Western African Names - Behind the Name

Aamadu m Fula
Fula form of Ahmad.

Aaminata f Fula
Fula form of Amina.

Abayomi m Yoruba
Means "they would have mocked me" in Yoruba, commemorating the avoidance of an unfortunate event.

Abdou m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Form of Abduh used in West and North Africa.

Abdoul m Western African
Form of Abdul used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Abdoulaye m Western African
Form of Abd Allah used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Abdullaahi m Fula
Fula form of Abd Allah.

Abdullahi m Hausa, Somali
Hausa form of Abd Allah, as well as a Somali variant.

Abena f Akan
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.

Abeni f Yoruba
Means "we prayed and we received" in Yoruba.

Abidemi m & f Yoruba
Means "born in my absence" in Yoruba. It is typically given to children born when the father is away.

Abimbola f & m Yoruba
Means "born to me with wealth" in Yoruba.

Abiodun m & f Yoruba
Means "born on a festival" in Yoruba.

Abiola f & m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

Abioye m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.

Abosede f Yoruba
Means "comes with the start of the week" in Yoruba, given when the child is born on Sunday.

Aboubacar m Western African
Form of Abu Bakr used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Abubakar m Hausa, Fula
Form of Abu Bakr used in Nigeria.

Adaeze f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the king" in Igbo.

Adamou m Western African
Form of Adam used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Adamu m Hausa, Swahili
Hausa and Swahili form of Adam.

Adanna f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the father" in Igbo.

Adannaya f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of her father" in Igbo.

Ade 1 m & f Yoruba
From Yoruba adé meaning "crown", also a short form of other names beginning with this element.

Adebayo m Yoruba
Means "the crown meets joy" in Yoruba.

Adebisi f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba.

Adebola m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown meets wealth" in Yoruba.

Adebowale m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown has returned home" in Yoruba.

Adedayo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown becomes joy" in Yoruba.

Adegoke m Yoruba
Means "the crown has ascended the mountain" in Yoruba.

Adekunle m Yoruba
Means "the crown has filled the home" in Yoruba.

Ademola m Yoruba
Means "the crown is with wealth" in Yoruba.

Adenike f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be cared for" in Yoruba.

Adeniyi m Yoruba
Means "the crown has honour" in Yoruba.

Adeola f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.

Aderonke f Yoruba
Means "the crown has found something to cherish" in Yoruba.

Adetokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown returns from over the sea" in Yoruba.

Adewale m Yoruba
Means "the crown has come home" in Yoruba.

Adeyemi m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown is suitable for me" in Yoruba.

Adisa m & f Yoruba
Means "bundled up and set to dry" in Yoruba.

Adjoa f Akan
Variant of Adwoa.

Adwoa f Akan
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.

Adzo f Ewe
Ewe form of Adwoa.

Afi f Ewe
Ewe form of Afua.

Afia f Akan
Variant of Afua.

Afolabi m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

Afua f Akan
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

Ahmadu m Hausa
Hausa form of Ahmad.

Aïcha f Arabic (Maghrebi), Central African, Western African
Form of Aisha used in North Africa and other French-influenced regions of the continent.

Aïchatou f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Aisha f Arabic [1] , Urdu, Hausa, Swahili, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, African American
Means "living, alive" in Arabic, a derivative of the root عاش (ʿāsha) meaning "to live" [2] . This was the name of Muhammad's third wife, the daughter of Abu Bakr. Some time after Muhammad's death she went to war against Ali, the fourth caliph, but was defeated. Her name is used more by Sunni Muslims and less by Shias.... [more]

Aishatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Aisha.

Aïssa f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Aïssatou f Western African, Central African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West and Central Africa.

Akachi m & f Igbo
Means "the hand of God" in Igbo.

Akosua f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Akpan m Ibibio
Means "first-born son" in Ibibio.

Akpofure m & f Urhobo
Means "life is peaceful" in Urhobo.

Aku 2 f Ewe
Ewe form of Akua.

Akua f Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.

Akuchi f & m Igbo
Means "wealth from God" in Igbo.

Alaba f & m Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.

Alassane m Western African
Form of Al-Hasan used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Alhaji m Hausa
Means "the pilgrim" in Hausa, a derivative of Arabic حجّ (ḥajj) meaning "pilgrimage, hajj". It is typically a title, not a name.

