GỊNỊ BỤ AHA GỊ?
Updated: 06/10/2023
“When a person is given a name, his gods accept.” – Igbo proverb
Traditions like the naming ceremony demonstrate the importance of names within Igbo society. In Igbo, the ceremony is referred to as “Igu Afa”.
In contemporary Igbo culture, it is customary to perform a naming ceremony for a newborn on the eighth day after their birth. Typically, two names are given to the child, one from each side of the family, but only one name is retained for the child’s later life. However, within the diaspora and among those living outside of Igboland in Nigeria, the tradition and context of names can become lost aspects of a person’s heritage.
For many of us living abroad, our surnames can feel foreign and disconnected from our cultural roots, as the significance of these names has often not been explained or elaborated upon. In the modern globalised world, a person’s name can provide a unique glimpse into their history and origin. Surnames, in particular, serve as important indicators that trace the collective journey of a family or clan.
At Okwu ID we are drafting a register archiving Igbo surnames and their meanings. If you know of/have an Igbo surname, or if you have ever wondered what the meaning and context of your surname is. We will do our best to try to find out what it means.
See the current list below. Some names have not yet been defined/speculative (?) If you know the meaning or have a better translation please let us know using the text box above.
To be added:
NAME | BREAKDOWN | MEANING |
Abamutele | ||
Abara/ Agbara | Spirit | |
Achebe | An abbreviation of Anichebe | May Ani (the earth goddess protect) |
Achilonu | ||
Acholonu | ||
Adeliji | ||
Adichie | We will live on, and our descendants will carry on our legacy. | |
Adindu | We shall live | |
Agbaeze | ||
Agha | Agha (war) | “Warrior” or “Fighter” |
Aghedo | ||
Agughalam | Do not side-line/marginalize me | |
Agulanna | ||
Aguta | Countless/To have many | |
Agwuegbo | The hardship is over | |
Ajoku | ||
Akaneme | ||
Akharame | ||
Aku | Wealth | |
Akunna | ||
Alaeze | ||
Alaneme | Ala (land) + n’eme (is doing something) | The land is active – may have other interpretations |
Ama/Amah | Compound | |
Amadi | Ama + di | The compound remains |
Amaefula | ||
Amaike | Ama + ike | The compound is strong |
Amarachi | ||
Amobi | Can anyone truly know the human heart? | |
Anabaraonye | ||
Anaele | ||
Andosie | ||
Anichebe | May Ani (the earth goddess protect) | |
Aniefuna | Ani/Ala + efuna | My land is not lost |
Anokwuru | Ano + Kwuru | Four talk |
Anosike | Ano + si + ike | Four is strong |
Anuoru | Anu + oru | To stay well? |
Asiegbu | A + si + egbu | |
Asika | Asi + ka | Asi (lie) = to lie a lot ? |
Asinobi | A + si + na + obi | From the heart |
Asota | ||
Atuche | Atu + uche | To think / to plan something in the mind |
Atuegbu | Atu + Egbu | Speculation will not kill me |
Atusiemobi | Take heart (my condolences) ? | |
Awachie | He has come to replace ? | |
Awujo | A wu ujo | To be quiet ? |
Azuh | ||
Azuka | Azu + Ka | “The back is above.” Azu ordinarily means “the back” but it likewise refers to “the backer.” The family was poor, but since it had wealthy relatives, it was assured of social status. This fact is expressed in the name. |
Azunna | Azu + nna | My father’s back |
