What is your name? What does it mean?
My name is Ijeoma. It means 'safe journey', 'good journey' or 'good trip'.
Igbo names are known for having unique meaning.
Parents would usually name their child based on their history, how they met, their circumstances, circumstances surrounding the birth or their prayer for the child.
Children may also be named after their parents or someone in the family eg: grand parents.
Literally, you have limitless options when it comes to naming your child. You can choose from words, phrases or sentences.
Common words seen in Igbo names and their meanings
Chukwu/Chi: This means God. It can be a prefix or suffix.
The Igbos believe in God and would add His name to the child's as a way of affirming that belief.
Nna: This is father. Again, this would mostly refer to God.
It can however relate to the earthly father.
Nne: The Igbo word for mother.
The above words can either come at the beginning or be seen at the end of the name.
Names with the word 'Chukwu' are often shortened to 'Chi'.
Although there are some names mostly borne by a particular sex, names are usually intersex.
Igbo names for Boys
Ahamefula: May my name not be lost
Ahaoma: Good name
Ahizechukwu: By the grace of God
Akachi: God's hand
Akannam: My Father's hand
Amandianaeze: Does one know who to avoid
Amarachi: God's grace
Anayochi: Requesting from God
Anelechi : Looking onto God
Anyalewechi: Let your eyes look onto God
Arinzechukwu: By the grace of God
Azubuike: My back is strength/My backing is my strength
Azuka : The back is greater. My backing is greater
Cheluchi: Wait for God
Cherechi: Wait for God
Chetachi: remember God
Chiagozie: God has blessed
Chialuka: God has done a great work
Chibueze: God is king
Chibugo: God is my glory
Chibuisi: God is head
Chibuike: God is strength
Chibundu: God is life
Chibuzo: God is in front
Chidebe: May God keep
Chidebere: God kept
Chideraa: Once God has written
Chidi : God is
Chidiadi: God really is
Chidiebere: God is merciful
Chidiebube: God is glorious
Chidike: God is strong
Chidindu: God is alive
Chidolue: May God keep
Chidozie: May God repair/restore
Chidubem: May God guide me
Chidube: May God guide
Chiduzie: May God guide
Chiedozie: God has repaired/restored
Chiemelie: God has done great/has won
Chiemerie: God has won
Chiemena: God has done well
Chiemezie: God has restored
Chigemezu: God will complete
Chigbogu: May God resolve the fight
Chigozie: God bless
Chigozirim: God blessed me
Chigunyerem: God counted me in
Chijindu: God has life
Chijioke: God has my share
Chika: God is bigger
Chikadibia: God is greater than the doctor
Chikaodinaka: It's in God's hands
Chike: Strong God
Chikelum: God made me
Chikezie: God created well
Chikwe: If God agrees
Chikwado: God willing/ God backing
Chilaka/Chinaka: God decrees
Chilota: May God remember
Chima: God knows
Chimaobi: God knows the heart
Chimdi: My God is
Chimebuka: My God is big
Chimezie: May God restore
Chimuanya: God is awake
Chinedu: God guides
Chinekwu: God speaks
Chineme: God does
Chinemere: God does for him
Chinyeaka: May God help
Chinonso : God is near
Chinualumogu: Let God fight for me
Chinuaogu: Let God fight
Chinweike: God owns power
Chinweuba: God owns wealth
Chiwetalu: God brought
Chizoba: May God save
Chizubelu: God planned
Chizurum: God is enough for me
Chukwudi: God is
Chukwuebuka: God is big
Chukwuemeka: God has done great
Chukwuka: God is bigger
Chukwuma: God knows
Chukwunyere: God gave
Daberechi: Lean onto God
Eberechukwu: God's mercy
Eberendu: Life's mercy
Ebubechukwu: The glory of God
Ejiofo: My hands are clean
Ekelemchi: I thank God
Ekene: Thanks
Ekperechi: Prayer to God
Ekperedike: The prayer of a great man
Ekwueme: One who says and does
Emeribe: As my mates are treated, so I would like to be treated
