Izon-otu, adoo!
Looking for beautiful traditional Ijaw names for your baby boy, or your baby girl? We’ve got you covered.
The Ijaw people are historically referred to as Ijo or Izon people. With a teeming population of over 15 million, they make up the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They are the most populous indigenous inhabitants of the oil-rich Niger Delta, and are spread across Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers State.
The Ijaws take pride in their rich cultural heritage, and also their highly sought after local delicacies such as roasted plantain and fish. Their local delicacies allude to the fact that farming and fishing are the predominant occupation in the area.
In terms of language, the Ijaws speak 9 distinct Niger-Congo languages, all of which belong to the Ijoid branch of the Niger–Congo tree. Izon is more predominant and is spoken in the eastern part by about 5 million people, while Kalabari is spoken in the western part.
Just like other Nigerian tribes, the events or circumstances surrounding a child’s birth influence the names Ijaw parents choose for their children. Most names are also attributed to God, as over 70% of Ijaws are professed christians.
In some Ijaw clans such as Kalabari, European names are a common feature. This is as a result of their early interaction with the European merchant traders and slave traders.
Our list focuses on native Ijaw names, as a way of promoting the rich culture of Ijaw to future parents. View the comprehensive list of Ijaw names for boys below, or Ijaw names for your baby girl here.
Nigerian Baby Names: Ijaw Names For Boys
| NAME | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Abadi-ingobo | Riches from overseas |
| Abalagha | I am not worried |
| Abarasi-Tamunopiri | I leave all for God |
| Abbey | Fine boy |
| Aberebiegha | I do not want trouble |
| Aberemangigha | I face my problems/ I do not run away from problems |
| Abiddekari | Ask them before you say anything |
| Abosimagha | My coming was not wrong |
| Adaere | Father's name |
| Adagogo | Grand father's resemblance |
| Adango | Father's wealth |
| Adaobu | A child born after the death of the father |
| Adawari | Grand father's house |
| Adonye | My wish |
| Afini | The fire of God |
| Agunoyie | Heavenly |
| Ajubonyanagha | I have none other than God |
| Akaderi | Laughter is not love |
| Ake | To receive |
| Akede | Received |
| Akokari | Fruitful |
| Akpo-otupeikumo | Do not listen to the people of the world |
| Akpodigha | Live life carefully |
| Akpoebi | Life is good |
| Akpofemowei | A man who will enjoy life |
| Akpotutari | May the people of the world love me |
| Alali | Happiness |
| Alamieyeseigha | Whatever the king does is right |
| Alawei | Chief |
| Amabara | Right hand |
| Amabipi | The voice of the people |
| Amaibi | The good of the land |
| Amaitara | The town loves me |
| Amakedi | Look upon the town |
| Amaso | The God of the land |
| Amiesimanyeofori | Innocent/ I have done nothing wrong |
| Anetorufa | Excellent |
| Anju | My life |
| Apamor | Volunteer |
| Aparabiegha | I shall not seek revenge |
| Apawaribim | I come from a good home |
| Asitogha | I have no evil intentions |
| Atili | Precious |
| Atoni | Riches |
| Atonye | God's plan |
| Ayebabomote | God's praise |
| Ayebadeinyefa | Nothing is greater than God |
| Ayebaemomoemi | God is with me |
| Ayebaeninidetei | God has shown mercy |
| Ayebaidobamo | God has made me great |
| Ayebainakarimanate | God has answered my prayers |
| Ayebaseighe | God is not bad |
| Ayebatari | God's love |
| Ayebatonbra | God's plan |
| Ayebawomoemi | God is with us |
| Ayetamaranbrakemi | Life is in God's hands |
| Ayibaebi | God's goodness |
| Ayibaefie | God's time |
| Ayibaemi | The goodness of God |
| Ayibanengiyefa | Nothing is greater than God |
| Ayibaseinghe | God is awake |
| Ayibatonye idumobie mie | Let the will of God be done in my life |
| Baafuro | Tomorrow is pregnant/ Nobody knows tomorrow |
| Balafama | Do not be afraid |
| Banimiboofori | Nobody knows tomorrow |
