VFest: Yoruba Naming CeremonyYoruba names for a child
"Names are important! They have meanings"
--Dr. Gilbert Ogunfiditimi
"A Name is an edifying emblem given to a child at birth by the parents, or brought from heaven by the child, during that child's birth. "
--Rev. Fred Ogunfiditimi
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| From
Heaven Names from heaven by the child are solely detected at birth. |
||
| Ojo | Oh-joe | Male child born with umbilical cord around his neck |
| Aina | Eye-nah | Female child born with umbilical cord around her neck |
| Ajayi | Ah-jah-yee | Born face down, as if praying |
| Dada | Dah-dah | Born with plenty of hair |
| Ige | Ee-gay | Born feet-first (breech-birthed) |
| Taiwo | Tie-woe | First-born of twins |
| Kehinde | Kay-hin-day | Second-born of twins |
| Idowu | Ee-dough-woo | Born after twins |
| Ola | Oh-la | Born after Idowu |
| Otunla | Oh-tune-la | Born after Ola |
| Etaoku | Eh-ta-oh-coo | Born after Otunla |
| Erioku | Air-ee-oh-coo | Born after Etaoku |
| Ilori | Ee-lore-ee | Born of mother who sees her period throughout the pregnancy |
| Derived from the
Dieties Some names are given based on the family's atachment to Yoruba dieties (pronunciations unavailable) |
||
| Orishabiyi | Or-ee-shah-bee-yee | Deity brought this one |
| Ifasen | Ee-fa-sen | Ifa performs miracle |
| Efasehun | Ee-fah-say-hoon | Ifa fulfills promise |
| Ogunfiditimi | Oh-goon-feed-ee-teem-ee | Ogun is with me |
| Shangokoya | Shan-go-coy-ah | Shango does not take insults |
| Reserved for Royal
families (pronunciations unavailable) |
||
| Adedayo | Ah-day-dye-yo | Crown becomes joy |
| Aderonke | Ah-day-wrong-kay | Object of Royal Adoration |
| Belonging to Warrior
clans (pronunciations unavailable) |
||
| Akinkuotu | Ah-keen-coo-oh-too | Strong man or warrior does not leave the clan (boy) |
| Olakuotu | Oh-la-coo-oh-too | Honor or leadership pride does not leave the clan (girl) |
| Family of powerful
traditional doctors (pronunciations unavailable) |
||
| Ewegbemi | Ey-wayg-bay-me | Herbs help me |
| Eweji | Ey-way-gee | Herbs work |
| Awogbemi | Ah-wog-bay-me | Being an herbal doctor helps me |
[African Immigrant Folklife Study project] [CFCH Home]
21 April 1996