IGBO NAMES!!!

[Chinyeaka Emmanuel Okoli]

THIS IS LONG, BUT FRUITFUL!!!
=============================
Umunnem,
Below is an exercise I designed to provide us with a rich
collection of Igbo names. I guess the current events demand we
re-visit it.
I request Maazi MOE to take up the compilation and editing of
the names.

From root Mon Sep 26 15:29:09 1994
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 1994 16:19:19 -0500
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I forward here to you an edited posting for the exercise I called
for concerning Igbo names and their meanings. It was originally
posted Sat, 17 Sep 1994 15:2736 -0500.
I also included some of the names received.

Edited request text follows:
-
"Ndigbo n'enyi anyi Kwenu! Lienu, nuonu, muanu, zuanu, kwezuenu!!!

I will like us to do a little academic exercise on igbo names.
It will be done in two phases.
I have discovered that people often demand the meaning of some
igbo names. At times we may find it difficult to explain. I
therefore decided to do a net compilation of some igbo names and
their meanings as well as the context under which they are given.
It is hoped that in the end, we can compile them and post on the
net for igbos and their friends to keep for their use.
To avoid over crowding and duplication of names, I have decided
to break the exercise into two phases.

Phase 1.
I request every igbo person to give us the meaning of his or
her name/s, the reason for the name/s (context of naming) e.t.c.

Phase 2.
Persons can now give names of any other person they know and are
sure of the meaning/s."
(other stuff deleted)

Chinyeaka.

------------------------------END OF REQUEST------------------------

IGBO NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS
-----------------------------

These are the names we have received so far. We need more input.
You are also free to add to, correct or modify the names but please
try and explain as much as you can. We will help out before finally
forwarding the final posting.

NB. Please note that I am not an authority in this exercise. I am only
a co-ordinator and may from time to time chip in some ideas I feel may
be required and which may be missing. If you don't know the meaning of
your name/s, you can mail it to us or to me privately and we will do
justice to it/them.

Happy reading.


CHINYEAKA(Male or Female)
Chinyeaka- Chi...abbreviation for Chi-Ukwu, meaning Great God. It
may also stand for chi...a deity. "nyeaka" simply means "help".
The name could therefore, mean May God help me/us. It is a
prayer/wish.

OBUADAZIE(Male)
Obuadazie- Obu(Obi) used here to mean family, as against the title
or the traditional porch. "adazie" means "has balanced". This is
often found among males (unlike Chinyeaka that is for both males
and females). It is given in situation where the number of males
fall short of expectation of the family but the resultant child
is a male. You can imagine the joy of parents, at the arrival of
a male child. Ehe!...OBU ADAZIGONU!


EMEKA(Male)
Emeka - short for Chukwuemeka is:
Emeka is really E meka (past perfect) means "has done very well".
So, Chukwuemeka literally translates to "the almighty God has done very well",
means simply "Thank God" - could be in response to the granting of prayers such
as Chinyeaka.


IFANYI(Mostly male but at times female)
Ifeanyichukwu - broken up it's: Ife-a nyi-chukwu (Ifeanyi for short)
Ife="thing" a nyi="not impossible" really meaning "nothing is impossible"
So, Ifeanyichukwu means "Nothing is impossible for/to God"


OC(Male)
Ositadinma - called Osita (Osi for short pronounced O.C.)
Ositadinma is "Goodness shall follow me from now henceforth".
It is a loose derivation of the phrase (from Psalm 23)
Ositadinma is "O si taa di nma" is a statement of satisfaction.
"O si" literally translates to "[If] starting from",
"taa" (or tata) is "today"
"di" is "be[ing]"
"nma" (mma) can mean good or beauty (it means good in this case).
Addendum:
The full name is a statement- Ositdinma odibazia, meaning, if from
today it becomes good, it will continue!
Odibazia (continue being).
'

CHIBUIKE(Mostly male)
Chibuike -- Chi="God", bu="is", ike="strength".
Chibuike means "God is [my] strength" (my is implied).


EBERE/EBELE/CHIDI EBELE/NNADI EBELE(Male and female)
Nna= "Father in reference to God", di="is", ebere="merciful"
So, Nnadiebere means "God is merciful".
Chidiebere or Chidiebele(same as above)
EbeleChukwu- "God's Mercy"


OKEY(Male)
Okechukwu is Oke="share" (could mean "creation of")
Okechukwu (Okey for short) means "God's share".
Addendum:
OkikeChukwu kere, madu apughi ikeghali ya. Meaning, what God has
created, no one can alter it!

NWABU(Male)
Nwabu'nike- Nwa aburo na ike is nwa="child" a buro="is not",
n'ike="by force/strength". Implies that it is "by God's grace"
So, Nwabunike "Your force/stregth has little to do with [your]
having a child".
The determination of child's conception and birth is not through
physical strength.


NWABU(Male)
Nwabu-eze meaning, "nwa"-child "bu"-is "eze"-king
Here, the name is used metaphorically to show that having a
child is like being bestowed or made a king. Having a child
is like having the crown!