| Baratuipre | Helping hands |
| Basoene | Tomorrow is another day |
| Beinmonyo | I am fulfilled |
| Biedima | I am comforted |
| Biedimanye | A thing of comfort |
| Bieobuma | Don't be offended |
| Bietonye | what I expected |
| Bietonyegha | what I did not expect |
| Binalayefa | There is nothing like relatives (family) |
| Binatu | Family |
| Bitegeragha | Cloth does not speak (a child is worth more than material things) |
| Boboye/ Bubuye | One's own |
| Bolouapamoyenemogha | Nobody knows tomorrow |
| Boloupudigha | No one knows the heart of a person |
| Boma | Praise |
| Boubini | Destiny |
| Brakemi | It's in your hands |
| Brasin | Leave it for God |
| Bubaraye | My personal thing |
| Bulakakotua | Hope |
| Chekirifagha | The land with water cannot get lost |
| Dabara | The father's hand |
| Dagogo | Father's resemblance |
| Damieibi | The good deeds of the father |
| Damiesimagha | My father has not done wrong |
| Daminabo | The father's friend / related to God |
| Daobomate | God bless us |
| Daomuna | God is awake |
| Daopunye | The father's hope |
| Daowanate | God has heard us |
| Daowaninami | God is with us |
| Datonye | God's plan |
| Datubo | The father's child |
| Dauebi | Father's good |
| Daulayefa | Nothing can be compared to a father |
| Dawari | My father's house |
| Debakedoumene | l desire to be great |
| Degbe | Thanks |
| Deinabo | Comes with peace |
| Deinmo | To be victorious |
| Demezoukumor | Don't be in a hurry to insult me |
| Derioteidou | Free from ridicule/ laughter |
| Dibiobuma | Do not take offense |
| Diepreye | Personal gift |
| Dimbainimiobofa | Nobody knows tomorrow |
| Dimien | God's work |
| Ditorusin | Mind your business |
| Douere | Patience |
| Doukpolagha | Beyond discovery |
| Douye | Desire |
| Ebi | Good |
| Ebi-egberi | Good news |
| Ebiaga | Good character |
| Ebiakpo | Good life |
| Ebiarede | My eyes have seen good |
| Ebiasuode | I have come into goodness |
| Ebiboseineyagha | The blessings are mine |
| Ebide | I am now successful |
| Ebidisebofa | Who doesn't like good things? |
| Ebidougha | Doing good never ends |
| Ebieya | Yours is good |
| Ebigba | Speak good/ Talk good |
| Ebikabowei | Goodluck/ Comes with good |
| Ebikeme | Handsome man |
| Ebikemefa | No one is good |
| Ebikemie | Do good |
| Ebikeneye | Good things are my portion |
| Ebiketon | Plan good |
| Ebikewenimo | Moving to glory |
| Ebikiseye | A rich man has many brothers |
| Ebikonbowei | He who comes with good |
| Ebilayefa | Nothing is greater than a good thing |
| Ebimie | Do Good |
| Ebimini | It shall be well |
| Ebimunu | It shall be well |
| Ebiotu | Good people |
| Ebiowei | Handsome man/ Good man/ kind man |
| Ebiowou | Good way |
| Ebipade | Good has come/ good luck/ something good has happened |
| Ebipamor-owei | Good will always follow you |
| Ebipere | Good wealth |
| Ebiperemene | It will be good to me |
| Ebisdor | Everything is good |
| Ebisenbofa | Nobody is perfect |
| Ebisuode | Good has come |
| Ebitari | Good love |
| Ebitimi | Remain blessed |
| Ebiundu | Good life |
| Ebiye | Good thing |
| Ebiye | Good thing |
| Ebiyerin | Goodness |
| Ebiyopreye | It is well with you |
| Ebiziimo | Born into glory/goodness/ fortune |
| Edisemorkrumor | Do not look down on me |
| Egirigi | Great person |
| Ekankumo | Don't plan bad against me |
| Ekiodieyegha | Sense/ wisdom cannot be shared |
| Ekiofegha | Sense/ wisdom cannot be bought |
| Ekiye | Remember me |
| Ekiyor | Clever man/ Wisdom |
| Ekpoblokemi | I am ahead too |
| Ekpöebi-ölamene | I shall be as good as you people |
| Ekpolayun | It will reach you too |
| Embeleakpo | Sweet life |
| Emomotimi | Stay with me |
| Enai | My own |
| Enemo | Endurance/ Perseverance |
| Eneteghena | Hear my prayer |
| Eneyi | My own |
| Enibra | My hand |
| Enibraye | Mine |
| Enietinkumo | Don't ask for what is destined to be mine |
| Enieyekeye | Self-appointed |
| Eremiemi | My name shall live on |
| Esikumo | Don't be afraid |
| Ewoyengipasisei-inetemona | Please God hear my prayers |
| Eyerinmene | Lively |