Chi | “God” The personal spirit believed by the Igbos to direct the destinies of individuals. | |
Chibuchi | Chi + bu + Chi | God is god |
Chibuzor | Chi + bu + zor | God leads the way |
Chidera | Chi + dera | God has written |
Chidozie | Chi + dozie | My spirit/God looks after |
Chiegbu | Chi + egbu | God is strength. |
Chike | ||
Chinelo | ||
Chinka | Chi + nka | God’s craft (work) or a creative chi “spirit” |
Chinonso | ||
Chinwe | ||
Chisom | ||
Chuke/Chike | Chu(kwu) + ike | God’s power |
Chukwu | The Great Chi (The Great Spirit who created and is creating all things) | |
Chukwudi | Chu(kwu) + di | |
Chukwudumebi | ||
Chukwuebuka | Chukwu + ebuka | |
Chukwuebunam | ||
Chukwuemeka | Chukwu + emela + m | |
Chukwuemelam | ||
Chukwumerije | Chukwu + mere + ije | God makes (something) walk |
Chukwunyelu | Chukwu + nyelu/nyere | God gives |
Daberechi | ||
Dara | ||
Diri | To be (may be short for another name) | |
Dozie | To repair – to look after – to make well | |
Dungamaeze | Sit here/stay here and know the king | |
Duru | (Di + Uru) *Di in this case means master | Master of prosperity |
Duruaku | Master of prosperity | |
Duruji | ||
Ebi | ||
Ebigide | ||
Ebor | ||
Ebujo | To kill the wrong person ? | |
Echem | ||
Echetabu | ||
Edem | ||
Edemaruku | ||
Edochie | To replace | |
Edolasim | Do not side-line/marginalize me | |
Edozie | Edozie | To repair – to look after – to make well – well ordered |
Edoziem | My life has been ordered by God | |
Eguminyo | ||
Ehioma | Ehi + oma | Good cow |
Ejike | from: Ejiro-ike-erne-ife-enu | “We do not use power in doing things of the world.” |
Ejikeme | We don’t do anything by force | |
Ejiofor | Eji + Ofo | The Ofo is an object historically used to settle disputes and to bestow judgment. Eji = To hold |
Ejofor | Eji + Ofo | The Ofo is an object historically used to settle disputes and to bestow judgment. Eji = To hold |
Ekezie | Eke + ezi | Good sharing |
Ekpo | ||
Emekachukwu | ||
Emenike | E me na ike | “Do not with force.” |
Emeto | ||
Emezie | ||
Ene | ||
Eregbu | ||
Esiokwu | Esi + okwu | |
Eze | ||
Ezeana | ||
Ezeani | ||
Ezeilo | ||
Ezeji | ||
Ezejiofor | Eze + ji + ofor | The King holds the Ofor |
Ezemonye | I fear no one | |
Ezenwa | Eze + nwa | The king’s child |
Ezeogba | Eze + ogba | |
Ezeonu | ||
Ezeude | ||
Ezumezu | ||
Ibe | (Abbr. of Ibeanaeweka) | “People continue to be angry too much.” ? |
Ibeabuchi | ||
Ibeh/Ibe | Townspeople/villagers | |
Ibekwe | Ibe + kwe | Ibe (people) + kwe (agree) = my people agree |
Ibem | Ibe m | My people |
Ibenye | ||
Ibuchukwu | ||
Idozuka | ||
Ife | ||
Ifechukwude | ||
Ifediora | ||
Ifedyke | ||
Igweze | Igweze the ‘staff’ the king holds but happy to be corrected! | |
Iheme | Ihe + me | Things happen |
Ihemelu | Ihe + melu/mere | Something happened |
Ike | Strength | |
Ikechukwu | ||
Ikeji | I + ke + ji | Yam harvest festival (To break/split yam) |
Ikenna | ||
Ikeoluwa | ||
Ikwuakolam | Let me not lack brothers/neighbours | |
Inem | ||
Isiguzo | ||
Iwuoha | ||
Kalu | (also Kamalu) | The god of thunder |
Kanu | (also Kamanu) | The god of thunder |
Kelechi | ||
Kenechi | ||
Kenenna | ||
Kenosi | ||
Keziah | ||
Maduabuchi | ||
Manufor | ||
Mbanefo | May the nation/community remember | |
Mborie | Mba + Orie | |
Metu | Touch | |
Mgbodile | ||
Mmeremikwu | To be higher/better | |
Monye | Mu + onye | Me and who |
Nduka | ||
