Writing Adolescent Fiction/Character names/Nigerian

Usage note Nigeria has many different tribes, and they each have their own pool of given names and surnames. Yoruba have different names from Igbo, who have different names from Hausa, who have different names from Ibibio. Yoruba given names are unisex. Many Yoruba given names are used to specify a special characteristic of the child’s birth. Names beginning with Ade- are traditionally reserved for royalty. Many Hausa names are restricted to people born on a certain day of the week. Such names and their associated weekdays are marked in parentheses. Igbo names with 'Chi' or 'Chukwu' typically refer, at least in part, to God. Yoruba first names Aanu Abayami Abegunde Abejide Abeni ("We prayed for a girl, and she arrived!") Abi/Abidemi (born while his/her father was away) Abimbola Adeagbo Adebola Adebomi Adedagbo Adedayo Adedoyin Adegboyega Adegoke Adejola Adekanye Adelabu Adelaja Aderonke Adesina (conceived after much infertility) Adetokunbo Adewole Adeyemi Afiya Aina (girl born with umbilical cord around her neck) Ajagbe Ajala Ajayi (born face down, as if praying) Ajoke Akanke Akano ("conceived after one touch") Akin (boy’s name) Akinkuotu (used for boys born into warrior clans) Akinyemi (boy’s name) Alade (boy born after many girls) Alafin Amonke Aole Asinia Atiba Awogbemi Ayoka Ayoluwa Ayoola Baba Babatunji Banjoko Bayo Bolanile Dada (born with plenty of hair) Dada Ogbegun (born with twisty hair) Dara Daramola Dayo Ebun Efahesun Ega Erinle Abatan (born with umbilical cord around left hand) Erinle Ibu Igberi (born with umbilical cord around right leg) Erinle Ibu Oso (born with umbilical cord around waist) Erinle Ojutu (born with umbilical cord around right hand) Erinle Ondu (born with umbilical cord around left leg) Erinola Ewegbemi Eweji Fayola Fola Folayan Foluke Gbodi (born with polydactyly) Idowu (born after a set of twins) Ola (born after Idowu) Otunla (born after Ola) Etaoku (born after Otunla) Erioku (born after Etaoku) Idi Ifasen Ige (breech birth) Ilori (born to mother who still menstruated while pregnant) Ishola Iyabo Iyabode Iyalenu Iyara Jibade Jumoke Kayin Kayode Kehinde (second-born of twins) [Kenny] Kikelomo Kokumo Kolawole Korin Kosoko Kunle Labalaba Lea Lyapo Modupe Mongo Monifa (girl’s name) Nayo Oba Obadele Obanjoko Obawole Odu (born with sexdactyly) Ogbegun Ogunfiditimi Ojo (boy born with umbilical cord around his neck) Oke (born without ruptured membranes) Olabisi Olabunmi Olakuotu (used for girls born into warrior clans) Olamina Olaniyan Olatunji Olubayo Olufemi Olufunke Olugbadi (born with 6 toes on each foot) Olugbala Oluseyi Olushola