Alhassan m Western African
Form of Al-Hasan used in West Africa.

Alheri f Hausa
Means "the charitable, the good" in Hausa, from Arabic خير (khayr).

Aliyu m Hausa
Hausa form of Ali 1.

Ama f Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.

Amadi 1 m Igbo
Means "freeborn man" in Igbo.

Amadi 2 m Yoruba (Rare)
Possibly means "seemed destined to die at birth" in Yoruba.

Amadou m Western African
Form of Ahmad used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Amadu m Western African
Form of Ahmad used in West Africa.

Amaka f Igbo
Short form of Chiamaka.

Amara 1 f Igbo
Means "grace" in Igbo.

Amarachi f Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo.

Amina f Arabic, Urdu, Chechen, Ingush, Bosnian, Swahili, Hausa, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Tatar, Bashkir
Derived from Arabic أمن (ʾamina) meaning "safe, secure" [1] [2] . This was the name of the Prophet Muhammad's mother, who died when he was young.... [more]

Aminata f Western African
Form of Amina used in West Africa.

Aminatou f Western African
Form of Amina used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Aminu m Hausa
Hausa form of Amin.

Anan 1 m & f Akan
Means "fourth born child" in Akan.

Anuli f Igbo
Means "joy" in Igbo.

Asabe f Hausa
From Hausa Asabar meaning "Saturday" (of Arabic origin).

Asma'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Asma.

Awa f Western African
Form of Hawwa typical of West Africa.

Awotwi m & f Akan
Means "eighth born child" in Akan.

Ayo f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ayọ̀ meaning "joy", or a short form of other names containing this element.

Ayodeji m Yoruba
Means "joy has become two" in Yoruba.

Ayodele m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come home" in Yoruba.

Ayokunle m Yoruba
Means "joy has filled the home" in Yoruba.

Ayomide f & m Yoruba
Means "my joy has arrived" in Yoruba.

Ayotunde m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come again" in Yoruba.

Ayuba m Hausa
Hausa form of Job.

Azubuike m Igbo
Means "the past is your strength" or "your back is your strength" in Igbo.

Baako m & f Akan
Means "first born child" in Akan.

Babajide m Yoruba
Means "father has awakened" in Yoruba.

Babatunde m Yoruba
Means "father has come again" in Yoruba.

Balarabe m Hausa
Means "born on Wednesday" in Hausa, derived from Laraba "Wednesday", from Arabic الأربعاء (al-ʾarbiʿāʾ), itself derived from أربعة (ʾarbaʿa) meaning "four".

Bamidele m & f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba.

Bankole m Yoruba
Means "build a house with me" in Yoruba.

Bello m Fula, Hausa
Possibly from Fula ballo meaning "helper". This name was borne by Muhammad Bello (1781-1837), the second leader of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Berko m Akan
Means "first born" in Akan.

Bilƙisu f Hausa
Hausa form of Bilqis.

Bitrus m Hausa
Hausa form of Peter.

Bolanle f Yoruba
Means "find wealth at home" in Yoruba.

Bose f Yoruba
Short form of Bosede.

Bosede f Yoruba
Variant of Abosede.

Boubacar m Western African
Variant of Aboubacar.

Bukar m Hausa
Short form of Abubakar.

Bukola f Yoruba
Means "add to wealth" in Yoruba.

Bunmi f & m Yoruba
Means "gave me" in Yoruba. It can also be a short form of Oluwabunmi.

Cherif m Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Alternate transcription of Arabic شريف (see Sharif) chiefly used in French-influenced North and West Africa.

Chi 2 m & f Igbo Mythology, Igbo
Means "god, spiritual being" in Igbo, referring to the personal spiritual guardian that each person is believed to have. Christian Igbo people use it as a name for the personal Christian god (as opposed to the omnipresent Chukwu, though the names are used synonymously in some contexts). This can also be a short form of the many Igbo names that begin with this element.

Chiamaka f Igbo
Means "God is more beautiful" in Igbo.

Chibueze m Igbo
Means "God is the king" in Igbo.

Chibuike m Igbo
Means "God is strength" in Igbo.

Chibuzo m & f Igbo
Means "God is the way" in Igbo.

Chibuzor m & f Igbo
Variant of Chibuzo.

