Yoruba Name Generator

Authentic Yoruba first names and surnames with meaning

Real-World Names & CulturesPart of: real-world name generators500 names

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Generate realistic Yoruba names from southwestern Nigeria and the diaspora: Oluwa-, Ade-, Ola- and Ayo- given names, twin names, Muslim Yoruba names and family surnames like Ogunleye and Adeyemi, paired into full names for characters, writing and research.

About Yoruba names

Yoruba names are sentences compressed into a word. Almost every given name is built from short roots that carry meaning: Oluwa or Olu (God), Ade (crown, royalty), Ola (wealth, honor), Ayo (joy), Ife (love), Omo (child), Ire (goodness), Temi (mine) and Jesu (Jesus, in newer Christian names). So Oluwaseun means "God has done it," Adebayo "the crown meets joy," Olamide "my wealth has arrived" and Temitope "mine is worthy of thanks." Most long names have an everyday short form: Oluwadamilola becomes Damilola or Lola, Olanrewaju becomes Lanre, Babatunde becomes Tunde.

Some names come with the child rather than being chosen. Twins are Taiwo (first out) and Kehinde (second), the child after twins is Idowu, and Babatunde ("father has returned") or Yetunde ("mother has returned") mark a birth soon after a grandparent's death. Surnames are typically an ancestor's given name or praise name, so they use the same roots plus orisha prefixes: Ogun (iron), Oya, Osun, Sango and Ifa give Ogunleye, Osunkoya, Sangodele and Fagbemi. Most surnames are gender-neutral; first names like Funmilayo, Yewande, Folasade and Abosede skew female, while Adekunle, Olusegun and Kolawole skew male. Many Yoruba families are Muslim, so Lateef Adegbite or Rasheedat Tijani is just as authentic as Oluwaseun Bankole.

How to choose Yoruba names

  • Pick one register and stay in it: Oluwa- names (Oluwatobiloba, Oluwadarasimi) read as contemporary and Christian, Ade-/Ola- names as classic, and Lateef, Kazeem or Basirat as Muslim Yoruba; all are correct but they signal different families.
  • Use the short form in dialogue. A character called Oluwafunmilayo on her birth certificate is Funmi or Funmilayo to friends, Mrs Adeyemi to strangers and possibly Iya Tunde (mother of Tunde) in her neighborhood.
  • Let surnames hint at heritage: Ogun- and Fa- surnames point to families with historic ties to the iron and Ifa traditions, while Ade- surnames suggest a royal or chieftaincy lineage somewhere upstream.
  • For accuracy, give twins the paired names Taiwo and Kehinde; they are among the most common Yoruba names and a reliable detail readers from the culture will notice.

Frequently asked questions

What do common Yoruba name prefixes mean?

Oluwa/Olu means God, Ade means crown, Ola means wealth or honor, Ayo means joy, Ife means love, Omo means child and Temi means mine. Combine them with a verb and you get the full meaning: Ayodele is "joy comes home," Oladipo "wealth has increased," Ifeoluwa "God's love."

Are Yoruba names gendered?

Many are unisex, especially Oluwa- names like Oluwaseun, Ayomide and Oluwatobi. Others lean one way by custom: Funmilayo, Abosede, Yewande and Morenike are almost always female, while Olusegun, Adekunle, Babatunde and Kolawole are almost always male. Surnames are never gendered.

What are typical Yoruba surnames?

Yoruba surnames were once a grandfather's given name, so they look like first names: Adeyemi, Ogunleye, Balogun, Bankole, Adebayo, Oyelaran, Olatunji, Afolabi and Oyewole are all common. Ogun- (iron orisha) and Fa-/Ifa- surnames such as Ogunbiyi and Fagbemi are especially distinctive.

Can I use these names for a character outside Nigeria?

Yes. Large Yoruba communities live in Benin, Togo, the UK, the US and Brazil, so a Yoruba name works for a London doctor or a Houston engineer as well as a Lagos trader. Diaspora characters often go by the short form (Tope, Kemi, Seun, Wale) in daily life.

