The Nupe people (Nupawa) are a historic tribe found mostly in Niger state, and other states in North Central Nigeria. With over 3.5 million people, they are one of the largest tribes in Nigeria. The Nupe people are currently headquartered in Bida emirate of Niger state, where the Etsu Nupe reigns as the leader of all Nupe people and one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria.

Like most ethnic groups and tribes, Nupe people have their own traditions and cultures. Many Nupe people have tribal marks on their faces as a means for identifying with their culture. The Nupe people are also skilled artists with so many of their ancient works now extinct.

Because of all this, it is no surprise that the Nupe people have their own traditional way of naming baby boys and girls at birth. In this article, we have compiled a list of more than 150 Nupe names and their meanings, some of which will absolutely shock you.

Let’s go.

Nupe Names and Their Meanings

1. Aba – Father
2. Abaji – Riverine, River Place
3. Abara = Royal Blessing
4. Abawa = Nupe Person. Note: In former times the Nupe people were known as the Eba people or Ebawa or Abawa.
5. Abugi = House, Compound, Community
6. Adama = Father of all (First Human Being)
7. Alfa – Teacher, Islamic Scholar, Caliph
8. Aluwo = Powerful, Owner, Influence, Power
9. Amangi – Paterfamilias
10. Angulu = Holy Person, Savant, Priest, Undertaker
11. Antu {also written as Hantu} – Favour.
12. Ba’bishe = Fowl Master, Poultry Farmer
13. Badegi – Strangers Community, Foreign
14. Badoko = Horse Master, Horse Keeper
15. Bagi = Male, King, Lord.
16. Bago – Affluence, King
17. Bakudu – Father of Kudu, Master of Kudu, Father from Kudu
18. Bakuso – Forest Keeper, Forest Prophet
19. Baluku – Pigeon Keeper
20. Bamasin – Tailor
21. Banma = Parent’s Elder
22. Banna = Mother’s Elder
23. Baro = Wharf, Waterside
24. Bawusa – Sacred Person’s Man
25. Bele = Sovereign, Great King, Monarch Note: Bele is a very ancient Nupe royal title for a great emperor.
26. Bologi = Fine, Beautiful, Handsome
27. Cata = Sovereign, Head of State
28. Cece – Powerful Person
29. Ceceko – Great Powerful, Powerful Person
30. Ceninya = Commander, Leader, Head
31. Dangana = Emperor
32. Daninya = Kingly, Sovereign, Royalty
33. Dari = Mighty, Large, Big, Honorable Person
34. Dewo = Wealthy, Have Money, Power, Influence
35. Dogi = Hamlet, Village
36. Dokodza = Rein, Horse rein
37. Dombashi = Great Lord, Almighty
38. Dwale = Almighty Person, Ruler, Might, Power)]
39. Dzukogi = Small Market
40. Dzukoko = Big Market, Supermarket
41. Dzuma = Friday
42. Dzwafu = Aboriginal Settlement, Ancient Town, Old City
43. Ebo = Person, Man
44. Ebwagi = Freedom, Freetown
45. Edozhigi = Campsite Settlement, Hut
46. Ejiko = King, Town Head
47. Enagi = Game Reserve, Animal
48. Etsu = King, God, Sun
49. Evuti = White Land
50. Eyagi = River Niger
51. Gabi = Emperor, King, Prince
52. Gana = Emperor
53. Garba = Father of Bakara faithful
54. Gata = Kingly, Royal
55. Gbangba = Land, Field, Open Land
56. Gbako = River
57. Gbongbo = the Great, Big Boss, Boss
58. Gborigi = Mighty Person, Very Powerful Person
59. Gboya = Giant
60. Ndagidi = God’s Man
61. Gimba = King, Lord, Holy Person, Prophet
62. Ginya = Royal Person
63. Giwa = Great Person, Powerful Person, Elephant
64. Gogo = Queen, Madam, Aunty, Grandmother
65. Go’ogbo = Empress, Powerful Queen
66. Goyi = Fulani
67. Gulu = Holy Spirit, Sacred Thing
68. Iye = Person
69. Jiya = King, Chief
70. Jiwo = King, Chief
71. Kadiri = Almighty
72. Kafa = Royal, Kingly, King King
73. Kaka = Grandmother, Aunty
74. Kaso = Divine Person, Diviner, Prophet
75. Katun = Knowledge
76. Kere = Ground, Land, Earth
77. Keremi = Paved Road, Field, Landmass
78. Ketso = Holy Person, Holy
79. Kiatswa = Holy Person, Holy thing
80. Kobo = Prince, Royal Person, Royalty
