nigerian baby names strike a beautiful balance between descriptive and emotionally profound.
They also leave you a host of avenues for naming your baby.
Will you honor your TTC journey, the day of their birth, or the hopes you have for their future?
Whichever you decide, weād love to see it (and you) on Peanut.
Best of luck in your search mama.