Baby Name Explorer

How this baby name explorer works

Type a name, or a word from its meaning, into the search box. Narrow the list with the gender filter (girl, boy or unisex) and the origin filter. The explorer holds 136 names: 37 Igbo, 37 Yoruba, 14 Hausa, and 48 from Arabic, English, Hebrew, Swahili, Akan, Zulu, Kikuyu, Greek and other African sources. Tap a name to see its meaning and origin. If your name is not on the list, add it yourself with its meaning and origin. A name you add stays on this phone, and it is kept for next time only if you add it to your shortlist.

When you have chosen, the tool makes a naming card you can save and share after the naming ceremony. The card shows only the name, its meaning and where it comes from. It never shows a birth date, weight, place of birth or photo. Nothing you type is sent to us.

What a name's meaning and origin tell you

Each name carries one meaning and one origin label. Treat both as a starting point. A name can be spelled more than one way, and it can mean something different in another town or another family. Ask the elders in your family before you decide. Of the 136 names, 71 are marked for girls, 41 for boys and 24 as unisex. Unisex names such as Temidayo (mine has become joy), Ayodele (joy comes home), Kelechi (thank God) and Bisi (born ahead) suit either a girl or a boy.

Reading Nigerian names: many are whole sentences

Some Yoruba and Igbo names in the list say something in full. Temidayo, Ayodele, Simisola (rest in wealth) and Funmilayo (give me joy) are Yoruba names that speak of joy and wealth arriving. Chidinma (God is good), Chibueze (God is king), Kelechi (thank God) and Emeka (he has done great things) are Igbo names that give thanks. Reading the meaning tells you what the family is saying about the child's arrival. It is also the quickest way to check that a name says what you want it to say.

Families name a child at different times and in different ways, depending on their tradition and their faith. Ask your elders when the naming is done and who gives the name. The explorer does not choose for you, and it does not replace that conversation.

What is a good name for a boy?

There is no single best boy's name, and we do not claim one. The list has 41 names marked for boys and 24 unisex names that also suit a boy. Examples from the list include Emeka (Igbo, he has done great things), Tunde (Yoruba, one who returns), Chibueze (Igbo, God is king), Obinna (Igbo, father's heart) and Ibrahim (Arabic, father of many). To narrow the choice, pick the origin that fits your family, say each name out loud with your surname, and ask who else in the family already carries it.

Is there a list of the most popular or unique boys' names?

We do not rank names by how many babies receive them, because we have not found a published Nigerian count we can cite. Be careful with any list that claims to give the top 100 or the most popular names of 2026 in Nigeria unless it names its source. The explorer sorts by meaning and origin. You can check both with your family. It leaves popularity out.

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Common questions

Written by Cynthia Obinatu, community and editorial lead.