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All 500 Yoruba names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 121 names

  • Aanu Awojobi
  • Aanuoluwapo Odesanya
  • Abass Oyegbade
  • Abayomi Oyelami
  • Abdulrasaq Adegoke
  • Abeni Oyebisi
  • Abike Oyeniyi
  • Abimbola Ogunsanya
  • Abiodun Oyedeji
  • Abiola Oyeleye
  • Abosede Adeniji
  • Adebanke Adewumi
  • Adebayo Ogunleye
  • Adebimpe Oyinkansola
  • Adebisi Oyebode
  • Adebola Salami
  • Adebowale Akinjide
  • Adebukola Oduntan
  • Adebukola Onigbinde
  • Adedapo Oyekanmi
  • Adedayo Adebiyi
  • Adedotun Oyebanjo
  • Adedoyin Olatunbosun
  • Adefemi Oyegoke
  • Adegbenga Osifeso
  • Adegbola Oyeneyin
  • Adegboyega Oyelade
  • Adegoke Ayandele
  • Adejare Ogunwusi
  • Adejoke Odumosu
  • Adekanmi Ayansola
  • Adekemi Osoba
  • Adekola Oyeyemi
  • Adekunle Bamgbose
  • Adeleke Ayanfeoluwa
  • Adeleke Oyeniran
  • Ademola Daramola
  • Adeniji Oyebola
  • Adenike Oyewole
  • Adeniyi Owolabi

A, continued

  • Adeola Ogunbiyi
  • Adeolu Ogundana
  • Adeoye Oyeleke
  • Aderemi Oyesanya
  • Aderinola Ogunmakin
  • Aderogba Ogundiran
  • Aderonke Ogunkoya
  • Adesegun Oyedotun
  • Adesewa Oyenuga
  • Adeshina Ogunniyi
  • Adesoji Oyewole
  • Adesola Olubode
  • Adetayo Owoade
  • Adetokunbo Ojuolape
  • Adetola Odebunmi
  • Adetunji Ogunbiyi
  • Adetutu Odeyemi
  • Adewale Adesanya
  • Adewumi Ogunlola
  • Adeyemi Odubanjo
  • Adeyemo Oyeneye
  • Adeyeye Olanrewaju
  • Adeyinka Olowokere
  • Adeyosola Ojo
  • Aduke Adebanjo
  • Aduke Alao
  • Adunni Ladele
  • Afolabi Ogunmekan
  • Agbaje Oyewale
  • Aina Oyegunle
  • Ajala Oyewunmi
  • Ajibade Odunaike
  • Ajibola Oyedele
  • Ajoke Ogunjobi
  • Ajoke Oyediran
  • Akanni Ogundare
  • Akeem Ogunbanjo
  • Akinbode Ojora
  • Akindele Oyekan
  • Akinkunmi Oyeniran

A, continued

  • Akinlolu Oyerinde
  • Akinola Oguntade
  • Akintayo Oyeyinka
  • Akintunde Alabi
  • Akinwale Onifade
  • Akinwunmi Odumuyiwa
  • Akinyemi Ogunnaike
  • Alaba Onakoya
  • Alade Oyegunle
  • Alake Omotosho
  • Alani Bakare
  • Amoke Oyeniyi
  • Amusan Oyelana
  • Arike Ogunbiyi
  • Arinola Fagbamila
  • Arinola Ogundiran
  • Arogundade Oyeyinka
  • Asake Ogunwale
  • Atanda Oyewole
  • Atinuke Oyadiran
  • Awoyemi Oyedokun
  • Ayanda Oyenekan
  • Ayanfe Ogunmefun
  • Ayanfe Olumofin
  • Ayeni Oyebisi
  • Ayinke Ogunfowora
  • Ayinke Oyelami
  • Ayoade Tejuoso
  • Ayobami Fagbenro
  • Ayobami Onadeko
  • Ayodeji Olawale
  • Ayodeji Sogbein
  • Ayodele Sosanya
  • Ayokunle Adelakun
  • Ayokunle Ogundele
  • Ayomide Akinbode
  • Ayomikun Olaleye
  • Ayoola Adepoju
  • Ayoola Odumade
  • Ayotunde Elebute
  • Azeez Olatunji

B: 22 names

  • Babafemi Oyeyode
  • Babajide Onabanjo
  • Babalola Oyelabi
  • Babarinde Oyelade
  • Babatunde Fashina
  • Bamidele Okunola
  • Bamitale Adebule
  • Banjo Ogunsanwo
  • Bankole Oyegbade
  • Bashiru Olowu
  • Basirat Salawu
  • Bello Ogundapo
  • Bimpe Olaleye
  • Bisola Ojediran
  • Bode Olaoye
  • Bolaji Majekodunmi
  • Bolanle Ajayi
  • Bolatito Ogunsina
  • Bukola Ademola
  • Bunmi Kalejaiye
  • Busayo Ogunmuyiwa
  • Busola Aderinto

