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Nigerian Baby Names

If you have Nigerian heritage, you probably know that each ethnic group in Nigeria has varying traditional naming practices. The Yoruba tend to give names based on circumstance, like Taiwo for the first born in a set of twins, and Kehinde for the second born. Among the Igbo and Yoruba, names that begin or end with Chi, Chukwu or Oluwa, like the name Chinara, reference God....
Choosing from Nigerian baby names and their meanings can help you find a name that’s meaningful for your family. Check out our list of Nigerian baby names for baby boys and baby girls below. Honor your roots and your family history with these popular Nigerian baby names. Ready to look for Nigerian baby names for girls? Search our list below for popular choices like Sade, Dola and Abebi. Looking for Nigerian baby names for your baby boy? Consider options like Ekon, which means strong, and Obi, which means heart.
Explore Nigerian Baby Girl and Boy Names
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What to consider when choosing a Nigerian baby name
When it’s time to choose a name for baby, you will probably have a certain type of name you want. If you’re looking for popular Nigerian baby names, The Bump has you covered. Still, before you make your final choice, there are a couple things to think about as you try out each of the names in the running.
First, remember that Nigerian names typically have an important meaning attached to them. As such, it’s a good idea to make sure that the meaning behind any names you like matches what you know about baby so far. From there, listen to how the names sound to you—particularly when you say them with baby’s last name. You should feel confident saying the names you try, as well as liking the way syllables and sounds of the names work together. Go through the same process once you’re playing around with middle names, too.
Once you have a couple of strong contenders, take a look at the initials of the names together just to make sure you don’t spell a word accidentally. It can also be helpful to think about any shortened versions of the names you like, or any nicknames that might come from them. When you think you have a name you love, the final step in the process is to practice saying the full name out loud to see if it feels right. Sometimes a name sounds beautiful, but just doesn’t quite feel like the right fit for baby. If it does feel right to you, you have a winner!
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