Yoruba names
Yoruba names are often full sentences distilled into a single word, given based on the circumstances of birth or as thanks to God: Oluwaseun (thank God), Adebayo (the crown meets joy), Folasade (honor confers a crown). Names are rarely arbitrary in Yoruba culture, each one a small story about the family that gave it.
Abeni we asked for her and got her (a long-awaited daughter)
Adebayo royalty meets joy
Adeola the crown of wealth and honor
Adesola the crown comes into honor
Adewale royalty comes home
Adunni sweet one, pleasant to have and to hold
Akindele the brave one arrives home
Ayodeji joy arrives again
Ayodele joy has come home
Ayomide my joy has arrived
Ayotunde joy has come again
Babatunde father returns (given for a child resembling a late grandfather)
Bayo short for Adebayo, 'joy meets royalty'
Bisi increase; born to multiply blessings
Bolaji born into wealth and honor
Bukola the harvest gathers wealth
Bunmi short for Oluwabunmi, 'God gave me this'
Damilare wealth is good, befits me
Damilola wealth follows me
Deji short for Adedeji, 'royalty becomes double honor'
Dele short for Adedele/Ayodele, 'royalty/joy arrives home'
Eniola person of wealth and honor
Femi short for Oluwafemi, 'God loves me'
Fisayo use this to rejoice
Folake cherished, pampered with wealth
Folasade honor confers a crown (the name the singer Sade carries)
Gbenga short for Adegbenga, 'royalty exalts me'
Idowu the child born after twins
Ifeoluwa God's love
Inioluwa the Lord's property, God's heritage
Iyabo mother has returned
Jadesola emerge into wealth and honor
Kehinde the second-born of twins
Kikelomo one who is cherished as a treasure
Kunle short for Adekunle, 'royalty fills the house'
Lekan short for Olalekan, 'wealth is enough to build a house'
Modupe I am grateful
Morayo I have found joy
Morenike I have someone to cherish
Niyi short for Oniyide, 'one who has honor'
Olamide my wealth and honor has arrived (also a famous rapper)
Olumide my God has come
Oluwadamilola the Lord has made me wealthy
Oluwaseun thank God
Oluwatobi the Lord is great
Omolara child of the family, cherished child
Omotola a child is worth wealth
Opeyemi gratitude befits me
Oreoluwa God's gift, God's offering
Ronke someone to be pampered
Rotimi stay with me, stand by me
Segun short for Babasegun, 'conquers, wins'
Simi short for Similoluwa, 'be like God' (also a modern Nigerian pop-star name)
Simisola rest in wealth
Sola short for Adesola, 'honor'
Taiwo the first-born of twins, to taste the world first
Temiloluwa God is mine
Temitope mine is worthy of thanks
Tinuke shared, given to be cherished
Titilayo eternal happiness
Tobiloba God's own is enough
Toyosi enough to be thankful for
Tunde short for Babatunde, 'returned, come back'
Wole short for Oluwole, 'God's own person' (Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka)
Wura gold (short form of Wuraola)
Wuraola gold
Yemisi this suits/befits me
Yetunde the mother has returned
Yewande the mother has come to look for me
Yinka short for Adeyinka, 'surrounded by honor'
Yomi short for Oluyomi, 'God suits me'
Zainab fragrant flower (used widely by Yoruba Muslims)
Which of these fits YOUR family? →