D: 15 names

  • Dada Oyeleke
  • Damilare Onipede
  • Damilola Adeniran
  • Damola Oyekunle
  • Dapo Ogundare
  • Darasimi Ogunbona
  • Dele Ajani
  • Demilade Akande
  • Dimeji Oyelola
  • Dolapo Okediji
  • Dotun Adebayo
  • Doyin Okeowo
  • Dunni Oyelakin
  • Durojaiye Odukomaiya
  • Durosinmi Ogunlaja

E: 10 names

  • Ebun Adeyinka
  • Ebun Odunayo
  • Ebunoluwa Oduwole
  • Ebunoluwa Oyeleke
  • Egbeyemi Oyeladun
  • Eniola Shobowale
  • Enitan Oyeyinka
  • Esan Ogungbemi
  • Ewaoluwa Adetunji
  • Eyitayo Ogunbadejo

F: 27 names

  • Fadahunsi Oyebade
  • Fadekemi Famuyiwa
  • Fadekemi Olorunda
  • Fajuyi Oyebanji
  • Faleti Ogunbanwo
  • Famakinwa Oyedotun
  • Faramade Adeyelu
  • Fatimo Sanusi
  • Fatoki Ogunde
  • Fehintola Odubela
  • Femi Ojuawo
  • Femi Olaoye
  • Feranmi Oyeyipo
  • Feyisayo Kosoko
  • Fikayo Owoeye
  • Fisayo Okusanya
  • Fola Bamisile
  • Folake Ajibade
  • Folakemi Oyesola
  • Folarin Ogunbowale
  • Folasade Adeyemi
  • Folashade Adeyemo
  • Foluke Ajiboye
  • Folusho Akingbade
  • Funke Kolapo
  • Funmilayo Oladipo
  • Funmilola Oyeyele

G: 6 names

  • Ganiyu Adeyemi
  • Gbemi Awokoya
  • Gbemisola Odejimi
  • Gbenga Olaniyan
  • Gbolahan Oyebade
  • Gboyega Adeyemo

I: 20 names

  • Ibidun Faniran
  • Ibikunle Oyesiku
  • Ibironke Adelabu
  • Ibiyemi Odunuga
  • Ibukun Osibodu
  • Idowu Olaniran
  • Ife Akinpelu
  • Ifedayo Adegbulugbe
  • Ifedolapo Oyeneye
  • Ifeoluwa Adeosun
  • Ifeoluwapo Sijuwade
  • Ige Olanipekun
  • Ikeoluwa Faleye
  • Imisioluwa Ajibola
  • Inioluwa Soremekun
  • Ireoluwa Akinyele
  • Iretiola Fayemi
  • Ishola Oyenusi
  • Iyabo Oshodi
  • Iyanu Oyinloye

J: 8 names

  • Jadesola Ajose
  • Jaiyeola Oyekunle
  • Jelili Onabanjo
  • Jesutofunmi Ogunrinde
  • Jide Akinyelure
  • Jide Obisesan
  • Jokotola Adeyoju
  • Jumoke Obadina

K: 19 names

  • Kareem Oyedeji
  • Kasali Ogunlowo
  • Kayode Oyelakin
  • Kazeem Lawal
  • Kehinde Afolayan
  • Kemi Akinsola
  • Kemisola Oyediran
  • Kikelomo Olowu
  • Kikiope Ajasin
  • Kofoworola Abiodun
  • Kofoworola Oyeyemi
  • Kolade Ogunjimi
  • Kolapo Oyegbile
  • Kolawole Oyedele
  • Kolawole Oyelaja
  • Korede Fasasi
  • Kudirat Lawal
  • Kunle Afolabi
  • Kunle Oyediran

L: 11 names

  • Labake Ogunseye
  • Ladejobi Oyerinde
  • Ladi Ogunjuyigbe
  • Lamidi Oyebamiji
  • Lanre Oduya
  • Lara Olatunbosun
  • Lateef Adegbite
  • Lekan Sonaike
  • Leke Oyeyemi
  • Lola Adebiyi
  • Lukman Odunsi