Olutosin Oluwa Oluwaseyi Oluwatobiloba Omolara Onigbagbo Opo Opolopo Orishabiyi Osaze Oyedeji (given to babies of royal lineage) Pupo Salako (born with head covered with caul) Sangoyomi Segun Shade Shangokoya Shangoyomi Sharde Soja Taiwo (first-born of twins) Talabi (born with head covered with caul) Tawn Tawno Temitope Tobi Tosin Tunde Yemi Yeside Yetade Yetunde Yewande Igbo girls’ names Ada Adaku Adama Adamma Adanma Adanna Adaora Akueke Akueni Amoge Anasi Ani Aniweta Awele Azuka Chiamaka Chibugo Chibuzo Chidera Chidimma Chidiogo Chidumaga Chielo Chiemela Chika Chikaodili Chikwendu Chima Chimaobim Chinaka Chinara Chinasa Chinelo Chinemeremma Chinira Chinonye Chinue Chinwe Chinyere Chizuoke Chukwuka Ebelechukwu Egobi Ejimofor Ekene Ekwefi Ezelagbo Ezinma Ginika Gwamniru Ifama Ifeanyi Ifeoma Ifeyinwa Ijeoma Iniko Iverem Kambina Kambiri Madu Mazi Mbafor Mbeke Mgbafo Mgbogo Mgbonkwo Ndu Ndulu Njide Nkechi Nkem Nkemakonam Nkemjika Nkiru Nkiruka Nkoli Ngozi Nneka Nnenaya Nonye Nonyelum Nwakasi Nwakego Nwamaka Nwayieke Obi Obiageli Obialo Obioma Odion Ogechi Ogechikamma Ogechukwu Ojiugo Okechuku Okechukwu Okpara Okwii Ola Olachi Olanma Olaedo Olisa Oluchi Onaedo Onuchukwu Onyi Onyinye Onyinechukwuka Otitodilichukwu Ozioma Ozoemena Ubanwa Uchefuna Uchenna Udenkwo Ugochi Ugoeze Ulu Ure Urenna Uzodimma Zikoranachukwudimma Zinachidi Igbo boys’ names Achebe Afamefula Agu Ajike Ajofia Ajulu Ajuluchukwu Akukalia Amadi Amaefula Amalinze Amazu Amikwu Anene Anuli Anywanwu Azu Azubuike Chiagoziem Chibuzo Chidi Chidiebere Chidimma Chigozie Chijioke Chike Chikezie Chinedu Chino Chinonso Chinou Chinua Chinue Chioke Chizoba Chukwubuikem Chukwudi Chukwuemek Chukwura Chuma Diji Dozie Ebelegbulam Eberechukwu Egonwanne Elewechi Emefo Ezeani Ezeudu Gozie Ibe Ibekwe Ibezimako Idigo Ifama Ifeanyi Ifeanyichukwu Igwelo Ikechukwu Ilom Iweobiegbulam Jaja Kamalu Kanye Kanyechukwuekele Kayin Machi Madu Maduka Ndulu Ndulue Ngozi Nkwocha Nmeregini N’namdi N’neka Nwakibie Obasi Obiako Obioma Obinna Obiora Ogbonna Ogochukwu Okechuku Okechukwu Okeke Okorie Okorle Okorocha Okoye Okpara Okwudilichukwu Onwuma Onyeka Onyemachi Onyeorulu Onyinye Onyinechukwuka Orji Osondu Otito Ozo Rapuokwu Sochi Tobechukwu Tobeolisa Uchenna Ugonna Ukegbu Ulu Unoka Uyanwa Uzowulu Zebenjo Hausa girls’ names Altine (M) Amina Aminatu Annakiya Arziki Asabe Assibi (Sa) Asura Audi (born after father died) Auta Ayesho Balaraba (W) Batunya Daura Delu (born after many sons) Gaddo (born after a set of twins) Gude (Sa) Gumbo Hanazullunni Hasana (first of twins) Huseina (second of twins) Jummai (F) Kaka Kande (born after many sons) Koshi Ladi (Su) Lami (Th) Laminde (Th) Lantala (Tu) Lantana (Tu) Lanti (Tu) Laraba (W) Larai (W) Lauretu (W) Lisha Lubabah Marka Monafiki Nagode Rabo Rita Shatu Shetu Talatu (Tu) Tani (M) Tanisha Tarana Turunku Yalwa Yar Arziki Yar Jekada Zaila Zamangirra Hausa boys’ names Abashe Adamu Ajuji Aminu Auta Bakano Balarabe (W) Barmani BiSalla Ciwake Danasabe (Sa) Danjuma (F) Dan Kano Danladi (Su) Danlami (Th) Dan More Dantala (Tu) Daren (born during the night) Daren Tuwo Dikko (firstborn) Dogo Dogon Jokado Duka Fodio Gaddo (born after a set of twins) Galadima Hassan (first of twins) Husayn (second of twins) Husseini (second of twins) Iggi (only son) Jakada Jirgi Juji Lahidi Laraba Mai Zaria Noma Rabo Risku Shaba Shekarau Shuka Talatu (Tu) Tanimu (M) Tanko (born after many daughters) Tatau Tatu (Tu) Yakubu Yalwa Yaro Yohance Zaki Efik/Ibibio girls’ names Affiong Akaninyene Akon Aniekan Aret Arit Atim Awatt Bassey Batufon Edidiongabasi Edima Edoamaowo Ekanem Ekebo Ekei Ekpeyoawan Eme Emeh Etim Ewon-Obong Eyoanwan Ikwo/Iquo/Iqwo Imaabasi Ini Inibehe Isang Isio Kufre-Obong Lovelyn Ndina Nene Nkoyo Nsa Nse Nsemeke Nseobong Nsi Nsidibe Abasi Nsikak Nsini-Abasi Nya Offiong Otokima-Abasi Rega Uduakobong Ukeme Unyime Unyimeabasi Uyu Wana Efik/Ibibio boys’ names Akaninyene Andem Andom Aniekan Asibong Asuquo Awatt Bassey Edet Edidiongabasi Edima Ekara Ekebo Ekei Ekeng Ekpenyong Ekwere Etekamba Etim Etuk Ewon-Obong Eyenmma Ima Muma Inibehe Iniibege Inyang Isio Itam Kufre-Obong Ndueso Nnimmonu Nsa Nseobong Nsidibe Abasi Nsini-Abasi Nsisong Nya Nyakno Obio-Offiong Offiong Okon Okwong Orok Ovieh Tekamba Ubong Uduakobong Unyime Unyimeabasi Utin Uwem Yoruba surnames Abasi Abeni Abimbola Abiodun Abiola Adadevoh Adamolekun Ade Adebayo Adebimpe Adebiyi Adebowale Adeboye Adedeji Adedokun Adedoyin Adefuye Adegbalola Adegbile Adegbite Adegoke Adekoya Adekunle Adelakun Adeleke Ademola Adeniji Adeniran Adeniyi Adenowo Adenuga Adeoye Adepoju Aderin Adesanya Adesida Adesina Adetunji Adewale Adewole Adewoye Adewumi Adeyanju Adeyemi Adeyemo Adeyeye Adigun Afolabi Afolayan Agbo Agboola Aina Aiyejina Aiyeku Ajakaiye Ajala Ajayi Ajibade Ajibefun Ajibola Ajiboye Ajose Ajulo Akanbi Akande Akinboboye Akinkoye Akinnagbe Akinola Akinpelu Akinradewo Akinsanya Akintoye Akintunde Akinwale Akinwande Akinyemi Akinyinka Akiode Alabi Alade Aladekoba Alake Alakija Alao Alo Aluko Amale Aminu Amusa Anibaba Aradeon Aragbaye Aremu Aromashodu Atatalo Awe Awojobi Ayanbadejo Ayeni Ayodele Ayoola Ayuba Baba Bababunmi Babalola Babatunde Baderinwa Baiyewu Bakare Balogun Bamidele Bamiro Banjo Bankole Bashorun Bayo Bello Biobaku Borishade Boye Dabiri Dagunduro Daramola Egunjobi Emiola Euba Fabiyi Faborede Faduma Fafunwa Fagbohun