What's in a Name?

Like most Asian people that I've met, Nigerian names are made up of real words so most names mean something. Plus Nigerians also have a tradition of giving "destiny" names. For example if twins are born (apparently twin births occur most frequently of any place in the world in this part of Nigeria) they automatically get certain names, or if the baby comes out backwards its given a certain name, or if its born on a certain day it gets the name etc.

But of those other babies, most relatives are given the right to name them. So generally at the naming ceremony, as well as the parents, each set of grandparents plus as many aunts or uncles etc. who want to can give the child a name. So your average Nigerian has at least 5 or 6 names.

This means that some names are very common and also shared between boys and girls. Most common I have come across are variations of dele, femi, tolu, tope, bukola, tosin, segun, sola, bayo, dayo and funmi. Then it is common to add other bits to the name - the most common of course being Olu or Oluwa (meaning god). So and example of a name is Tolu lope (meaning thanks be to god) or Bukola (adds to the wealth) or Adebayo (crown meets joy). Though of course I am not, as yet, an expert Yoruba translator.

I was given a nigerian name at the party when I arrived though almost no-one uses it. It is Oladipupo. You can call me Dipo or Ladi for short. I think it means something like – my wealth is multiplied.

Also I should add these are generally Yoruba names. The other tribes have very different names (different languages after all).