A

Affirmation (of our belief in God) - Esomchi
Anger or hatred (never be killed/hurt by) - Iweobiegbunam, Iweobiegbulam (Iwobi)
Approachable - Dilibe
Ask (request from or of God) - Ajuluchukwu (Ajulu); Kanayachukwu (Anayochukwu, Kanayo, Anayo); Kanayolisa (Anayo, Kanayo)

B

Begging (asking God) - Kanayochukwu (Anayochukwu, Anayo) Believe (in God) - Esomchi
Blessing - Amalachi or Amalachukwu (Amala); Amarachi or Amarachukwu (Amara)
Brave - Dimkpa (See Obidimpka);
Dike

C

Child - Nwa (child as a gift/honor) - Ginikanwa (Ginika); Nwamaka (Amaka); Nwakaego (Nwaka, Ego)
Common sense - Ako Akobundu
Companion -Ibe Ibeamaka
Conscience (clear) - Ejimofor; Jideofor; Ojiofor
Consent (of God) - Izuchukwu (Izu)
Countless (See also, Innumerable, uncountable) - Ijeli

D

Death (plea for long life) - Onwu; Belonwu; Onwuatuegwu
Destiny - Chidera; Chiabuotu or Chiawuotu

E

Encouragement - Jamuike
Enemies or Enemy - Enewelumokwu (Who are my enemies?); As a statement, see Say (to say or not to say/to be heard. Enemy (your enemy is not your God) - Iloabuchi (Buchi); Iroawuchi Enemy (plenty of) - Iloerika Envy -
Exemplary (See also flawless, ideal, model) - Ifeatu, Iheatu

F

Father- Nna Father's friend - Enyinnaya (Enyi)
Fear (of God; See also Respect) - Beluchi
Flawless (See also, exemplary, ideal, model) - Ifeatu, Iheatu Friend - Enyi
Forget (never) See also Remember - Echezonachukwu (Echezona)

G

Gift (from God) - Ifesinachi (Ify) Child as a gift - Ifeyinwa (Iffy, Ify) Good child - Ezinwa (Ezi)
Good luck - Chioma (Chi, Chi-Chi); Isioma (Isy)
Good path - Ezimma or Ezinma (Ezi); Ezioma (Ezi)
Goodhearted - Obioma
Gossip (not to gossip or say bad things) - Ekwutosi (Ekwii, Ekwy)
Grace- Amara
Grandfather (paternal)- Nnanna
Grandmother (paternal)- Nnenna Grandmother (maternal) - Nnenne

H

Happiness - Anuli (Anwuli); Obiuto
Home - Uno, Eluemuno ( I have arrived/reached home, I am home) (Eluem)
Hope - Okwukwe

I

Ideal - (See also, exemplary, flawless, model) - Ifeatu, Iheatu Innumerable (See also, countless, uncountable) - Ijeli

J

Journey - Ije Journey (good/sweet) - Ijebusoma (Ije) Journey (of life) - Ijendu (Ije); Ijenuwa (Ije, Ijenu); Ijeoma (Ije), Uzoamaka (Uzo); Uzodimma (Uzo); Uzoma (Uzo)

K

Kind or kindnessness (See also Mercy) - Ebelegbulam or Eberegbunam (Ebele or Ebere)
Knowing (to know or uncertainty) - Amaluchukwu (Amalu); Amaluchechukwu (Amalu, Uche); Onyemaechi (Amechi)

L

Leave (me) - Halim; Halimnye Leave it to God - Hanyechukwu; Hanyeolisa; Rapuluolisa
Legacy - Afamefula (Afam); Afamefuna (Afam)
Living (in God) - Kambinachi (Kambina)
Life/living (longevity) - Kwemto
Long life (plea) - Belonwu
Love - Ifunanya
Love me - Fumnanya