Fakeye Falola Faloye Falusi Familoni Famuyiwa Fatinikun Fatiu Fayemi Filani Gambari Gbaja Ibidapo Ibikunle Idowu Ige Ipaye Ishola Isola Jegede Jimoh Kayode Kehinde Kolade Kolawole Kumuyi Kuti Ladipo Lambo Lawal Mabogunje Majekodunmo Makinde Manyika Mimiko Obafunwa Obesere Obey Odeku Odutokun Oduwole Oduye Ogunbiyi Ogunde Ogundipe Ogunfiditimi Ogunkoya Ogunlesi Ogunleye Ogunmola Ogunnaike Ogunsheye Ojerinde Ojike Ojikutu Ojo Ojopagogo Oke Okediji Okeniyi Okikiolu Ola Oladapo Oladele Oladimeji Oladipo Oladipupo Oladoye Olaiya Olajide Olajuwon Olaleye Olaniyan Olaniyi Olanrewaju Olarewaju Olaswere Olatunji Olayiwola Olopade Oluanika Olukotun Olumide Olupona Olusola Oluwafemi Omole Omolewa Omolola Omotola Omotoso Onabule Onatolu Onayemi Oni Oriola Osagie Osakalumi Oshinowo Oshoniyi Osinbajo Osofisan Osundare Osuntokun Osupa Owoh Owolabi Oyedepo Oyediran Oyegunle Oyekan Oyelana Oyetoro Oyewole Oyewumi Ozolua Popoola Salako Sani Sanni Sanusi Sanya Shadare Shekoi Shittu Soboyejo Sodimu Sofola Sofolowe Sosimi Sotubo Sowande Soyinka Taiwo Temowo Tetuila Torimiro Tubosun Yekini Igbo surnames Abani Achebe Acholonu Adichie Adigwe Aduba Afigbo Agu Agunwa Aniakor Anyanwu Asomugha Azikiwe Azuonye Bardi Chijindu Chikezie Chimezie Chukwu Chukwuka Dike Dingba Diogu Duru Echeruo Echinkunwoke Edochie Edozie Ejiofor Ejiro Eke Ekeh Ekwensi Ekwueme Emecheta Emenanjo Enemkpali Enwezor Enwonwu Esogbue Eze Ezeh Ezekwesili Ezeogu Ezeugo Ezuruonye Gwam Ibe Ibekwe Ifeadi Ifeajuna Igwe Iheme Ijeh Ike Ikedieze Ikeji Ikpeazu Ikpi Isozoh Iweala Iwundu Kalu Kaly Kanayo Kechere Kiaga Madu Madubuike Mba Mezu Mmeka Moemeka Mordi Moweta Mozie Muoneke Ndibe Nduka Ndukwe Njoku Njokuani Nnaji Nnamani Nsa Nsofor Nwabudike Nwachukwu Nwaise Nwankwo Nwapa Nwelue Nwoffiah Nwoko Nwosu Nzekwu Obadike Obi Obialo Obielum Obinna Obiora Obodoechina Ochuba Odogwu Odosiobodo Odumegwu Ofili Ogbonna Ogbu Ogochukwu Ogoro Oguine Ogwu Ogwumike Ojiudu Ojuederie Ojukwu Okafor Okaome Oke Okafor Okeke Okereke Okigbo Okocha Okoh Okoli Okonjo Okonkwo Okonma Okorafor Okore Okorie Okoro Okoye Okpara Okpuzu Okwara Okwei Okwelume Omalu Omengboji Omenka Omenuko Onuoha Onweagba Onwenu Onyefulu Onyekwelu Onyekwene Onyewu Opara Opia Orji Oruche Osemele Ovia Owoh Ubogagu Uche Uchendu Udechukwu Udeg Udo Ugochukwu Ugonna Ugwu Umeadi Umeh Umenyiora Umunna Unigwe Utomi Uzoigwe Uzoma Hausa surnames Abdullahi Abu Adamu Aliyu Alkali Amadi Audu Bature Burja Dauda Garba Habe Isah Junaidu Madaki Muhktar Mustapha Raji Rumfa Shagari Shehu Sule Tijani Yahaya Yakubu Efik/Ibibio surnames Akinwale Akpan Bassey Edet Effiong Ekpo Essien Esua Esuene Etefia Etim Igbokwe Imeh Inyang Obong Okon Udo Udoh Umoh