Nigerian Names
Single page list
The names
Zariah
Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
"flower, God has helped, dawn"
Zariah has three possible origins: the Arabic Zahrah which means ‘flower’, the Hebrew name Azariah, meaning ‘God has helped’, or the Russian word Zaria which means ‘sunrise/dawn’. Either way, it's a…
Ajamu
Nigerian, Yoruban
"he fights for his desires"
Rhythmic name sometimes associated with calypso singer King Ajamu.
Ajani
Nigerian, Yoruban
"the victor"
An easily assimilated African name, a novel twist on Johnny.
Amazu
Nigerian, Ibo
"no one knows everything"
Conveys a sense of amazement.
Chimamanda
Igbo
"my God will never fail"
Made most familiar in English-speaking countries by prize-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chimamanda has a wonderful meaning and can be shortened to Chima or the spunky Chi. In 2022, it…
Dayo
Nigerian
"joy arrives"
Has an evocative African beat.
Diji
Nigerian
"a farmer"
Accessible multicultural name. Kot Diji is a site of ancient remains in modern-day Pakistan.
Agu
Igbo
"tiger"
In its native Nigeria, Agu is a surname that signifies strength and being a force of nature. Agu as a first name has some pedigree, however: most notably via Agu Casmir, a famous Nigerian-Singaporean…
Kehinde
Yoruba
"second-born of twins or one who falls behind"
This African name, which derives from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, is used for both girls and boys -- but in the US, its most notable bearer is (male) artist Kehinde Wiley. Wiley, who paints brown-…
Kehinde
Yoruba
"second-born of twins or one who falls behind"
Although the best-known Kehinde is the male painter Kehinde Wiley, this name is used for both genders in its native Nigeria and can be just as attractive for a girl.
Oba
Nigerian
Intriguing name of the ancient goddess of rivers.
Oluchi
Igbo
"work of God"
Nigerian-born supermodel Oluchi Orlandi brought this little-known (to non-Nigerians), lovely choice into the lexicon.
Sade
Finnish, Nigerian and Yoruba, diminutive of Folashade
"rain; honor bestows a crown"
The one-named singer clarified the confusing pronunciation on this one (in her case, it's shah-DAY), but a number of parents have looked for more phonetic spellings. The Finnish version means "rain."
Iniko
Nigerian, Igbo
"born in a time of trouble"
This West African name has an upbeat, energetic sound, yet it is traditionally used for a son who was born during troubled times.