M

Market days - Adaeke (Ada); Mgbeke; Mgborie; Okonkwo; Okeke; Okorie;
Mercy (See also Kind/kindness)- Ebelechukwu (Ebele), Eberechukwu (Ebere)
Miracle - Jeneta (Neta)
Model - (See also, exemplary, flawless, ideal) - Ifeatu, Iheatu Money - Egobudike
Mother- Nne

N

News - Ozi; Ozioma=Good news;

O

P

Past - Azubuike; Azuka
Patience - Kamdibe; Ndidiamaka (Ndidi)
Peace - Obiajulu; Obialo; Obielumani; Udo (Udoka)
Possibility (nothing is impossible with God) - Ifeanyichukwu (Ifeanyi, Ify)
Power (of God) - Ikechukwu (Ike, Iyke); Ikenna (Ike, Iyke) Power (in God) - Ikedinachi (Ike, Ikedi, Iyke); Ikedinachukwu (Ike, Ikedi, Iyke) Power (of majority/group) - Igwebuike Power (of prosperity) - Ikemefuna (Ikem) Praise (God) (See also Thank God) - Dumetochukwu, Dumetolisa (Dumeto); Ekenedilichukwu (Ekene); Kelechi, Kenechi, Kenenna, Kenechukwu (Kene); Kwemtochukwu (Kwemto)
Precious - Adaku (Ada); Adaugo; Akwaugo; Ugonna (Ugo); Ugochukwu (Ugo)
Priceless - Adaugo; Ugochukwu
Princess - Adaeze (Ada); Adaobi (Ada)
Protection - Anichebem, Nnachebem (Achebe)

R

Rejoice or jubilate - Egoliem
Remember (See also Forget (never) - Echezonachukwu (Echezona); Lotachukwu, Lotanna (Lota)
Respect (of God) - Beluchi
Riches (See also Wealth) - Akuabata (Aku); Akuabia (Aku); Akumjeli (Aku); Akunna (Aku); Egobudike

S

Satisfaction - Abazu
Say (to say or not to say) - Not to gossip or say bad things: Ekwutosi (Ekwii, Ekwy) Ekwutosi (Ekwii, Ekwy). Say or tell it to my face: Gwamniru. To have a say or to be heard (as a statement): Enewelumokwu (as a question, see Enemies)
Strong or Strength - Dike

T

Take things easy - Ejikemeifeuwa (Ejike); Emenike
Thank (God) (See also Praise God) - Dumetochukwu, Dumetolisa (Dumeto); Ekenedilichukwu (Ekene); Kelechi, Kenechi, Kenenna or Kenechukwu (Kene); Kwemtochukwu (Kwemto)
Time (God's time) - Ogechukwu (Oge)
Trust (in God) - Anenechukwu (Anene)

U

Uncountable (See also, countless, innumerable) - Ijeli
Up to (God) - Elechi or Elewechi

V

W

War (for a child born during a war) - Ijeagha (Ije)
Wealth - Akuabata (Aku); Akuabia (Aku); Akumjeli (Aku); Akunna (Aku); Obiageli (Oby); Obianuju (Obi)
Wish (good wishes) - Obiora (of the people/community), Wish (of God) - Obinna; What I have been wishing for: Ifeanacho Wonderful (something wonderful/great) - Ifeoma (Ify), Iheoma Yam (meaning food) - Jibunoh

Common words in Igbo (Ibo) names:

Nna (God, god, father); Chi (God, god, guiding light, guardian angel or spirit-double--Igbos believe that every living being has one); Chineke, Chukwu, Olisa (God); Amaka (beautiful, good, great, wonderful); Nwa (child); Nne (mother); Nna (God, god, father); Nma/mma (beautiful, good(ness), nice(ness)).

Glossary

abrv. = abbreviated; f = female; Lit. trans. = Literal translation; m = male

Additional information:

Igbo Language & Culture compiled by Dele Chinwe Ukwu.

- http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/names.html for other Nigerian names including Hausa and Yoruba names.

©2003.