Chichi f Igbo
Diminutive of Chi 2.

Chidi m & f Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and dị meaning "is". It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chidi.

Chidiebele m & f Igbo
Variant of Chidiebere.

Chidiebere m & f Igbo
Means "God is merciful" in Igbo.

Chidiebube m & f Igbo
Means "God is wonderful" in Igbo.

Chidiegwu m Igbo (Rare)
Means "God is awe-inspiring" in Igbo.

Chidike m Igbo
Means "God is strong" in Igbo.

Chidimma f Igbo
Means "God is good" in Igbo.

Chidinma f Igbo
Variant of Chidimma [1] .

Chidubem m & f Igbo
Means "God is guiding me" in Igbo.

Chiemeka m & f Igbo
Means "God did a greater deed" in Igbo.

Chigozie m & f Igbo
Means "God bless" in Igbo.

Chijindum m & f Igbo (Rare)
Means "God holds my life" in Igbo.

Chijioke m Igbo
Means "God holds a portion" in Igbo.

Chika 1 f & m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

Chike m Igbo
Means "God of strength" in Igbo.

Chikelu m & f Igbo
Variant of Chikere.

Chikere m & f Igbo
Means "God created" in Igbo.

Chima m & f Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and má meaning "know".

Chimezie m & f Igbo
Means "God rectify" in Igbo.

Chinasa f Igbo
Means "God is answering" in Igbo.

Chinedu m Igbo
Means "God is leading" in Igbo.

Chinelo f Igbo
Means "God is thinking" in Igbo.

Chinenye f Igbo
Means "God is giving" in Igbo.

Chinonso m & f Igbo
Means "God is nearby" in Igbo.

Chinwe f Igbo
Means "God possesses" in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chinwe.

Chinweike m Igbo
Means "God possesses power" in Igbo.

Chinwendu f & m Igbo
Means "God possesses life" in Igbo.

Chinweuba m Igbo
Means "God possesses plenty" in Igbo.

Chinyelu f Igbo
Variant of Chinyere.

Chinyere f Igbo
Means "God gave" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and nyè meaning "give".

Chioma f Igbo
Means "good God" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Chisom f & m Igbo
Means "God goes with me" in Igbo.

Chizoba f & m Igbo
Means "God continues to save" in Igbo.

Chuks m Igbo
Diminutive of Igbo names beginning with the element Chukwu meaning "God".

Chukwudi m Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo (a variant of Chidi using Chukwu as the first element).

Chukwuebuka m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

Chukwuemeka m Igbo
Means "God did a greater deed" in Igbo.

Chukwuma m Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo (a variant of Chima using Chukwu as the first element).

Dada m & f Yoruba
Means "curly hair" in Yoruba.

Dahiru m Hausa
Hausa form of Tahir.

Ɗanjuma m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Jumma'a "Friday".

Ɗanladi m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Lahadi "Sunday".

Ɗanlami m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Alhamis "Thursday".

Daouda m Western African
Form of Dawud used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Dauda m Hausa
Hausa form of David.

Dayo m & f Yoruba
Means "joy arrives" in Yoruba.

Djibril m Western African
Form of Jibril used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Dubaku m & f Akan
Means "eleventh born child" in Akan.

Ebele f Igbo
Variant of Ebere.

Ebere f Igbo
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.

Ebrima m Western African
Form of Ibrahim used in West Africa (Gambia).

Ebuka m Igbo
Short form of Chukwuebuka and other Igbo names ending with the same element.

Efe 2 m & f Urhobo
Short form of Efemena and other names containing efe "wealth".

Efemena m & f Urhobo
Means "here is my wealth" in Urhobo.

Efua f Akan
Variant of Afua.

Ejike m Igbo
Means "one having strength" in Igbo.

Ejiro m & f Urhobo
Short form of Ejiroghene and other names containing ejiro "praise".

Ejiroghene m & f Urhobo
Means "praise God" in Urhobo.

Ekene m & f Igbo
Means "thanks, gratitude" in Igbo.

Ekenedilichukwu m & f Igbo
Means "gratitude belongs to God" in Igbo.

Ekua f Akan
Variant of Akua.

Ekundayo f & m Yoruba
Means "tears become joy" in Yoruba.