| Ezoukumor | Be steady/ Do not be in a hurry |
| Fasingha | A name never dies |
| Finidi | Open and see |
| Fundudiyegha | One's education cannot be inherited |
| Funkuro | Knowledge is power |
| Funpere | Education is wealth |
| Gbanaibolou | Faith |
| Gesikeme | Truthful man/ honest man/ upright man |
| Gesiye | Truth |
| Ibiama | Good land |
| Ibiaso | Good path |
| Ibibama | My kindness will not backfire / kill me |
| Ibibo | Nice fellow |
| Ibienebo | Born on a good day |
| Ibiere | Good name |
| Ibierefagha | Good name lasts forever/ is never lost |
| Ibifagha | A good deed is never lost |
| Ibifubara | Good luck |
| Ibikisi | Good health |
| Ibim | I am good |
| Ibima | It will be good |
| Ibimina | Good relations |
| Ibiminapa | Wealth attracts many friends |
| Ibinye | Good thing |
| Ibisa | Good time |
| Ibiso | God is good |
| Ibitamuno | Good God |
| Ibitoru | Good sight |
| Ibiwangi | Good journey |
| Ibiwari | Good household |
| Ibiye | A Good Thing |
| Ibumieghaye | Not my making |
| Ibunimi | Know yourself |
| Idaere | My father's name |
| Idah | My father |
| Idakari | My father's decree |
| Idala | My father's wealth |
| Idasenibo | My father is a house elder |
| Idawari | My father's house |
| Idawarifagha | My father's house is not lost |
| Iderima | Do not ridicule me |
| Igbiegeragha | Money does not speak |
| Igunikeme | Stranger |
| Ikio-tonye | What I thought of in my heart or mind / Heart's desire |
| Ikiomoyemi | There is hope |
| Ikomiemiphobia | Say no more/ No more talks |
| Ikubienemibo-Ofori | Nobody knows my heart |
| Imomoemi | Abide in me |
| Imomotimi | Stay with me |
| Inakposeimokumo | Don't destroy my life |
| Inango | My wealth |
| Inemo | Endurance |
| Inemoweri | Endurance |
| Ingofegha | Poverty is not bought |
| Inibrayekedoh | Find your own |
| Inyanaboimieari | My God is not done with me |
| Inyingiala | Wealth |
| Ituaton | Remember me |
| Iyeala | My children are my wealth |
| Iyeopu | My greatest possession |
| Jesumiyen | Jesus has done it |
| Karibi | Blessing |
| Kariebi | The blessing we prayed for |
| Kemeke-emienebibragha | I will never forget the good works of people |
| Kemelayefa | Nothing is greater than a human being |
| Kenisuomein | Unity |
| Kromor | Energetic |
| Kurokagha | I didn't take it by force |
| Kurokeme | Strong man |
| Ndukari | Pray for long life |
| Nengimote | Above all |
| Ngoebi | Money is good |
| Ngoebiye | Wealth is good |
| Ngowari | Wealthy house |
| Nimi | Knowledge |
| Nsanawaji | God's mercy |
| Nye-Igbaribiya | My own shall not miss/ pass me by |
| Odounkakpo | Long life |
| Ogbotubo | Child of the soil |
| Ogola | Judgement |
| Oifie | This is our season |
| Okubhatobofegha | Money cannot buy a child |
| Okubo | Money |
| Olobofa | There's none like him |
| Olotu | Champion |
| Ondotimi | Stay alive |
| Ondoukari | Pray for long life |
| Ondoware | Old House / The family shall live long in the house |
| Opukimi | Big man |
| Opukiri | Big land |
| Opuowei | Great person |
| Orotonyopagha | Not as they wish |
| Ovie | Goodness |
| Owei | Man |
| Oweipa | Man enough |
| Oweipare | A man has arrived |
| Owoturufa | Unique |
| Owoufimiuowei | A man who opens the way |
| Oyakemederekumor | Do not make fun of the poor |
| Oyinagonoemi | God is in heaven |
| Oyinbiamotimi | May all God's blessings be with me |
| Oyinbrakemi | It's in the hands of God |
| Oyindeinmode | God is the greatest/ God supercedes |
| Oyinenade | God has heard me |
| Oyinketonperemunu | God will plan for me |
| Oyinkuro | God's power |
| Oyinmeide | God has done it |
| Oyinmiebi | The good deeds of God |
| Oyintare | God's love |
| Padaboughayefa | All things shall pass |
| Paebi | Prosper |
| Paibi | Progress/ Success |
| Peibolou | Faith |
| Pelleghedi | Indestructible |
| Père | Wealth/ Riches/ King |
| Pere dieyeagha | Wealth is not shared/ You can only become wealthy from your own efforts |
| Pereama | Wealthy community/ town |
| Perebowei | A man who comes with wealth |
| Perekebena | Wealth brings relationships |
| Perekeme | Wealthy person |
