Kanuri people are one of the ethnic groups in North-East Nigeria, with a lot of cultural heritage and rich history. With an estimated 3 Million speakers in Nigeria alone, mostly in Borno and Yobe states, the Kanuri people are one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Kanuri names are also popular among the people. This article will outline a list of Kanuri names and meanings in English, including Kanuri male names and Kanuri female names.

Kanuri Male Names

1. Abdu, Buji, Dala or Dallai – Means Abdullahi, servant of Allah
2. Ramanu or Darman – Means Abdulrahman, servant of the Beneficent
3. Gudusu – Means Abdulquddus, servant of the Holy.
4. Mumin – Means Abdulmumin, servant of the guardian of Faith
5. Mele – Idris
6. Kadir or Kadǝr – Means Abdulqadir, servant of the Able
7. Bukar/Aboor/Gawai/Garwa – Means Abubakar, the father of the little girl
8. Garga – Means Ali, the one who will become high
9. Ngari – Usman
10. Bunu/Sanda/Gasau or Yarema/Umara – Umar
11. Maaji/Kur – The first-born child in a family
12. Butari – Abu Talib
13. Gaji – the last born
14. Chellu – In an incident of three consecutive births, the second child may be renamed Chellu if it is of a different sex from the first and the third.
15. Kawu – A set of twins
16. Wasainyi – Hussaini
17. Gambo – A child born immediately after a set of twins
18. Dulo – A child from multiple births such as triplets are called
19. Jabba – A person born at the peak of the rainy season
20. Sǝrwa – A person born during late rains
21. Asham/Armalan – A person born during the month of Muslim fasting Ramadan
22. Aji or Baitu – A person born during the month of pilgrimage ‘Dhul Hajj’
23. Maulud – A person born on the twelfth day of the third month of the Muslim calendar Rabi’ul Awwal
24. Ngubdo ‘the discarded’ – A child dropped at a refuse dumping site known as ‘Ngubdola’
25. Kundili/Buzu – A child who is very sickly
26. Wagani – When a child’s father dies before the child was born
27. Abatcha/Abacha/Awuza/Bocu (Awa Chabe) meaning ‘the father is reborn’ – A child born when one of their grandparents died recently.
28. Surumbi ‘the repayment’ – A person’s deceased immediate brother.
29. Tar –  Means Mukhtar ‘The Chosen One’
30. Modu/Mommodu/ Allemin – Muhammad
31. Dunoma – The strong one
32. Du’u – Short for servant
33. Laminu – Variation of ‘Al-ameen’, the trustworthy
34. Kalla – Musa
35. Mammadu – Variant of ‘Mahmud or Muhammad’
36. Taibu – The pure one
37. Tar – Short for Mukhtar
38. Konto, Kontoma – Adam
39. Sumain or Sumail – Ismai’l
40. Yaya – Variant of ‘Yahaya’
41. Jiwurla – Variant of Jibirl, named after an angel
42. Kawui – A species of hardwood tree in the savanna as well as a kind of fish
43. Wasayni – Variant of Husaini
44. Kashim – Variant of Kasim

1. Bulama
2. Bakura
3. Zanna
4. Kachalla
5. Mala
6. Goni
7. Kyari

Kanuri Female Names

1. Ngumuri  – A girl born on Sallah day
2. Aji or Baitu – A person born during the month of pilgrimage ‘Dhul Hajj’
3. Madari – Hauwa
4. Maulud – A person born on the twelfth day of the third month of the Muslim calendar Rabi’ul Awwal
5. Shawwallam – A girl born during the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar; Shawwal
6. Londo/Alima/Kawudi/Kodo/Kula – Halima
7. Ngubdo ‘the discarded’ – A  child dropped at a refuse dumping site known as ‘ngubdola’
8. Kundili/Buzu – A  child who is very sickly
9. Budu – Maryam  
10. Durtu – When a child’s father dies before the child was born
11. Yecca/Yedza (Yachabe) ‘the mother is reborn’ – A child born when one of their grandparents died recently.
12. Surumbi ‘the repayment’ – A person’s deceased immediate sister.
13. Amsa/Yamara/Hamsatu/Mara/Kalu/Kawul/Kawule- Hafsat
14. Tukule/Karu/Fandi/Fandau/Falta/Falmata/Yaalta/Kolo/Batul/Bintu/Fanne/Fanna – Fatima
15. Botul/Botula/Busam/Fusam/Dungule/Fanta/Fotuma/Fusam/Koshi/Kului/Lefa/Lewa/Zari – Fatima
16. Balu/Asma– Bilkisu  
17. Foji/Kuura/Mangu – Hadiza  
18. Madari/Mada – Hauwa  
19. Yaruwaiya – Rukayya
20. Maida/Aisa/Aida/Aisa/Asha/Ashe/Bintu/Boli/Maida/Mali/Shetu – Aisha  
21. Sato – Amina
22. Abduram- Daughter of Abdu
23. Bujiram – Daughter of Buji
24. Dalaram – Daughter of Dala
25. Adija/Banna/Hadiza/Khadi/Kubura – Khadijah
26. Ruwaya or Arkwaya – Rukayya
27. Zainawa or Zainam – Zainab
28. Ya- added as a prefix in all female Kanuri names to indicate ‘mother’

Which name was committed in the list of Kanuri names? Which surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments! You can also check Nupe names meaning and Igala names.