354 Yoruba Baby Names From West Africa
A for Abeo to Z for Zoputan, our list comes from the ancient era.
Yoruba baby names are rooted in West Africa’s rich cultural heritage. To the Yoruba, a name isn't just a word or an identity. It's an embodiment of lineage, history, and family. As per the Yoruba custom, Yoruba kids are named in a ceremony held seven days after birth. In ancient times, the names were found by divination performed by traditional Ifa priests, called Babalawo, locally. But now, the names are suggested by the ranking members of the family, which include the mother, father, grandparents, or relatives. A private ceremony is held for the parents and close family members where the child is bestowed the name. A public ceremony, with entertainment and feasting, is held by parents to celebrate the baby's arrival a few days after the private ceremony. Yoruba names are classified into five categories – Oruko Amutorunwa or destiny names, Oruko Abiso or acquired names, Oruko Oriki or Panegyrics, Oruko Abiku, and Oruko Inagije or alias. Many Yoruba believe a name can influence a child's behavior and destiny (1). Hence, choosing the right name for the child is considered a crucial responsibility of the parents. Parents seek guidance from elders and family members to fulfill this duty and select names that convey specific meanings or attributes. Yoruba girls are named after the circumstances in which their birth took place or as a reflection of the wealth they bring to their families. Modern or Christian parents use Christian forms of traditional names, while Muslim Yoruba parents give their children Arabic names with Yoruba phonetics. Other factors influencing parents' name choices include cultural values, numerology, aesthetic appeal, and pleasant sound. Moreover, Yoruba names are generally gender-specific, meaning specific names are reserved for boys and girls. Hence, knowing a name's meaning and cultural significance is crucial in Yoruba culture. Understanding this, we have curated a comprehensive list of the best Yoruba baby names with meanings.
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Name | Gender | Meaning | |
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Boy | Oarsman; Rower; Lord consoles in me; Heaven; Sky | |
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Girl | Rain; Rule with nobility; Honor confers a crown | |
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Boy | One we fought to possess; Noble birth | |
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Girl | From the body of God | |
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Girl | Always; The only one; Grace; Favor; Scene; Sight; Mirror; Difficult birth; Elegant love; Chaste | |
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Unisex | Mother of fish; Goddess of the Ogun river | |
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Boy | Worth joy; Much or many; World | |
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Boy | Ash tree; Someone who lived near an ash tree forest | |
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Girl | She who struggles | |
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Boy | One fought to have | |
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Boy | Brave; Heroic; Valor | |
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Girl | One who forgives; A dancing girl; Dowry; Bride price; Merciful | |
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Boy | Seemed destined to die at birth; Free-born; Beloved | |
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Boy | Next in line; Let's give; Only once; Only one | |
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Boy | Walk with wealth | |
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Unisex | Thanking God | |
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Boy | I belong to God | |
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Boy | The crown has turned to joy | |
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Girl | Come out into wealth | |
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Girl | A beautiful rose; One who succeeds; Challenging | |
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Boy | God is the king | |
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Unisex | Great mother | |
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Boy | Authority belongs to God | |
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Girl | Crown of wealth | |
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Unisex | God has bestowed me with wealth | |
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Girl | My wealth has arrived | |
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Unisex | Crown suits me well | |
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Boy | We gave praises and he came | |
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Boy | Father has awakened | |
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Boy | Father has come again | |
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Girl | Ancestor's descendant; People's victory; Wealth; Honor; Respect; Dignity; Glory | |
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Girl | My joy | |
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Unisex | God is worth worshiping | |
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Boy | Bundled up and set to dry | |
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Boy | One who brings joy and happiness | |
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Boy | The crown returns from over the sea | |
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Unisex | Mat of wealth | |
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Boy | One who is special to have | |
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Boy | One who has strong blood; Powerful person | |
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Boy | Crown has brought us great joy | |
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Unisex | Understanding | |
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Girl | The child attracts my attention; A legendary Yoruba queen | |
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Boy | Worth joy; Many; World | |
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Boy | The crown is with wealth | |
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Boy | Precious crown | |
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Boy | Born in honor; Wealth | |
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Boy | Royalty returns home | |
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Boy | Born into wealth | |
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Unisex | Brave; Warrior | |
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Boy | Joy has returned | |
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Boy | God loves me | |
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Unisex | Amid wealth and prosperity | |
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Boy | Acquiring God's treasure | |
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Girl | God is with you | |
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Boy | He who is celebrated; Long hoped-for child | |
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Girl | Rest in wealth | |
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Girl | We prayed for her; Now she is ours; Someone who is prayed for | |
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Boy | The king; Ruler | |
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Girl | Lucky one | |
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Unisex | Cherish me; Caring for me | |
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Boy | Stay with me; Stand by me; The Lord stays with me | |
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Girl | God wishes; One who follows the will of God | |
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Boy | The King loves me | |
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Boy | Mine has turned into joy | |
