Nigerian Last Name Generator
Discover authentic Nigerian surnames with meanings, origins, and history. Explore Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and other ethnic group naming traditions.
Nigerian Surname Generator
Generated Nigerian Surnames
The Complete Guide to Nigerian Last Names
Key Facts About Nigerian Surnames
Nigeria’s surnames reflect its incredible ethnic diversity, with over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. The three largest ethnic groups – Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa-Fulani – each have distinct naming traditions that reveal family history, occupation, and spiritual beliefs.
Yoruba Surnames
Yoruba names often reflect the circumstances of birth, family history, or spiritual beliefs. Many Yoruba surnames begin with prefixes like “Ade-” (crown), “Olu-” (God), or “Omo-” (child).
Characteristics:
- Often reflect royal heritage or divine connection
- May indicate birth order (e.g., “Babatunde” meaning “father returns”)
- Common elements: “ola” (wealth), “tunde” (returns), “seun” (thanks)
Example Meanings:
- Adebowale – “The crown has come home”
- Ogunlesi – “Ogun (god of iron) is victorious”
- Oyekanmi – “My wealth has multiplied”
Igbo Surnames
Igbo names often reflect personal attributes, spiritual concepts, or historical events. Many Igbo surnames are actually phrases or complete sentences.
Characteristics:
- Often express gratitude to God (“Chukwu” or “Chi”)
- May reference family occupations or achievements
- Common elements: “nna” (father), “ka” (greater than), “ma” (good)
Example Meanings:
- Nwachukwu – “Child of God”
- Okonkwo – “Born on Nkwo day”
- Ezeike – “King of the house”
Hausa Surnames
Hausa names often reflect Islamic influence, with many derived from Arabic. They may indicate lineage, occupation, or personal characteristics.
Characteristics:
- Often include Islamic religious references
- May indicate profession or social status
- Common elements: “Mohammed”, “Ibrahim”, “Yusuf”
Example Meanings:
- Mohammed – “The praised one” (from the Prophet’s name)
- Shehu – “Sheikh” (religious leader)
- Danjuma – “Born on Friday”
Birth-Related Surnames
Many Nigerian surnames reflect circumstances of birth:
- Twins: “Taiwo” and “Kehinde” (Yoruba twins)
- Birth order: “Okonkwo” (Igbo male born on Nkwo day)
- Birth circumstances: “Abiodun” (Yoruba – born during festival)
These names serve as permanent records of important family events.
Spiritual Surnames
Nigerian surnames often reflect religious beliefs:
- Yoruba: “Oluwaseun” (Thank God)
- Igbo: “Chukwuma” (God knows)
- Hausa: “Abdullahi” (Servant of God)
These names express gratitude or devotion to the divine.
Occupational Surnames
Some Nigerian surnames reflect traditional occupations:
- Yoruba: “Agbede” (blacksmith)
- Igbo: “Okafor” (male born on Afor market day)
- Hausa: “Maigari” (landowner)
These names preserve traditional economic roles.
Geographical Surnames
Some names indicate origin or residence:
- Yoruba: “Ibadan” (from Ibadan city)
- Igbo: “Nnewi” (from Nnewi town)
- Hausa: “Kano” (from Kano city)
These surnames help trace family migration patterns.
Colonial Influence on Nigerian Surnames
British colonial rule (1900-1960) introduced new naming practices:
- Christian converts adopted biblical names as surnames
- Some families anglicized their names for colonial administration
- Western-style surnames became common among educated elites
Post-independence, many Nigerians have reclaimed traditional naming practices while maintaining colonial-era surnames for official purposes.
Nigerian Surnames: Frequently Asked Questions
These prefixes have specific meanings in Yoruba culture:
- “Ade-“: Means “crown” and indicates royal lineage or aspirations
- “Olu-“: Short for “Oluwa” meaning “God” or “Lord”
- “Omo-“: Means “child” indicating family relationships
Examples include Adebayo (“the crown meets joy”), Oluwaseun (“God is to be thanked”), and Omotayo (“child brings joy”). These prefixes reflect important cultural values in Yoruba society.
Igbo surnames have several unique characteristics:
- Sentence names: Many are complete phrases (“Chukwuemeka” – “God has done well”)
- Market day names: Some reflect birth days (“Okonkwo” – born on Nkwo day)
- Spiritual focus: Most reference God (“Chukwu”, “Chi”)
- No family names: Traditionally, Igbos didn’t have hereditary surnames
The modern practice of fixed surnames was largely adopted during colonial times for administrative purposes.
Hausa-Fulani surnames typically follow these patterns:
- Islamic names: Mohammed, Ibrahim, Musa (from Arabic)
- Patronymics: “Dan-” (son of) or “Yar-” (daughter of)
- Titles: Shehu (religious leader), Sarki (king)
- Occupational: Maigari (landowner), Magaji (heir)
Examples include Danjuma (“son of Juma”), Yar’adua (“daughter of Adua”), and Mohammed Bello (“Mohammed son of Bello”). The Fulani often use clan names like Bello or Usman.
Key differences among major ethnic groups:
| Group | Name Structure | Common Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Yoruba | Prefix + meaningful word | Ade-, Olu-, Omo- |
| Igbo | Complete phrases | Chukwu-, Nna-, -emeka |
| Hausa | Islamic/Arabic names | Mohammed, Ibrahim, Dan- |
| Edo | Royal/status names | Osa-, Ede-, -ogie |
Despite these differences, all Nigerian naming traditions place great importance on meaningful names that reflect family values and aspirations.
Here are some of the most widespread Nigerian surnames across ethnic groups:
- Mohammed – Common among Hausa-Fulani Muslims
- Adeleke – Popular Yoruba name meaning “crown achieves praise”
- Okafor – Common Igbo name for males born on Afor market day
- Ibrahim – Hausa version of the Arabic name Abraham
- Ogunlesi – Yoruba name meaning “Ogun (god of iron) is victorious”
- Eze – Igbo word for “king” used as surname
- Bello – Common Fulani clan name
- Okafor – Igbo name for males born on Afor market day
- Obi – Igbo name meaning “heart” or “center”
- Yusuf – Hausa version of the Arabic name Joseph
Popularity varies by region, with certain names dominating in their ethnic homelands.
Tracing your Nigerian surname’s history requires different approaches for different ethnic groups:
- Yoruba names: Consult Ifa priests or elders who know oral histories
- Igbo names: Research market day systems and ancestral villages
- Hausa names: Study Islamic naming traditions and clan histories
- General resources: National Archives, university anthropology departments, local historians
Challenges include colonial-era name changes, multiple spelling variations, and the oral nature of many traditions. For common names, you may need to trace specific family lineages.
Nigerian marriage naming customs vary by ethnicity and religion:
- Traditional practice: Women typically keep their birth names
- Christian influence: Some women adopt husband’s surname
- Islamic practice: Women retain father’s name as identifier
- Modern trends: Hyphenation or creating new family names
Children’s surnames usually follow the father’s name, though some families combine both parents’ names. The 2015 Marriage Act allows couples to choose any naming arrangement.