Enyinnaya: His father's friend
Enyioma: Good friend
Eze: King
Ezeakachi: The king is not greater than God
Eziamaka: The family home is good
Ibekwe: If the mates agree
Ifeanyichukwu/ Iheanyichukwu: Nothing is too big for God to do
Ifesinachi: Things are from God
Igwebuike: Unity is strength
Ihunna: The face of the father
Ihuoma: Good fortune
Ikechukwu: The strength of God
Ikenna: The strength of the father
Ikeobi: The strength of the family home
Isiawele: Good head
Isioma: Good head
Jachike: Praise God
Jidenna: Hold the father
Jideofo: Keep your hands clean
Jigidemaka: Hold me. Usually means God hold me tight
Kainelechi: Let's look onto God
Kanyitochukwu: Let's praise God
Kanayochi: Let's request of God
Kelechi: praise God
Kenechukwu: Praise God
Kosaluchi: Tell it to God
Kosisochi: As it pleases God
Lotachi:: Remember God
Lotenna: Remember father
Lewechi: Look onto God
Maduforo: We have people
Madukaego: A Person is greater than money
Marachi : Know God
Mmeregini: What have I done
Munachiso: I and God are together
Ndubuaku: Life is wealth
Ndubueze : Life is King
Ndubuisi: Life is first
Ndudi: When there is life
Ndukauba: Life is greater than wealth
Ndulaka: Life has the say
Ngozi: Blessing
Nkemjika: What I have is greater
Nnabugo : Father's glory
Nnaemeka: Father has done great. Usually refers to God
Nnadozie : Father repairs
Nnamdi: My father is
Nwachinemere: Him whom God does things for
Nwachukwu: Child of God
Nwafo: Born on Afo market day
Nwankwo: Born on Nkwo market day
Nweke: Born on Eke market day
Nworie: Born on orie market day
Nze: A titled man, respected
Nzubechi: Will of God
Obi : Family home
Obi : Heart
Obiedika : The heart endured much
Obinna: The heart/will of the father
Obioma: Good heart/Goodwill
Obiora : The will of the people
Obumneke: Is it I that creates
Obumneme: Is it I that does it?
Ogbonna : Father's look alike
Ogemdi: My time is
Okafo: Man born on Afo market day
Okeahialam: Let my share not pass me by
Okechukwu: Share from God
Okeke: Man born on Eke market day
Okezie: From Chikezie, God created well
Okonkwo: Man born on Nkwo market day
Okorie/Okoye: Man born on Orie/Oye market day
Onyekachi: Who is greater than God
Onyemachi: Who knows God
Onyemaechi: Who knows tomorrow
Osinachi: From God
Ositadinma: From today, it is well
Ozioma: Gospel/Good news
Ozobia: Let another come
Ozoemena: Another shouldn't happen (where something untoward had happened previously)
Soludo: Follow peace
Somadina: Let me not be alone
Somtochukwu: Follow me and praise God
Tochukwu: Praise God
Tobenna: Praise the Father
Tonna: Praise the Father
Uchenna: The will of the father
Uchechukwu: The will of God
Ucheoma : Goodwill
Udochukwu: Peace of God
Udoka: Peace is greater
Ulonna: The Father's house
Ugochukwu: The glory of God
Ugonna: The glory of the father
Ugonnatuwerem: The glory given to me by my father
Uwabunkeonye: Whose own is the world
Uzochi: God's way
Uzodinma: When the road/path is good
Uzoma: Good path
Common Igbo boy names and their short forms
Chukwudi - Chidi
Chukwuka - Chika
Chukwuma - Chima
Chinedu - Edu
Chinonso - Nonso
Chukwuemeka - Emeka
Chukwuebuka - Ebuka
Chukwudi - Chuks
Ekenedirichukwu - Ekene
Ifeanyichukwu - Ifeanyi
Ikechukwu - Ik
Kelechi - KC
Nnamdi - Nna
Obinna - Obi
Obiora - Obi
Okechukwu - Okey
Onyekachi - Onyeka
Tochukwu - Tochi
Ugochukwu- Ugo
Uzoma - Uzo
Trending Igbo boy names 2019
Cheluchi
Chetachi
Chiagozie
Chimaobi
Kainelechi/Kainenechi
Kanyitochukwu
Kosaluchukwu
Kosisochukwu
Lotenna
Somtochukwu
This is by no means exhaustive. New names are popping out daily. I'll keep this updated.
Check out for 'Igbo names for girls'.
Did you find this helpful; share it.
What trending Igbo names did I omit?
Appreciation: Many thanks to my family, friends, facebook group and behindthename.com who were my sources
