Name News

On February 29, 2008, a Zimbabwean woman who was in labor sought assistance at a police station in Pretoria West (a suburb of Pretoria, one of the three capital cities of South Africa). While she w…

Fatou Samba of "Blackswan" Origin: West African and Arabic Gender: Female Meaning: "To Abstain" Pronunciation: fa-TOO-mah-tah; FA-teem-a

The current issue of the Journal of African Onomastics Nomina Africana Nr. 34 (1) has just been published. You may enjoy the below-mentioned articles therein:

Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels.com Origin: Zulu, Xhosa, NdebeleMeaning: "they are increasing."Gender: unisexi-AHN-dah The name is from a Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele phrase, meaning "they are increasing." Sources https://www.behindthename.com/name/ayandahttps://briefly.co.za/25257-50-uncommon-xhosa-names-boys-girls-meaning-2020.html

Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com Origin: YorubaMeaning: "give me a gift."Gender: femininePronunciatioh: TAH-mee-LOH-reh This lyrical gem looks like a cross between Tammy & Lora, but is actually a Yoruba feminine name. It comes from the Yoruba phrase, ta mí lọ́rẹ, literally, "give me a gift." It would make a lovely and unique option for…

Photo by Emma Bauso on Pexels.com Origin: IgboMeaning: "daughter of all."Gender: feminine(ah-DOH-rah) The name sounds exactly like Adora, being composed of the Igbo elements, ada (daughter) and ora (all). A common short form is Ada. Source Microsoft Word - Igbo Dictionary Version Nov 06.DOC (columbia.edu)

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Origin: UrhoboMeaning: "God's gift."Gender: unisex The name is from the Urhobo language, meaning "God's gift." A common short form is Ese. Sources http://www.waado.org/UrhoboCulture/Names/UrhoboNames_Oyibo.htmhttps://www.behindthename.com/name/eseoghene

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com Origin: IgboMeaning: "hand of God."Gender: unisexAH-kah-CHEE The name is composed of the Igbo words, aka (hand) and chi (God). Sources https://www.behindthename.com/name/akachihttps://www.igbostudy.com/blog/igbo-names-for-your-baby-boy

Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels.com Origin: YorubaMeaning: "joy fills the house."Gender: masculinePronunciation: I-yo-KOON-ley The name is composed of the Yoruba words ayọ̀ (joy) kún (fill, complete, add to) & ilé (house). Short forms are Ayo & Kunlé. Sources https://yorubaname.com/entries/Ayokunlehttps://medium.com/@ayocanada/hello-my-name-is-ay%E1%BB%8D%CC%80ku%CD%81nle%CD%81-53b1a26dc577https://www.behindthename.com/name/ayokunle

American Name Society member Ayokunmi Ojebode recently published the essay “Name as National Archive Capturing of Yoruba Masculinist Names” in the edited volume The Cinema of Tunde Kelani: Aesthetics, Theatricalities and Visual Performance.

The name Kanye debuted in the SSA’s baby name data in 2002. It saw peak usage just two years later, in 2004: 2007: 53 boys named Kanye2006: 101 boys named Kanye2005: 202 boys (and 5 girls) na…

Nigerian actress, Damilola Adegbite Origin: YorubaMeaning: "God makes me wealthy."Gender: unisexPron: DAH-MEE-LOH-LAH (equal emphasis) The name is composed of the Yoruba dá…l'ọ́lá (to make wealthy by God) and mi (me). Another form is Dánlọlá. It is borne by Nigerian model and actress, Dámilọ́la Adégbìtẹ́ (b. 1985). Sources User-submitted name Damilola - Behind the NameName Entry…

Photo by luizclas on Pexels.com Origin: SomaliMeaning: "morning star."Gender: femininePronunciation: SAH-gul The name is a traditional Somali female name meaning "morning star." Sources Sagal - Nordic Names Wiki - Name Origin, Meaning and StatisticsSomali name - WikipediaappendixE.pdf (heartlandntbc.org)

Photo by George Jr Kamau on Pexels.com Origin: YorubaMeaning: "one whom we fought to have."Gender: unisexPronunciation: AH-JAH-NEE The name is a Yoruba unisex name which is usually given to a child where the parents were having a hard time having children or a child who was in a high risk pregnancy. It is from the…

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com Origin: YorubaMeaning: "the Lord's gift."Gender: feminineE-boo-noo-LOO-wah The name is composed of the Yoruba words ẹbùn (gift) and olúwa (the Lord). Other forms are Ẹ̀bùn & Ẹ̀bùnolú. Sources https://yorubaname.com/entries/Ebunoluwahttps://www.behindthename.com/name/ebun/submitted

Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com Origin: EdoMeaning: "God's gift."Gender: masculine The name is from the Edo language meaning "God's gift." Sources https://www.legit.ng/1178489-popular-edo-names-meaning.htmlhttps://www.behindthename.com/name/esosa/submitted

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com Origin: SomaliMeaning: "rich."Gender: femininePronunciation: HOH-dahn The name comes directly from the Somali word for "rich." Sources https://www.behindthename.com/name/hodanhttps://www.heartlandntbc.org/assets/training/mini-fellowship/PediatricToolBox/CDC/ed_training/EthnographicGuides/Somalia/chapters/appendixE.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_name