IFY(Mostly female)
Ifeoma means "good thing" (implies Precious).
"Ife"-thing "Oma" good. It does not mean that the child is a thing.
It means that the birth of the child is a good thing that has
happened or has come to the family. The name is also a statement
which states: "Ife Oma bialu anyi" Something good or precious came
to us.

IFY (Male/Female)
Ifeanyi or Ifeanyi Chukwu. Nothing is impossible with/for God

IFY(Mostly Female)
Ifeyinwa-(Ifeyi for short) "Ife-eyi" There's nothing like "Nwa" Child.
There is nothing comparable to the blessing of child-birth.


UCHE(male or Female)
Uchechukwu is uche="thought/idea" or "mind".
So, Uchechukwu means "God's idea or plan" or even God's will or decision.

The same as Uchenna*.( Nna is Father- God the father)



UKACHUKWU/UKOBASI/OKWUCHUKWU(Mostly male but at times female)
Ukachukwu which is very close in meaning to Uchechukwu.
Ukachukwu means "it's God's decision/concern" implies "leave it to God".
Ukobasi (Uka-Obasi) Obasi / Chukwu/ Olisa-God (Igbo) Abasi -- God in Efik.
Uko -- (actally Uka-) What is said, or what is willed.
When combined -- Uka-obasi (the a is then dropped to get Ukobasi),
it translates to ``the will of God.''
Addendum:
Name Uka-Obasi (Okwu-Chukwu or Uka Chukwu). It means, God's
message or God's promise (fulfilled). The name UkaChukwu (often
called UkoChukwu) is therefore given to those through whom God
gives us those words.
***Note the difference between "O" and "A" in Obasi(Igbo) and Abasi(Efik)


NKII
"Nkeiruka" and abbreviated to "Nkiru" or "Nkee" for short.
At the birth of a child, parents are often so happy that they celebrate it.
"What God has done for us is great and the one He will do in future will
even be greater". "Nke" (that of), "Iru" (future), just like you rightly explained,
"ka" means (is greater). Once you say "Nk'iru", the "Ka" is implied.


OJI(ORJI) (Male)
Oji (called Orji by the British for they don't have dotted O for "or").
Oji is the tallest,strongest and most valuable tree in igboland.
If someone is given the name, therefore, he is seen as a symbol
of strength, grace and pride all in all.



OBI(MALE)
Obiecheta. Obi = mind (npkulu obi = heart) e cheta = remember or recall.
The literal translation = retentive mind.


*****
A general note, a lot of Igbo names have Chi/Chukwu/Eke/Olisa
in them. They all mean the same thing - God or mighy diety
depending on the religious slant of the namer at the time the
name was conferred. Bear this in mind and substitute
accordingly. (See the "Chi" definition in included text).

2.
Nna is another fairly frequently-used one. Nna literally means
father. Father can simply be referring to the male parent or
to the heavenly God.
=============================================================
These names were made possible by the following:

Chinyeaka Emma Okoli
Emeka Ukachukwu
Cyril Ukobasi Orji
Egwu Kalu
Ikechukwu Agba
Fidelis Atuegbu

There were some names offered by Tochi Omenukor which is missing
in the list. Please could someone who has it mail them to me.

====================================================

PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST
======================

1. OGUEJIOFOR/ OGUOCHA (Ogu for short)..
"a war fought without blame", that is to say, a war in which one
cannot be blamed for engaging in.

2.AKONGU (shortened to "Akong").

[Gregg Ukaegbu]

Adding

Ezekwe, Ezekwesiri (Male): Fit to be king; "If God permits...." (My
Dad's interpretation)

Ukaegbu, Ukaegbulem (Male): Spoken word, please don't kill me; May my
spoken words not bring me trouble.

> "a war fought without blame", that is to say, a war in which one
> cannot be blamed for engaging in.
>
> 2.AKONGU (shortened to "Akong").
>
>
>
>
>

Gregg E. Ukaegbu.
Planner
Data & Policy Analysis
Texas Dept. of Health
1100 W.49th Street
Austin, Texas 78753-3199.
(512) 458-7261
guka...@dpa.tdh.state.tx.us

[Nnamdi Oziri]

Adding

Chukwuma,or Chima (Male/ Female): fully given as Chukwuma/Chima onye wu eze
or Chukwuma/Chima and so many others sufixes like echi, mkpa
....(interpretated as God (Chukwu or Chi) knows who will be king or
tommorrow or needs...as the case may be.

Oziri, Ohiri, Oshziri or Ozili. ( More of neuter gender, more of ancient):
interpretated as "Justice and Equity"

Ibezimako (Male): short form as "Ibe" (interpretated as "Wisdom can be
learned from others)

Akobundu (Male): short form "Ako" (interpretated as Wisdom is life)

Ozoemela (Female or Male): short form "Ozor" (generaly interpreted as "Not
Again")

Therefore I close with this blessings:

Umu Igbo Ozoemela ayi o!

Happy Igbo Heritage month.

Dr. Nnamdi Oziri
Student Affair Division
University of Indiana
2325 Chester Blvd
Richmond, Indiana 47374