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Boy | It is the will of God | |
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Boy | God is mine | |
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Boy | One who is worthy for praise | |
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Girl | God's gift | |
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Girl | A lucky woman; God expands wealth | |
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Boy | To God be the glory | |
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Girl | The promise of God | |
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Girl | Lace; Youruban Goddess of storms and winds; She tore | |
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Girl | The first twin to taste the world or life | |
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Girl | Beautiful water fairy; Ruler of all; Door; To choose; Ones who possess many relatives | |
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Girl | The crown is to be cared for | |
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Unisex | Honor confers a crown; Rule with nobility | |
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Girl | Woman who walks with honor; One who walks with dignity | |
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Girl | The crown meets wealth | |
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Girl | Honor confers a crown; Rule with nobility | |
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Unisex | Challenging | |
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Girl | The blessings of God | |
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Unisex | Bright or glorious rainbow; Fit | |
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Girl | The second-born of the twins; Comes last | |
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Girl | Blessing has come to me; A girl who has brought blessings to her family | |
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Girl | Loving child of the family | |
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Girl | Silky; To celebrate | |
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Girl | Make wealth | |
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Girl | Celebrated; Acquired | |
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Girl | One who is joyful forever; Ever happy; Eternal happiness | |
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Girl | Gift of God; God has brought me joy | |
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Unisex | Flow; Goddess of the river Osun | |
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Unisex | Mine is worthy; Worth of mine | |
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Girl | Honor bestows a crown. | |
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Girl | I thank God | |
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Unisex | Honor confers a crown; Rain | |
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Unisex | Wealthy and successful | |
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Boy | My wealth is increased | |
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Boy | The son of royalty; A Variant of Abiola | |
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Boy | Dead and awake; Bad deed | |
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Boy | One to be petted and made much of; Leader; Chief | |
Yoruba baby names carry profound meanings and cultural associations. They offer a captivating insight into the vibrant heritage of the Yoruba tribe and its people. If Yoruba culture's values and ethics resonate with you, the above list of Yoruba names with meanings has several options you may consider to name your baby. These names serve as an enduring connection to the past and hold relevance in the present. So pick a name as per preference and embrace the spirit of ancestral legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Yoruba names mean peace?
A popular Yoruba name that means peace is Alafia. It is a gender-neutral name. Ìdẹ̀raolúwa is another name that means ‘peace of god.’ Ifelayo is another Yoruba name that implies ‘love is peace.’
2. Are Yoruba names unisex?
Most of the names in Yoruba culture are unisex. Names like Bolu, Bola, Dare, Yinka, Tola, Sola, and Tade are unisex and are fully acceptable by the cultural law of this place. The Yoruba language classifies pronouns according to a person and number and not based on gender (2). However, you will also find many gender-specific names.
3. What are twins known as in Yoruba?
The first-born twin in Southwest Nigeria, irrespective of gender, is always called Taiwo. It means 'having the first taste of the world.' The second twin is called Kehinde. It implies 'arriving after the other.' Between both, the firstborn, or Taiwo, is regarded as the younger twin sibling (3 ).
4. Which Yoruba names mean favor?
In the Yoruba culture, Olúwasanmí means 'God favors me' or 'God rewards me.' It is made of olúwa, which means God; san, which means benefit or favor; and mí, which means me.
5. Which Yoruba names mean moon?
Kamari is an African name that means 'moon.’ It has many variations like Kamaria, Kam, and Mari. Mawu, in the Yoruba language, is also associated with the moon. It's the name of a creator goddess linked to the Sun and Moon.
6. What role do religious or cultural traditions play in selecting Yoruba baby names?
Religious and cultural traditions play a significant role in selecting Yoruba baby names. These names tell the story of the socio-economic backgrounds of families and showcase their religions and customs. Children are often named after significant cultural events surrounding their birth so they can recall the memories later. The names are important means of communication and sources of gender differentiation (4). There is also a tradition in the Yoruba culture about naming according to the background of a family, religion, or antecedents. Some examples include Ògúndìran, which means 'Ogun has become a living tradition in the family,’ and Ayanlowo, which means 'Ayan drumming tradition is honorable.'
7. What are the historical and cultural origins of Yoruba baby names?
According to the Yorubas, a given name has a profound effect. They have always believed that the name that a child bears can influence their entire life cycle from their behavior, profession, and success. From the beginning, Yoribas have regarded a name as representing the socio-economic and cultural characteristics, family background, occupation, place of origin, and political and economic class. Some examples of these names include Abiodun, which means 'born during a festival,' and Abosede, which means a child born on the first day of the week (5).
Infographic: Culturally Significant Yoruba Baby Names
The Yoruba culture of Nigeria consists of philosophy, religion, and fascinating folktales. It's one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, with names of immense cultural significance. Exploring Yoruba names will give you a glimpse of rich traditions and beliefs. In this infographic, we've listed the most popular names from this culture.
References
- Welcoming a New Life: Yoruba Naming Traditions.
https://locallearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/yoruba.pdf - Yoruba names and gender marking.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262637470_Yoruba_names_and_gender_marking - Yoruba customs and beliefs pertaining to twins.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/98B7AE1DB8FB7E1BF4AD8BFDDD68C4C7/S136905230000252Xa.pdf/yoruba_customs_and_beliefs_pertaining_to_twins.pdf - Yoruba personal naming system: Traditions patterns and practices.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339405518_Yoruba_personal_naming_system_Traditions_patterns_and_practices - Yoruba names as a reflection of people’s cultural heritage.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341878995_Yoruba_Names_as_a_Reflection_of_People%27s_Cultural_Heritage
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