Ekwueme m Igbo
Means "one says, one does" in Igbo, indicating a person who is truthful about his behaviour.

Emeka m Igbo
Short form of Chukwuemeka and other Igbo names ending with the same element.

Emem m & f Ibibio
Means "peace" in Ibibio.

Eniola f & m Yoruba
Means "person of wealth" in Yoruba.

Enitan m & f Yoruba
Means "person with a story, storied person" in Yoruba.

Enu m & f Akan
Means "fifth born child" in Akan.

Enyinnaya m Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.

Enyonam f Ewe
Means "it is good for me" in Ewe.

Ese f & m Urhobo
Means "gift" in Urhobo.

Eseoghene m & f Urhobo
Means "God's gift" in Urhobo.

Esi f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Faɗimatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Fatima.

Fatima f Arabic [1] , Urdu, Bosnian, Kyrgyz, Hausa
Derived from Arabic فطم (faṭama) meaning "to abstain, to wean" [2] . Fatima was a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and the wife of Ali, the fourth caliph. She is regarded as the exemplary Muslim woman, especially among Shias.

Fatimata f Western African
Form of Fatima used in West Africa.

Fatimatou f Western African
Form of Fatima used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Fatou f Western African
Short form of Fatoumata.

Fatoumata f Western African
Form of Fatima used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Femi m Yoruba
Short form of Olufemi.

Folami m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "respect and honour me" in Yoruba.

Folasade f Yoruba
Means "rule with nobility" in Yoruba.

Fumnanya f & m Igbo
Means "love me" in Igbo.

Funke f Yoruba
Short form of Olufunke.

Funmilayo f Yoruba
Means "give me joy" in Yoruba, also a short form of Olufunmilayo or Oluwafunmilayo.

Garba m Hausa
This name refers to the caliph Abu Bakr. It is possibly from Arabic غرْب (gharb) meaning "west", because of where his house was in relation to the Prophet Muhammad's.

Gbemisola f Yoruba
Means "carry me into wealth" in Yoruba.

Habiba f Arabic, Bengali, Hausa
Feminine form of Habib.

Hadiza f Hausa
Hausa form of Khadija.

Hadizatu f Hausa
Hausa variant form of Khadija.

Hafsat f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Hafsatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Halima f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili
Feminine form of Halim. Halima was the name of the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad.

Halimat f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Halimatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Hamisu m Hausa
From Arabic خامس (khāmis) meaning "fifth", a derivative of خمسة (khamsa) meaning "five". It is sometimes added to a given name to indicate the fifth sibling bearing it.

Haoua f Western African, Central African
Form of Hawwa used in parts of French-influenced West and Central Africa.

Harouna m Western African
Form of Harun used in parts of West Africa.

Haruna 2 m Hausa, Fula
Hausa and Fula form of Harun.

Hauwa f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawwa.

Hauwa'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawwa.

Ibrahim m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian, Pashto, Urdu, Uyghur, Avar, Bosnian, Albanian, Dhivehi, Hausa, Swahili, Quranic
Arabic form of Abraham, also used in several other languages. This form appears in the Quran.

Ibrahima m Western African
Form of Ibrahim used in parts of West Africa.

Idowu m & f Yoruba
Means "born after twins" in Yoruba.

Idris 1 m Arabic, Hausa, Malay, Indonesian, Quranic
Possibly means "interpreter, teacher" in Arabic, related to the root درس (darasa) meaning "to study, to learn" [1] . According to the Quran this was the name of an ancient prophet. He is traditionally equated with the Hebrew prophet Enoch [2] .

Idrissa m Western African
Form of Idris 1 common in West Africa.

Ife f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ìfẹ́ meaning "love".

Ifeanyi m Igbo
Means "we can do anything" in Igbo. It can be a short form of Ifeanyichukwu.

Ifeanyichukwu m Igbo
Means "we can do anything with God" in Igbo.

Ifeoma f Igbo
Means "good thing" in Igbo, derived from ífé meaning "thing" and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Ifiok m & f Ibibio
Means "wisdom" in Ibibio.

Ifunanya f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo (literally "to see in one's eye").

Ige f & m Yoruba
Means "born feet first" in Yoruba.

Ijeoma f Igbo
Means "good journey" in Igbo.

Ikechukwu m Igbo
Means "power of God" in Igbo.

