30 Beautiful Ewe Baby Names And Their Meanings

From the tribe with a rich history and roots in Western Africa.

Written by Benidamika J Latam, MA, MSc Specialty: Psychology and RelationshipsExperience: 2 years

Benidamika holds a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Assam Don Bosco University and another masters degree in English Literature from North Eastern Hill University. At MomJunction, Benidamika writes on human psychology and relationships.

Read full bio of Benidamika J Latam

Edited by Rohit Garoo, BSc, MBA Specialty: Baby Health and WellnessExperience: 9 years

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

Read full bio of Rohit Garoo

Fact-checked by Reshmi Das, MSc Specialty: Health and WellnessExperience: 4 years

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das

Last Updated on Nov 12, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

The Ewe people of West Africa speak the Ewe language, which is intertwined with their rich history and culture. Ewe baby names are predominantly found in Western Africa, although the migration of the Ewe people has taken the language and names to other places across the world. The colonial occupation by Europeans of the native lands of the Ewe people brought Christianity, influencing their naming traditions. Many Ewe people continued to observe their traditional religion, retaining the age-old naming traditions as well.

Ewe baby names could include elements representing gratitude towards God for blessing the family with a child. A few examples bearing this sentiment are Nanyamka, meaning 'gift of God,' and Elikplim, meaning 'God is with me.' It is also a trend to use the day of the week or the time when the child was born as a temporary given name. For example, Coblah means 'one who is born on Tuesday,' and Yawa means 'one who is born on Thursday.'

Traditionally, Ewe babies are given their permanent name a week to eight days after birth in a traditional outdoor ceremony. The ceremony is called Vihehedego in Ewe, translating to ‘outdooring.’ The baby’s temporary birth name may be retained, especially if it indicates the day of the week they were born. If they have a sibling born on the same day in the future, their day-inspired birth name is nullified and no longer used. Besides using days, Ewe names are also derived from the circumstances surrounding the child’s birth. A few examples of such names include Nyakpoo, meaning 'a calm answer', and Tsoenamawu, meaning 'leave it to God.'

The below list consists of some common Ewe baby names, showcasing the uniqueness and beauty of Ewe culture.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Nanyamka	Girl	God's gift
Afi	Girl	A child who is born on Friday
Dzintra	Boy	One who has a lot of patience
Adjo	Boy	One who is born on Monday
Afafa	Girl	The first child of the second husband
Boahinmaa	Girl	The one who has left her community
Bubune	Boy	Honor to Him
Coblah	Boy	One who is born on Tuesday.
Dodzi	Boy	To persevere
Dofi	Girl	The second child after the twins

Elikplim	Boy	God is with me
Enyonyam	Girl	It is good for me
Kafui	Boy	Praise him
Klenam	Boy	Shine
Kplorm	Boy	Guide me
Madonudenu	Boy	My confidence is in Him (God)
Mawufeasi	Boy	God's hand
Mawuli	Boy	There Is A God
Mawusi	Girl	One who is in the hands of God
Nyakpoo	Boy	A calm answer

Ozigbodi	Girl	Patience
Serwa	Girl	A noblewoman
Tsoenamawu	Girl	Leave it to God
Veliane	Girl	Companion
Woelinam	Girl	In God I trust
Xoese	Unisex	Believe
Xorlali	Girl	The savior exists
Yawa	Girl	One who is born on a Thursday
Yehowada	Girl	God's day
Yomawu	Girl	Call on God

Ewe baby names provide a range of name choices that exude the charm and distinctiveness of the Ewe culture. Whether exploring a special name for your child or considering a name to honor this community, an Ewe baby name can be a wonderful choice. Each name in our list features its meaning and gender-specific usage, helping you further narrow your search and choose the right name for your bundle of joy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Ewe names be used by people outside the Ewe community?

Ewe baby names hold certain cultural significance within their community, but no restrictions exist to prevent foreigners from adopting them. If you plan to give your child an Ewe name, it is important to consider the meaning, spelling, and pronunciation. Ensure you understand its connotations.

2. Can Ewe names be adapted for modern usage?

Ewe names can have variants in different languages. These names can be tweaked to make them easier to spell and understand in other languages. However, it is important to understand the cultural significance associated with the original name. Extreme variations can diminish the name’s cultural value.

3. Are there gender-specific Ewe names?

In the Ewe culture, certain names are specifically given to boys, while others are given to girls. These names often reflect the cultural values, experiences, and characteristics associated with each gender. For instance, a name like Abra (a girl born on Tuesday) is typically feminine, while the name Amefia (people's king) is generally given to boys.

Infographic: Baby Names Of Ewe Origin

Discover a perfect name for your baby with Ewe baby names. The below infographic provides insight into Ewe culture and traditions with a few Ewe names. Ewe names are specific to Africa, mostly in Ghana and Togo regions in the West. But the authenticity and rarity of these names can pique your interest.

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.