Igbo Name Generator
Igbo given names, short forms and family names
Browse 500 Igbo names from southeastern Nigeria: long forms like Chukwuemeka and Ngozichukwu beside the short forms Emeka and Ngozi, market-day surnames like Okeke and Nwafor, and full names such as Adaeze Nwosu and Obinna Okereke.
About Igbo names
An Igbo name is usually a short sentence. Chukwuemeka says "God has done well," Chinedu "God leads," Ngozi "blessing," Obinna "father's heart" and Nnamdi "my father lives." The building blocks repeat across the list: Chi (a person's own guardian spirit) and Chukwu (the great Chi, God), Nne and Nna (mother and father), Nwa (child), Ada (first daughter), Eze (king), Obi (heart) and Uche (will or mind). Long names are shortened in daily use, so the list gives both: Chukwuemeka beside Emeka, Ikechukwu beside Ike and Iyke, Obiageli beside Oby.
The traditional Igbo week has four market days, Eke, Orie (also Oye), Afo and Nkwo, and children were once named for the day of their birth. Okeke and Nweke belong to Eke, Okorie, Okoye and Nwoye to Orie, Okafor and Nwafor to Afo, Okonkwo and Nwankwo to Nkwo, while Mgbeke and Mgbafor are girls' forms. When fixed surnames arrived, a father's or grandfather's given name became the family name, which is why day names are such common Igbo surnames today.
About three fifths of the list is single names: long forms, short forms, virtue and circumstance names, day names and family names such as Eze, Nwosu and Anyanwu. The rest are full names for women and men.
How to choose Igbo names
- Put the long form on documents and the short form in speech: a character named Chukwuebuka is Ebuka to friends, Okechukwu is Okey, Obianuju is Uju and Tochukwu is Tochi.
- Check gender before you pair. Uchenna, Kelechi, Onyekachi, Ebere and Chisom are given to girls and boys alike, Ada- and Nne- names such as Adaobi and Nneka are female, and Nna- names such as Nnanna and Nnabuike are male.
- Surnames are the same for women and men, so any family name here works with any given name. For a family, give siblings one surname and names from different groups, for example Adaeze, Chidubem and Ifeanyi.
- Choose by meaning, the way parents do. A name records a wish or the circumstances of a birth, so ask a speaker what a name says before you give it to a baby or a main character.
- Spellings vary by dialect: Chidinma is also written Chidimma, Orie is Oye in some towns, and Ife- names appear as Ihe- names, as in Ifeoma and Iheoma. Pick one spelling and keep it.
Frequently asked questions
What do Chi and Chukwu mean in Igbo names?
Chi is the personal spirit that each person is believed to have, and Chukwu, the great Chi, is the word for God. That is why so many names begin with them: Chiamaka says "God is beautiful," Chukwudi "God exists" and Chinedu "God leads." Names that end in -chukwu, such as Tochukwu and Ikechukwu, are built the same way.
Which Igbo surnames come from the market days?
Okeke and Nweke come from Eke, Okorie, Okoye, Nworie and Nwoye from Orie, Okafor and Nwafor from Afo, and Okonkwo and Nwankwo from Nkwo. They began as given names for a child born on that day and were later kept as family names. Longer forms such as Okoronkwo and Okoroafor follow the same pattern.
What are the short forms of long Igbo names?
Most long names have an everyday form made from the part that carries the meaning. Chukwuemeka and Nnaemeka become Emeka, Chinedu becomes Nedu, Chukwunonso becomes Nonso, Obiageli becomes Oby, and Ifeoma and Ifunanya both become Ify. The list holds the long and the short forms as separate entries.
Are Igbo names male or female?
Many are used for both, among them Uchenna, Chidera, Onyekachi and Somtochukwu. Others lean one way by custom: Adaeze, Nkechi, Ifeoma and Ngozi are female, while Obinna, Nnamdi, Emeka and Ikenna are male. The full names in the list are split evenly between women and men.