M: 25 names

  • Mayowa Adeyanju
  • Mobolaji Adediran
  • Mobolanle Ogunrinde
  • Modupe Falana
  • Modupeola Oyekola
  • Mofeoluwa Akinwunmi
  • Mofiyinfoluwa Akinnusi
  • Mojisola Akinlabi
  • Mojisola Olatunji
  • Monisola Ayeni
  • Monsurat Olaniyan
  • Morayo Anifowose
  • Morenike Oyelaran
  • Morolake Adeyeye
  • Mosunmola Ayoade
  • Motunrayo Ajisafe
  • Motunrayo Bamiro
  • Moyinoluwa Ogunlesi
  • Moyosore Oyekanmi
  • Moyosore Sowemimo
  • Mukaila Oyekan
  • Mulikat Ogunbiyi
  • Musiliu Adebayo
  • Mutiat Arowolo
  • Muyiwa Olabode

N: 3 names

  • Nike Oyelese
  • Niran Ogunniyi
  • Niyi Okunlola

O: 138 names

  • Obafemi Olawoyin
  • Odubanjo Oyelaran
  • Ogunlana Oyenuga
  • Ojo Ayoade
  • Okikijesu Ogunbayo
  • Okikiola Ogundokun
  • Okunowo Oyedotun
  • Olabisi Odedina
  • Olabode Ogunsola
  • Oladele Oyero
  • Oladimeji Oyeyemi
  • Oladipupo Ogunrinola
  • Olaide Oyelowo
  • Olaitan Adisa
  • Olajide Ladipo
  • Olajuwon Ogundele
  • Olakunle Sowande
  • Olalekan Odutola
  • Olamide Jegede
  • Olamilekan Ogunwale
  • Olamiposi Adebayo
  • Olanipekun Adeleke
  • Olaniyi Ayinde
  • Olaniyi Odunuga
  • Olanrewaju Sodipo
  • Olaolu Bamigboye
  • Olaoluwa Adegbenro
  • Olarewaju Oyedele
  • Olasunkanmi Oyewumi
  • Olatokunbo Fagbohun
  • Olatunbosun Adeyinka
  • Olatunbosun Ikuomola
  • Olatunde Ogunwale
  • Olatunji Ogundele
  • Olawale Soneye
  • Olayemi Shonibare
  • Olayinka Dosunmu
  • Olayiwola Ogunjimi
  • Ololade Akinlade
  • Olubukola Oyedepo
  • Olubunmi Fakeye
  • Olubusayo Afolabi
  • Oludare Akinwande
  • Olufemi Ogunbanjo
  • Olufunke Oyedeji
  • Olufunmbi Osundina

O, continued

  • Olufunmilayo Olaniyan
  • Olufunmilola Adegbite
  • Olugbenga Osundare
  • Olujimi Ogunkeye
  • Olukayode Obayemi
  • Olukoga Oyekunle
  • Olumide Akintola
  • Olumide Fajemisin
  • Olumoroti Adeosun
  • Olumuyiwa Oyedele
  • Olusanya Obafemi
  • Olusayo Oyewale
  • Olusegun Adebanjo
  • Oluseun Omoboriowo
  • Olusoji Oyetade
  • Olusola Onasanya
  • Olutayo Odukoya
  • Olutola Oyeyemi
  • Oluwabunmi Aremu
  • Oluwadamilare Ilesanmi
  • Oluwadamilola Ojikutu
  • Oluwadara Ogunbode
  • Oluwadarasimi Oyewole
  • Oluwadunsin Adebanjo
  • Oluwafemi Odunsi
  • Oluwaferanmi Ajao
  • Oluwafikunayomi Bankole
  • Oluwafisayo Ajanaku
  • Oluwafunmilayo Oyetola
  • Oluwagbemiga Olaleye
  • Oluwajomiloju Fagbemi
  • Oluwakemi Oyekan
  • Oluwakorede Falase
  • Oluwaloni Ogundipe
  • Oluwanifemi Odunlami
  • Oluwapamilerin Adeyemi
  • Oluwapelumi Ogunlade
  • Oluwasanmi Ogunbanjo
  • Oluwasegun Fajemirokun
  • Oluwasemilore Ogundipe
  • Oluwaseun Bankole
  • Oluwaseun Fatunmbi
  • Oluwaseun Ogunyemi
  • Oluwaseun Olukoya
  • Oluwaseunfunmi Olatunji
  • Oluwaseyi Agboola