Ndukwe | Ndu + ekwe | Let life permit |
Ndunesokwu | ||
Njoku | ||
Nkechinyere | ||
Nkwo | Nkwo market day (the last of the 4 days on the Igbo calendar) | |
Nnadi | Nna + di | “My God is alive” or “My father lives” |
Nnadozie | Nna + dozie | Father looks after ? |
Nnamaka | ||
Nnamdi | Nna m di | “My God is alive” or “My father lives” |
Nnebe | ||
Nneka | ||
Nnenna | ||
Nnodim | ||
Nwabara | Nwa + abara | (Child) of the spirit |
Nwabeke | Nwa + beke | Foreign Child |
Nwabueze | ||
Nwachukwu | Nwa + chukwu | (Child) of the supreme God |
Nwadibia | Nwa + dibia | (Child) of a native doctor |
Nwadike | Nwa + di + ike | (Child) is of strong lineage / this person is strong/ Child warrior/hero |
Nwadiuto | ||
Nwaeze/Nweze | Nwa + eze | Child of the king |
Nwaigbo | Nwa +Igbo | (Child) of the Igbo people |
Nwaigwe/Nwigwe | Nwa + Igwe | (Child) of the king |
Nwaike | Nwa + ike | (Child) of strong lineage |
Nwakaego | ||
Nwakali | also Nwakala/Nwakani | A child dedicated to Ali/Ala/Ani (earth goddess) |
Nwakuba | ||
Nwamadioha | Nwa + amadioha | Child/ people |
Nwamdi | ||
Nwando | ||
Nwaneri | Nwa + na + eri | A child shall eat |
Nwanyibuife | ||
Nwanze | ||
Nwaogu/Nwogu | Nwa + ogu | (Child) of war |
Nwaokocha | Man of the people | |
Nwaokoha | Man of the people | |
Nwaokolo/Nwaokoro | Nwa + okoro | Child of a young man |
Nwaokpara | Nwa + okpara | Man/Child of the first son |
Nweke | ||
Nwodoh | ||
Nwogu | Nwa + ogu | The child of the ogu ? |
Nwokeabia | Nwoke + a’bia | The man has come |
Nwokeoha | ||
Nwokoye | Nwa + Okoro + Oye | Son born on the Oye market day. Similar to Ok(afor) Child son born on the Oye market day |
Nwosu | Nwa + osu | A child devoted to a specific god |
Nwotu | ||
Nwozuzu | ||
Obah | ||
Obasi | God (name for God varies per region) | |
Obi | Heart | |
Obiajunwa | ||
Obiajurumobi | Obi + juru + m +obi | I am consoled (with the arrival of this child) |
Obiaka | No home is greater than another | |
Obiakaeze | A home is not greater than the king (or the person that owns it) | |
Obiakaraije | A stranger who has come to stay permanently in a new place (An immigrant) | |
Obiako | Short for Obiakolam | May I not lack a family/home |
Obiakolam | May I not lack a family/home | |
Obiakpani | Obi (chief/leader) + Akpani – shield | Chief warrior ? |
Obialom | My heart is now rested – no more in suspense | |
Obialor | ||
Obianagha | Obi + agha | He came to fight |
Obilaso | obi la so | (Happy) obi (heart) (courage) ? |
Obimma | Obi + mma | |
Obinna | Obi + nna | “Father’s heart” |
Obiochije | ||
Obioma | Obi + oma | |
Obiyo | Calm down – to calm the heart ? | |
Odigwe | O + di + igwe | |
Odinlo | Odi + nlo | It’s soft/easy |
Odoemena | ||
Ofoegbu | Ofo + egbu | The Ofo is an object historically used to settle disputes and to bestow judgment. The Ofo staff cannot kill |
Ofor | The Ofo is an object historically used to settle disputes and to bestow judgment. | |
Ogbonna | Father’s confidant | |
Ogbonnaya | His father’s confidant | |
Ogeri | Ogu + eri | War won’t kill me? |
Ogochukwu | ||
Ogu | Similar to the ofo, (Ogu-na-Ofo) an object historically used to settle disputes and to bestow judgment. | |
Oha | Oha (type of vegetable leaf) / society? | |
Ohuruogu | Oha + ruo + ogu | When people gather to go to war |
Ojemeh | ||
