Nigerian baby names are as unique as the culture of this region, which is one of the many reasons behind the popularity of these names. Nigerian parents like to be descriptive when it comes to naming tradition, but the customs vary by ethnic group. Some families and tribes prefer anglicized names, while others don’t. But one thing is common. Almost all the families and tribes pick names that express their expectations from the child or the circumstances surrounding the birth of the baby. That’s because Nigerians believe that a name has a determining effect on the child’s life. Some tribes also give as many as five names to their children, but only one or two are used.
The child’s position in the family is also considered while naming. When twins are born, the first child to arrive is named Taiwo, which means ‘pre-tasted the world’ and the second one is called Kehinde, which means ‘the one who lagged behind”. Naming the child after the day on which he was born in also popular in Nigeria. So a child born on Sunday is called Sunday. Muslim families living in Nigeria frequently pick Islamic first names such as Kareem, Abdul, Ahmad, or Ibrahim.
Below you’ll find an extensive collection of Nigerian baby boy and girl names with meanings by MomJunction.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abigail | Father in rejoicing | Girl | |||
Benjamin | Son Of The Right Hand | Boy | |||
Blessing | Consecration | Girl | |||
Emmanuel | a word used for the Messiah in the old testament which also means god is with us. | Boy | |||
Esther | Sweet; Star; Planet Venus; The Babylonian goddess of love; Fifth Century Queen of Persia | Girl | |||
Gabriel | God is my strength | Unisex | |||
Isaac | He will laugh, he will rejoice | Boy | |||
Joy | it means to rejoice. Such people have a fun side and yearn for their innermost desires. They are hardworking and can do almost anything to achieve their goals. | Girl | |||
Kebe | Strong man with no fear | Girl | |||
Kingsley | Kingsley name means King's Wood | Boy | |||
Mary | Hebrew - Wished for child; Sea of bitterness; To Swell; A variant form of Marilyn; As Mary; | Girl | |||
Michael | One of the seven archangels of the God | Boy | |||
Peter | One who is a rock and a stone | Boy | |||
Redeem | A woman who has redeemed herslef | Girl | |||
Rose | A beautiful flower | Girl | |||
Sam | The child of the Sun, a bright one | Boy | |||
Samuel | It was told by the God | Boy | |||
Stephanie | She who to whom the crown belongs | Girl | |||
Abaeze | Branch of the kings | Boy | |||
Abayomrunkoje | God won't allow humiliation. | Boy | |||
Abebi | We asked for a girl child. | Girl | |||
Abegunde | One born during the holiday. | Boy | |||
Abeo | The bringer of happiness . | Boy | |||
Abidugun | One born before the war. | Boy | |||
Abiodun | One born at the time of festival. | Boy | |||
Achojah | Rise up to challenge | Boy | |||
Adaego | Daughter of wealth | Girl | |||
Adaeze | Princess, daughter of the king. | Girl | |||
Adaku | A girl born into wealthy family or the one who brings wealth to the family. | Girl | |||
Adankwo | One born on fourth day. | Girl | |||
Adaobi | The first daughter in the family compound. | Girl | |||
Adaolisa | God's daughter. | Girl | |||
Adaoma | A good and virtuous lady. | Girl | |||
Adaora | Daughter of all | Girl | |||
Adaugo | Beautiful daughter or daughter of an eagle. | Girl | |||
Adaure | Daughter of Uruala, a town in Imo State. | Girl | |||
Adebamgbe | A Nigerian term meaning royalty dwells within me. | Boy | |||
Adebiyi | The royal one. | Boy | |||
Adebowale | Return of the crown; refers to a child born after many years of waiting | Boy | |||
Adedayo | The crown has turned to joy. | Boy | |||
Adefolake | Your wealth supports us. | Girl | |||
Aderiyike | The pampered crown. | Girl | |||
Afamefuna | My name will not be lost. | Boy | |||
Agbarha | Born in Agbarha | Boy | |||
Ahunna | One with the body of her father. | Girl | |||
Ahwinahwi | A really black or dark individual | Boy | |||
Akachukwu | The hand of God. | Boy | |||
Akin | Yoruban - Brave, Heroic ; Hebrew - Man | Boy | |||
Akpenvwoghene | Praise God | Unisex | |||
Akpobome | My own life | Unisex | |||