Here are the fascinating ways African children are named

desmond frimpong

July 23, 2018 3:20 PM

Children are named based on happenings and influences during and after their birth.

African countries often have diverse ethnic groups and languages, and they have their special ways of naming children.

Order of birth

Children are sometimes named after the the order in which they are born. In many tribes around the continent, families give birth to a large number of children. In a West African country like Ghana, names like ‘Duku’ and ‘Adunu’ meaning eleventh and twelfth born.

In Ghana, twins are called ‘Panyin’ and ‘Kakra’ meaning older and younger in Akan language. In Uganda, ‘Wasswa’ and ‘Kato’ mean elder twin and younger twin. In Nigeria, the Yorubas name their first twin child ‘Taiwo’ and ‘Kehinde’, meaning taste the world and come after.

Weekday names

In Ghana, when a child is born on a particular day there is a name given them aside the name that will be given to them. Below are the names:

Day -- Male name, female name

Sunday – Kwesi, Akosua

Monday – Kojo, Adowa

Tuesday – Kwabena, Abena

Wednesday - Kwaku, Ekua

Thursday – Yaw, Yaa

Friday – Kofi, Efua

Saturday – Kwame, Ama

These names vary from other ethnic groups in Ghana.

Season or time of day

In Kenya, children named according to the time of the day are called Kibet and Kiplagat meaning day and night.

Names like Omondi, Okinyi, Onyango meaning dawn, morning and mid-morning. Ochieng, Otieno and Odour meaning midday, night and midnight are given to male children. These female names are similar to the males but starts with A rather than O.

Naming after a prominent personality or family member

A child named after a prominent personality or family member is known in some parts of Africa. Mothers in Kenya have names their sons after the former president of the US, Barack Obama.

A male child named ‘Junior; in other tribes is inheritance of their father and grandfather’s name. For others, there is the belief that the child is reincarnated. In Ghana, these children are described as ‘Ababio; meaning returnee and in Southern Africa, ‘Oupa’ or ‘Ouma’ meaning grandfather and grandmother.

Naming based on religious faith

Across Africa, children’s names express belief. In Ghana, the Ewe’s name their child ‘Mawulolo’ meaning God is big and ‘Makafui; meaning I will praise God. In Nigeria, ‘Chi’ or ‘Chukwu’ or ‘Oluwa’ has some reference to God. ‘Oluwatoyin’ means Glory be to God and ‘Hailemariam’, a name from Ethiopia, means the power of God.

Nicknames

In Somalia, several tribes have given nicknames due to a physical trait. Names like that can be officiated on the identity card of the individual. The names for women include ‘Indho Daraleey’ meaning gazelle eyes, ‘Macanay’ meaning sweet and negative names like ‘Lugay’ meaning one leg, ‘Genay’ meaning missing tooth.

desmond frimpong

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