Ojukwu | Palm kernel (sometimes used to cleanse the body from enchanted food poisoning) could denote a strong person. | |
Okafor/Okoroafor/Okorafor | Okoro + afor | Child son born on the afo market day. |
Okechukwu | ||
Okeke/Okoreke | Okoro + eke | Child son born on the eke market day. |
Okelue | ||
Okonkwo | Okoro + Nkwo | “Young man of nkwo-day.” Nkwo is the name of one of the four days of the week. The name indicates that the boy was born on that day. |
Okoro | the child of the freeborn man/young man | |
Okorocha/Okocha | Oko + ncha | Fair complexioned male child |
Okoronkwo/Okonkwo | Okoro + nkwo | Child son born on the nkwo market day. |
Okoye/Okorie/Okolie | Okoro + oye/orie/olie | Child son born on the Oye market day. |
Okwelume | ||
Okwuosa | Okwu + Olisa (osa) | Okwu – word + Osa (Olisa) God [Anambra] |
Oluchukwu | ||
Omezi | O + mezie | To do well |
Omololu | ||
Onochie | A person who acts as a substitute for someone else | |
Onwumere | Onwu + mere | Curse of death (situational – where excessive death is seen) |
Onyeachu | Onye + acho | The person they are looking for (denotes something wanted/special that was found) |
Onyeji | Onye + eji | The person who holds |
Onyekwere / Onyekwe | Onye + ekwe | May I (someone) permit/approve |
Onyema | Who knows – usually who can predict the mind of God | |
Onyemachi | Onye + mma | A good person |
Onyemakonam | ||
Onyeme | Onye + eme | A person who does well |
Onyeneme | Onye + (na) + eme | A person who does well |
Onyenewere | Onye – nwere | The person has |
Onyenma | ||
Onyewelu | Onye + welu | The person has |
Onyewkwere | Onye + kwere | The person who agrees |
Onyinye | ||
Oparah/Okpara | First son | |
Orendu | ||
Orji | Iroko (a tree) | Metaphor for greatness |
Osakwe | Osa(Olisa)+ kwe | If God permits [Anambra] – Osa – throat – if your greed(long throat) can agree. |
Osondu | Oso + Ndu | To run for life (race for life) |
Ovuworie | ||
Ozoemena | Ozo – emena | We should avoid the recurrence or reoccurrence of another (event or situation). |
Somtochukwu | ||
Uche(Chukwu/Nna) | Thought of God or Father | |
Uchechi | ||
Uchelue | May good will/thoughts reach me | |
Uchendu | ||
Uchenna | Uche + nna | Father’s/God’s thought |
Ucheoma | ||
Uderede | ||
Udochukwu | Peace of God | |
Uduike | Udu (clay pot to fill water) + Ike (strength) | It means fullness of power |
Ugochukwu | Ugo + Chukwu | God’s honour |
Ugonna | ||
Ugwu | Respect, Reverence, or Dignity | |
Ugwuana | Respect, Reverence, or Dignity from the earth goddess | |
Ugwunauwa | Ugwu + Ugwushie | |
Ujam | ||
Ukachukwu | Uka + chukwu | Church of God / Word of God [Anambra] |
Ukaegbu | ||
Ukah/Uka | Church/Talk[Anambra] | |
Ukegbu | Uka + egbu | Uka – church (place of worship) egbu – wont kill /Uka – variation of okwu = talk/discussion ? |
Ukomadu | ||
Ukpabi | Name of a deity (Ibini Ukpabi – of Arochukwu) | |
Umeh | An Ozo titled person of the Ume category. A distinguished person or a person of importance. | |
Umunakwe | Umu + nna + kwe(re) | My people/my siblings agree |
Umunna | Umu nna | Children of the father (Siblings)/Family |
Unigwe | Uno (Ulo) + Igbo | Heaven (House of the sky) [Northern Igbo] |
Uzoechi | ||
Uzoechina | ||
Uzoegbu/Uzoebgulam | Uzo + egbu + (m) | The road till not kill me |
Wabaranta | Nwa + abara + nta | Child of the spirit |
Please contact for updates and corrections.
Also visit: myigboname.com for more