Ikenna m Igbo
Means "power of the father" in Igbo.

Ime 1 m & f Ibibio
Means "patience" in Ibibio.

Iniobong m & f Ibibio
Means "God's time" in Ibibio.

Inyene m & f Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.

Issouf m Western African
Form of Yusuf used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Issoufou m Western African
Form of Yusuf used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Itoro m & f Ibibio
Means "praise, glory" in Ibibio.

Iyabo f Yoruba
Means "mother has returned" in Yoruba.

Jamila f Arabic, Urdu, Hausa
Feminine form of Jamil. This was the name of a wife of the caliph Umar.

Jatau m Hausa
Means "fair-coloured, light" in Hausa.

Jummai f Hausa
From Hausa Jumma'a meaning "Friday" (of Arabic origin).

Kabiru m Hausa
Hausa form of Kabir.

Kadiatou f Western African
Form of Khadija used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Kayin m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "celebrate" in Yoruba.

Kayode m Yoruba
Means "bringing joy" in Yoruba.

Kehinde m & f Yoruba
Means "comes last" in Yoruba. It is typically given to the second of twins.

Kelechi m & f Igbo
Means "thank God" in Igbo.

Kobina m Akan
Variant of Kwabena.

Kodjo m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwadwo.

Koffi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kofi.

Kofi m Akan
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

Kojo m Akan
Variant of Kwadwo.

Kokou m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwaku.

Komi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwame.

Kossi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwasi.

Kunle m Yoruba
Short form of Adekunle, Ayokunle or Olakunle.

Kunto f Akan
Means "third child" in Akan.

Kwabena m Akan
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.

Kwadwo m Akan
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.

Kwaku m Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.

Kwame m Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.

Kwasi m Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Kweku m Akan
Variant of Kwaku.

Kwesi m Akan
Variant of Kwasi.

Kyauta m & f Hausa
Means "gift" in Hausa.

Ladi f Hausa
From Hausa Lahadi meaning "Sunday" (of Arabic origin).

Lamine m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Form of Al-Amin used in parts of French-influenced West and North Africa.

Lanre m Yoruba
Short form of Olanrewaju.

Lassana m Western African
Form of Al-Hasan used in parts of West Africa (especially Mali).

Lawal m Hausa
From Arabic أوّل (ʾawwal) meaning "first" [1] . It is sometimes added to the name of the first of multiple siblings who share the same given name.

Lawali m Hausa
Variant of Lawal.

Lekan m Yoruba
Short form of Olamilekan.

Lumusi f Ewe
Means "born face down" in Ewe.

Mahamadou m Western African
Form of Muhammad used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Mamadou m Western African
Form of Muhammad used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Mamadu m Western African
Form of Muhammad used in West Africa (Guinea-Bissau).

Mamman m Hausa
Contracted form of Muhammadu.

Mariama f Western African
Form of Maryam common in West Africa.

Maryamu f Hausa
Hausa form of Maryam.

Mawuli m Ewe
Means "God lives" in Ewe.

Mawunyo m & f Ewe
Means "God is good" in Ewe.

Modou m Western African
Short form of Mamadou.

Mojisola f Yoruba
Means "I wake up to wealth" in Yoruba.

Monifa f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "I am lucky" in Yoruba.

Moussa m Arabic, Western African
Alternate transcription of Arabic موسى (see Musa), as well as the form commonly used in West Africa.

Moustapha m Western African
Form of Mustafa used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Muhammadu m Hausa, Fula
Hausa and Fula form of Muhammad.

Musa m Arabic, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, Chechen, Tatar, Bashkir, Avar, Hausa, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Uyghur, Quranic
Arabic form of Moses appearing in the Quran.

Naa f Ga
From a Ga word used as a feminine royal title.

Nana 4 m & f Akan
From an Akan word used as a title of a monarch.

Nasiru m Hausa
Hausa form of Nasir.

Ndidi f & m Igbo
Means "patience" in Igbo.

Ndubuisi m Igbo
Means "life is foremost" in Igbo.

Ngozi f Igbo
Means "blessing" in Igbo.

Nii m Ga
From a Ga word used as a masculine royal title.

Nkechi f Igbo
Short form of Nkechinyere.

Nkechinyere f Igbo
Means "this which God gave" in Igbo.