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All 500 Igbo names
A: 43 names
- Adaeze
- Adaeze Nwosu
- Adaku
- Adaku Iroegbu
- Adanna
- Adanna Osuji
- Adaobi
- Adaobi Okereke
- Adaora
- Adaora Onwudiwe
- Adaugo
- Adaugo Ihejirika
- Afam
- Afam Okwuosa
- Afamefuna
- Afamefuna Ajaegbu
- Agu
- Akachukwu
- Akudo
- Akudo Kalu
- Akunna Ezenwa
- Amadi
- Amaechi
- Amaechi Ogbuehi
- Amaka
- Amaka Igbokwe
- Amara
- Amara Nwobodo
- Amarachi Nweke
- Amarachukwu
- Amobi Njemanze
- Anayo Ezeoke
- Anozie
- Anulika
- Anulika Nwokoye
- Anyadike
- Anyanwu
- Arinze
- Arinze Igwe
- Arinzechukwu
- Azubuike
- Azubuike Nwokoye
- Azuka
C: 119 names
- Cheta
- Chetachi
- Chetachi Ojike
- Chetachukwu
- Chiamaka
- Chiamaka Ifeoma Okoye
- Chiamaka Ugwu
- Chibueze
- Chibueze Umeadi
- Chibuike
- Chibuike Ejiogu
- Chibundu
- Chibuzo
- Chibuzo Anyanwu
- Chichi
- Chichi Ezeani
- Chidera
- Chidi
- Chidi Azubuike Nwafor
- Chidi Nworie
- Chidiebere
- Chidiebere Nwadike
- Chidimma Asogwa
- Chidinma
- Chidinma Njoku
- Chidiogo
- Chidozie
- Chidozie Onyia
- Chidubem
- Chiedozie
- Chiedozie Nzegwu
- Chiemeka
- Chiemela
- Chiemerie
- Chigozie
- Chigozie Osuji
- Chijioke
- Chijioke Onuoha
- Chika
- Chika Anyadike
- Chikaodili
- Chikaodinaka
- Chike
- Chike Nwosu
- Chikezie
- Chikezie Muoneke
- Chikodili
- Chikodili Muoneke
- Chikwado
- Chikwendu
- Chima
- Chima Iroegbu
- Chimaobi
- Chimdalu
- Chimdindu
- Chimezie
- Chimezie Osuagwu
- Chinasa
- Chinasa Ugwuoke
C, continued
- Chinaza
- Chinazaekpere
- Chinecherem
- Chinedu
- Chinedu Nwokeke
- Chinedum
- Chinedum Mbakwe
- Chinelo
- Chinelo Ezeanya
- Chinemerem
- Chinenye
- Chinenye Nnamani
- Chinomso
- Chinonso
- Chinonso Uzodike
- Chinonyerem
- Chinua
- Chinwe
- Chinwe Ezeilo
- Chinweike
- Chinweike Anozie
- Chinwendu
- Chinwendu Osuagwu
- Chinyere
- Chinyere Okoli
- Chioma
- Chioma Nwokeke
- Chisom
- Chisom Ukaegbu
- Chizaram
- Chizaram Ibezim
- Chizoba
- Chizoba Akabogu
- Chuka
- Chuka Umezulike
- Chukwubueze
- Chukwubuikem
- Chukwudalu
- Chukwudi
- Chukwudi Ibekwe
- Chukwudozie
- Chukwudumebi
- Chukwudumebi Anigbogu
- Chukwuebuka
- Chukwuebuka Asogwa
- Chukwuemeka
- Chukwuemeka Nweke
- Chukwuemeka Obinna Okonkwo
- Chukwugozie
- Chukwujekwu
- Chukwujekwu Modebe
- Chukwuka
- Chukwuka Ugwu
- Chukwukere
- Chukwuma
- Chukwuma Ezeanya