O, continued

  • Oluwaseyi Olamijulo
  • Oluwaseyi Osifeso
  • Oluwaseyifunmi Ogundipe
  • Oluwatimilehin Ogunleye
  • Oluwatimileyin Akinola
  • Oluwatobi Osunkoya
  • Oluwatobiloba Adeyefa
  • Oluwatoke Ogunyemi
  • Oluwatoni Olukotun
  • Oluwatosin Adeleke
  • Oluwatosin Odunaike
  • Oluwatoyin Akinsanya
  • Oluwatoyin Okunola
  • Oluwatoyosi Ladejobi
  • Oluwatumininu Adeloye
  • Oluwayemisi Oyebanji
  • Oluwole Adewuyi
  • Oluyemi Olateju
  • Omobolanle Fasanya
  • Omolade Abegunde
  • Omolara Adegbite
  • Omolola Oyeleye
  • Omoniyi Oyeyemi
  • Omorinsola Adegbenro
  • Omotayo Adelusi
  • Omoteniola Adekoya
  • Omotola Adegoke
  • Omotosho Oyeleye
  • Omotunrayo Akinrinade
  • Omowumi Adekoya
  • Omowunmi Bakare
  • Onabolu Ogunsanya
  • Opeoluwa Ogunlana
  • Opeyemi Awoyemi
  • Oreoluwa Somoye
  • Osibajo Oyesina
  • Oyekunle Odunayo
  • Oyelaja Ogundana
  • Oyelola Salako
  • Oyenike Adebambo
  • Oyenike Oyebade
  • Oyewale Bankole
  • Oyeyemi Osofisan
  • Oyindamola Ogunsola
  • Oyinkansola Fagbemi
  • Oyinlola Akinfenwa

P: 2 names

  • Pelumi Oyekola
  • Popoola Oyebode

R: 12 names

  • Rafiu Ladipo
  • Ramota Oyewumi
  • Rasaki Oyetunji
  • Rasheed Ogunleye
  • Rasheedat Tijani
  • Remi Faniyi
  • Remilekun Adeseye
  • Risikat Shittu
  • Ronke Adegbola
  • Ronke Adeyoola
  • Rotimi Oyebanji
  • Rukayat Akinola

S: 16 names

  • Sade Olayinka
  • Saheed Osinowo
  • Sanni Ogunmade
  • Sanya Adegbite
  • Segun Olorunfemi
  • Sesan Ogunniran
  • Seye Ogunjobi
  • Seyi Olasupo
  • Sidikat Oladipo
  • Sikiru Bello
  • Similoluwa Babalola
  • Simisola Arowolo
  • Soji Akinlade
  • Sola Fawole
  • Subomi Alakija
  • Sulaimon Adeniji

T: 31 names

  • Taiwo Adebisi
  • Tajudeen Amao
  • Tawakalitu Badmus
  • Tayo Oyekunle
  • Tejumade Kuforiji
  • Tella Oyemade
  • Temidayo Oshinowo
  • Temiloluwa Ajiboye
  • Temitayo Aderibigbe
  • Temitope Balogun
  • Temitope Olubanjo
  • Teniola Osunsanya
  • Timileyin Odetola
  • Tinuke Oyedokun
  • Titilayo Akinyemi
  • Titilope Makinde
  • Tiwalade Osinowo
  • Tiwatope Adesina
  • Tobi Ogunmodede
  • Tokunbo Oyedepo
  • Tokunbo Oyesanya
  • Tolani Olorunnisola
  • Tolu Ogunlade
  • Tolulope Ogunmola
  • Toluwanimi Ogunseye
  • Tomilola Lawal
  • Tomiwa Olagunju
  • Tope Adeyeba
  • Tosin Fadipe
  • Toyin Soyemi
  • Tunde Oyetunde

W: 6 names

  • Waheed Olayiwola
  • Wale Adenuga
  • Wasiu Ayinde
  • Wole Ogunyemi
  • Wumi Oyelese
  • Wuraola Odukoya

Y: 8 names

  • Yejide Fadeyi
  • Yele Oyelaran
  • Yemisi Sobande
  • Yetunde Ogundipe
  • Yewande Oyinlola
  • Yinka Adeoti
  • Yomi Ogundipe
  • Yusuf Olaniyi