100 Kanuri Names and Their Meanings in English

Updated: Jun 9, 2022
By Editorial Staff
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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.

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