- Chukwunonso
- Chukwunonso Nwokocha
- Chukwunweike
- Chukwunyere
D: 6 names
- Daberechukwu
- Dike
- Dozie
- Dubem
- Dumebi
- Duru
E: 31 names
- Ebele
- Ebele Okorafor
- Ebelechukwu
- Ebere
- Ebere Nwogu
- Ebube
- Ebube Nwokocha
- Ebubechukwu
- Ebuka
- Ebuka Okpara
- Echezona
- Echezona Nnamani
- Ejike
- Ejike Nwoye
- Ejikeme Ekwealor
- Ejiogu
- Ekemma
- Ekene
- Ekene Mbah
- Ekenedilichukwu
- Ekwutosi
- Ekwutosi Mbah
- Emeka
- Emeka Ndukwe
- Emenike Okoro
- Eze
- Ezeani
- Ezeigbo
- Ezenwa
- Ezinne
- Ezinne Uwakwe
G: 1 name
- Ginika Okpala
I: 38 names
- Ibekwe
- Ifeanyi
- Ifeanyi Chukwudi Okoye
- Ifeanyi Nwokafor
- Ifeanyichukwu
- Ifeanyichukwu Ezenwa
- Ifechukwu
- Ifechukwu Ogbuagu
- Ifeoma
- Ifeoma Okoro
- Ifeyinwa
- Ifeyinwa Modebe
- Ifunanya
- Ifunanya Nwokafor
- Ify
- Ify Onyeukwu
- Igbokwe
- Igwe
- Ihejirika
- Ihuoma
- Ihuoma Amadi
- Ijeoma
- Ijeoma Opara
- Ike
- Ikechukwu
- Ikechukwu Duru
- Ikem
- Ikem Nwajiaku
- Ikemefuna
- Ikemefuna Onyekwelu
- Ikenna
- Ikenna Okorafor
- Iroegbu
- Isioma
- Isioma Odogwu
- Iyke
- Izuchukwu
- Izuchukwu Chukwura
J: 4 names
- Jide
- Jidenna Okongwu
- Jideofor
- Jideofor Ezeilo
K: 14 names
- Kalu
- Kamsi
- Kamsi Nwokedi
- Kamsiyochukwu
- Kanayo Ibeanu
- Kanayochukwu
- Kelechi
- Kelechi Anigbogu
- Kelechi Okoronkwo
- Kene
- Kenechukwu
- Kenechukwu Anyadike
- Kosisochukwu
- Kosisochukwu Onuoha
L: 2 names
- Lotanna
- Lotanna Akabogu
M: 15 names
- Madu
- Maduabuchi
- Maduabuchi Udoji
- Maduka Nwogu
- Makuachukwu
- Mbah
- Mgbafor
- Mgbeke
- Mgbeke Onuigbo
- Mgbokwo
- Mgborie
- Mmesoma Agu
- Munachi
- Munachi Ezeonu
- Munachimso
N: 79 names
- Ndidi
- Ndidi Ojiako
- Ndidiamaka
- Ndidiamaka Ogbuagu
- Ndubuisi
- Ndubuisi Uwakwe
- Ndukwe
- Nedu
- Nedu Igbokwe
- Ngozi
- Ngozi Adaeze Okafor
- Ngozi Ogbonna
- Ngozichukwu
- Ngozika Umeh
- Njideka
- Njideka Ezema
- Njoku
- Nkechi
- Nkechi Duru
- Nkeiruka Onyekwelu
- Nkem
- Nkem Onwubiko
- Nkemdilim
- Nkemdilim Okwuosa
- Nkiru Aniagolu
- Nkiruka
- Nkiruka Igwe
- Nkoli Ezeigbo
- Nkolika
- Nkolika Chukwura
- Nnabuike
- Nnabuike Ohaeri
- Nnadi
- Nnadozie Emejulu
- Nnaemeka
- Nnaemeka Okpala
- Nnaji
- Nnamani
- Nnamdi
N, continued
- Nnamdi Ikenna Okafor
- Nnamdi Okoroafor
- Nnanna
- Nnanna Amadi
- Nneamaka Ikeji
- Nneka
- Nneka Okoroafor
- Nnenna
- Nnenna Ukoha
- Nneoma
