The Meanings of These Nupe Names will Absolutely Shock You

Updated: Mar 3, 2022
By Editorial Staff
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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.

Related: 150+ Traditional Hausa Names and Their Meanings

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.

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2 Comments

  1. Kolo Suzan Elijah

    You omitted Nnakashi

    Reply
  2. Tsado Sunday Maliko

    Is it Maliko or Mariko? This has not been added, and I don’t know which one is correct.
    I bear the name and I want to know the correct spelling of it

    Reply

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