| Perekemebinaoyagha | A rich man doesn't lack relatives |
| Perelayefa | The richest |
| Peremobo-owei | A man born with wealth and riches/ comes with wealth |
| Peremoboere | Good fortune |
| Pereotu | Wealthy people |
| Pereozoukumo | Don't rush for riches |
| Perepakerekere | There are different types of wealth |
| Peresuotei | King/ wealth has come into the home |
| Perewari-perefa | The rich man's house will always be rich |
| Pereyei | Wealthy husband |
| Preye | Good/ Gift |
| Seigha | Nothing is spoilt/ bad |
| Seikemefa | No one is bad |
| Seimieghan | Do no harm |
| Seimobofa | No one can destroy me |
| Seipaleyagha | Stainless |
| Seiyefa | Nothing is bad |
| Sele | Money |
| Selefirimogha | They don't send money on an errand |
| Seriake | Chosen one |
| Songo | Heavenly wealth |
| Suala | War lord |
| Suoyo | Gain |
| Tamara-brakemi | It's in the hands of God |
| Tamara-denbofa | There is none greater than God |
| Tamara-doubra | God's will |
| Tamara-ebi | God bless |
| Tamara-ebielare | God's goodness is mine |
| Tamara-emi | There is God |
| Tamara-emoemi | God is with me (Emmanuel) |
| Tamara-etuemi | God has my back/ God is behind me |
| Tamara-karena | Serve God |
| Tamara-pere | The riches of God/ God is king |
| Tamarakpo | God owns the world |
| Tamarakro | God is strong |
| Tamaralayefa | There's none like God / Nothing is bigger than God |
| Tamaramiebi | God's gift |
| Tamaramiyene | God has done it |
| Tamarataena | God heard my prayers |
| Tamaratare | Love God |
| Tamaraudoubra | God's will |
| Tamaraukro | God's power |
| Tamaraumieyeiseigha | The works of God cannot be faulted |
| Tamarautare | Love God |
| Tamuno-idah | God is my father |
| Tamuno-iyeowuna | God heard my cry |
| Tamuno-ogonoemi | God is above |
| Tamuno-omi/ Tamuno-emi | There is God |
| Tamunobarabinye | What I requested from God |
| Tamunobarasua | Commit it into God's hands |
| Tamunobeinimiboofori | Nobody knows the mind of God |
| Tamunobesa | God's time |
| Tamunobiekirim | God's mind is different |
| Tamunodenyefa | Nothing is too big for God |
| Tamunogobofagha | He who beleieves in God is safe |
| Tamunoibiekpomam | God has increased my hope |
| Tamunoinyeonwa | God has answered my prayer / cry |
| Tamunoitekena | God answered my prayer |
| Tamunomiebaka | God has done much/ God has done well |
| Tamunonengiyeofori | Nothing is greater than God |
| Tamunoprinye | God's gift |
| Tamunosa | God's time |
| Tamunosaki | God's time is the best |
| Tamunosiki | God's time |
| Tamunotonye/ Tonye | God's will/ God's desire |
| Tamunoyemiepiriyabo-ofori | There's no one that God doesn't do something for. |
| Tare | Love |
| Tari-emi | There is love |
| Tarikebulou | Love first |
| Tarilayefa | Love is the greatest/ there is nothing greater than love |
| Tarimoboewei | The one who comes with blessings |
| Teinane | God has answered |
| Tekena | Listen to my plea |
| Tibikaemi | DFestiny |
| Timadi | Let them watch and see what I will become. |
| Timiebi | Have patience and wealth will come |
| Timiebibo | The joy of living |
| Timieri | Live to see |
| Timilaemi | It's worth staying put |
| Timioyeinkedi | Stay and look up to God |
| Timipamene | You Will Live Long/ You Will Not Die Young/ You will stay till you are out |
| Timipre | Stay for me |
| Tokini | praise |
| Tokoni | Praise |
| Tolumu | Counselling |
| Torukro | Be strong |
| Tubokebima | The good child |
| Tubolayefa | There is nothing like a child |
| Tuboukëyei | The child is the husband/ A child is a husband |
| Wariebi | Good family/ progressive family |
| Wengibunugha | God does not sleep |
| Woyengi-Momoemi | God is with me |
| Woyengidengimokuronipre | God give me power to conquer. |
| Woyengiemi | God is alive |
| Woyengikurotimi | May the power of the almighty God stay with you |
| Woyinpreye | God's gift |
| Youbaitongha | There is no forbidden day for travelling |
| Ziola | The last born |
| Zuo | Protection |
| Züöböömö-iye | Salvation |
Were any names missed out? Please tell us, and their meanings too!
Am very grateful to this precious thing, TIMIWEI YAYI