- Nneoma Iwuoha
- Nonso
- Nonso Okoli
- Nonyelum Okongwu
- Nwabueze
- Nwadike
- Nwafor
- Nwakaego
- Nwakaego Odimegwu
- Nwamaka
- Nwamaka Okpara
- Nwando
- Nwando Ofodile
- Nwaneri
- Nwankwo
- Nwanneka
- Nwanneka Egwuatu
- Nweke
- Nwobodo
- Nwokafor
- Nwokeke
- Nwokocha
- Nwokolo
- Nwokorie
- Nwokoye
- Nworie
- Nwosu
- Nwoye
- Nzube
- Nzubechukwu
O: 92 names
- Obi
- Obiageli
- Obiageli Nwafor
- Obiamaka Udoji
- Obianuju
- Obianuju Ilechukwu
- Obiefuna
- Obiefuna Egbuna
- Obinna
- Obinna Okereke
- Obioma
- Obioma Nkwocha
- Obiora
- Obiora Emeka Nwoye
- Obiora Nwokorie
- Obumneme
- Obumneme Onuigbo
- Oby
- Oby Okolie
- Odinaka
- Odinaka Agu
- Ofoegbu
- Ogadinma Uzoigwe
- Ogbonna
- Ogbonna Ukoha
- Ogbonnaya Eneh
- Ogbuehi
- Oge
- Oge Nwaneri
- Ogechi
- Ogechi Nworie
- Ogochukwu
- Okafor
- Okechukwu
- Okechukwu Opara
- Okeke
- Okereke
- Okey
- Okey Aniagolu
- Okezie
- Okezie Iwuoha
- Okoli
- Okolie
- Okonkwo
- Okorafor
- Okorie
O, continued
- Okoro
- Okoroafor
- Okoronkwo
- Okoye
- Okpara
- Okwudili
- Okwudili Odimegwu
- Okwuosa
- Olachi Enyinnaya
- Olaedo
- Olaedo Onyejekwe
- Olisa Ofodile
- Olisaemeka
- Olisaemeka Nwaneri
- Oluchi
- Oluchi Dike
- Oluchukwu
- Oluebube
- Oluebube Ezeugwu
- Onuoha
- Onuora Nwobodo
- Onwubiko
- Onwuchekwa
- Onyebuchi
- Onyebuchi Egwuatu
- Onyedika Ezeani
- Onyedikachi
- Onyeka
- Onyekachi
- Onyekachi Kalu
- Onyekachukwu
- Onyema Okolie
- Onyemaechi
- Onyinye
- Onyinye Ajaegbu
- Onyinyechi Ibekwe
- Opara
- Orji
- Osinachi
- Osita
- Osita Ilechukwu
- Ositadimma Nwokedi
- Osondu Uzor
- Osuji
- Ozioma
- Ozioma Ogbuehi
S: 6 names
- Somadina
- Somadina Nkwocha
- Somto
- Somtochukwu
- Somtochukwu Ezeife
- Sopuruchukwu
T: 7 names
- Tobe
- Tobechukwu
- Tobenna Uzoigwe
- Tochi
- Tochi Ibe
- Tochukwu
- Tochukwu Dike
U: 41 names
- Uche
- Uche Nnanna Okorie
- Uchechi
- Uchechi Njemanze
- Uchechukwu
- Uchendu
- Uchenna
- Uchenna Ada Okonkwo
- Uchenna Mgbemena
- Uchenna Njoku
- Udeh
- Udochukwu
- Udoka Udeh
- Ugo
- Ugochi
- Ugochi Nwokorie
- Ugochukwu
- Ugochukwu Okorie
- Ugonma
- Ugonma Enwerem
- Ugonna
- Ugwu
- Ugwuanyi
- Uju
- Uju Ezeoke
- Ujunwa
- Ujunwa Umeadi
- Ukaegbu
- Ukamaka Edozie
- Uloma
- Uloma Ejiogu
- Ulunma Ohaeri
- Umeh
- Uwakwe
- Uzoamaka
- Uzoamaka Nwadike
- Uzodinma
- Uzodinma Onyeukwu
- Uzoma
- Uzoma Onyejekwe
- Uzor