81. Kodi = Stranger, Foreigner
82. Kofian = King, Kingly, Royal Person
83. Kolo = King, Emperor; River Spirit, River Niger God, God of the River Niger
84. Koroka = Riverine, Royal
85. Kpotun = Ambassador
86. Kudu = Pond, River, River Niger, Sea, Ocean
87. Kure = Warrior, Hunter, Butcher
88. Kuso = Holy, Sacred, Holy Person, Sacred King
89. Kusodu = Mayor, Chief, King [Old Nupe: Kuso (Sacred King) + Edu (Settlement, Nation)]
90. Kuta = King
91. Legbo = Jinn, Genie, Spirit; Mighty, Powerful
92. Lerama = Prince, Royal Person, Royalty
93. Lile = Landlord, feudal lord, Mighty Person, Chief, King, Emperor
94. Liman = Imam, Leader of the faithful
95. Lolo = Song, Music
96. Lukpan = Executioner, Official Killer, Warrior, Military Officer
97. Makun = Crown Prince, Heir Apparent
98. Mamman = Prince, Honorable, Chief, Great Person, Parent
99. Mandzwakwa = Aborigines, Aboriginal People, Original Homeland
100. Manfada = Palace Person
101. Manmasun = Prince Esun
102. Masaga = Factory, Glassworks
103. Mayaki = War General, General
104. Mazhi = Mayor, Chief of the Town
105. Nagenu = Royal Person, Prince
106. Ndace = King, Ruler, Leader, Great Master
107. Ndadzan = Master Drummer
108. Ndagi = Paternal Uncle, Master
109. Ndagidi = God’s Man
110. Ndagiman = Uncle Man
111. Ndako = Grandfather, Ancestor; Emperor, King
112. Ndakobo = Prince Doyen, Paramount Prince, Heir Apparent; Prince, Royalty
113. Ndakuru = Holy Master, Priest
114. Ndakuso = Godly Man, Holy Master
115. Ndalati = Farm Master Maste, Field Master
116. Ndalolo = Song Master, Musician
117. Ndaman = Mister Teacher
118. Ndaminin = Chamberlain, Master of the House
119. Ndana = Shepherd
120. Ndangboro = Paramount Chief, Big Man
121. Ndasa = Sacred Master, Holy Priest
122. Ndatsakpe = Priest of Holy Land
123. Ndeji = King, Prime Minister
124. Ninwoye = Very Powerful Person
125. Nkoci = Councilor
126. Nnadzwa = Fresh Lady, Beautiful Woman
127. Nnafiania = Monarch, King, Kingly
128. Nnagi = Maternal aunt, Madam
129. Nnako = Grandmother
130. Nnakogi = Grandmother One
131. Nnakuso = Godly Woman, Priestess
132. Nnakun = War General, Warrior, Death One, Death
133. Nnani = Madam, Mother Superior
134. Nnamasa = Woman who fry masa
135. Nmanna = Mother’s Uncle
136. Nnashirun = Black One, Holy Female Child
137. Nnawusa = Sacred Woman
138. Nmanda = Great Master, Great Ancestor
139. Nyizagi = Female, King
140. Saba = High Priest, God’s Messenger, Divine Oracle
141. Sakiwa = Kingly Person, Royal Person
142. Sambo = Godly
143. Shaba = Heir Apparent, King, Kingly, Royal Person
144. Sheshi = Angel, Sky King, God
145. Shehu = Islamic Scholar
146. Shiru = Black One, Holy Child
147. Soje = Sacred King
148. Sokyara = Holy Master, Priest
149. Sonfada  = Prime Minister
150. Sonfawa = Head Butcher
151. Soninya = Queen
152. Swasun = Living, Lively Person, Person full of Life
153. Tafian = Palace, Capital City, King’s Town
154. Tako = Monarch, Emperor, Great King
155. Tanko = Thanksgiving
156. Tetengi = Small, Little
157. Tsado = Holy Town, Sacred City
158. Tsadu = Holy River, River Niger; Holy town, Sacred Town, Holy Settlement
159. Tsadza = Holy Person
160. Tsaragi = King, Sacred King, Kingly; Godly; Sun
161. Tsudi = Foreign King, Stranger King
162. Tsunyankpa = Lanlord, Feudal Lord, Principal
163. Tswaida = Sacred King, Holy Ruler
164. Umaru = Black African
165. Wambai = Minister, King’s Messenger, Lord’s
166. Wogbo = Great Power
167. Woye = Powerful Person
168. Wusa = Sacred Person
169. Yabagi = Lord’s Person, King’s Officer
170. Ya’Iye = Person, Senior Person
171. Yaman = Elder Teacher
172. Yanda = Elder Master
173. Yawo = Person, Wife
174. Yerama = Prince, Royal Person, Royalty
175. Yisa = King, Sun, God

Which name do you think we omitted? Which other tribe’s names will you like to see compiled? Tell us in the comments.