A name indicates a person, place, or thing. It may reflect why a person bears it. For instance, one can say Akpan, the firstborn, or Judy, the mechanic. So, a name can serve as a trait, feature, or attribute.
In African culture, people name their children after circumstances they have experienced, events they have witnessed, or situations they find themselves in.
In the Igbo culture, for instance, a tribe predominantly known to love and worship Chukwu, Chi, or Chineke (God), value is placed on names linked to God’s name. So, most Igbo names are attached to God. If you are familiar with Chinua Achebe’s and Chimamanda Adichie’s literature, you will agree that African literary works have a rich display of cultural names. Names like Okechukwu, Uchechukwu, Chima, Chioma, Ekechukwu, Ikechukwu, Ogochukwu, Chidinma, Chukwuebuka, Chukwuemeka, etc. bear names of God, and then what He did or a character of Him.
My name, Okechukwu, means ‘My share from God‘. A typical Igbo name suggests that I am the share of God’s goodness in my family. Isn’t that beautiful?
Let’s look at the name Uchechukwu. Uche means thoughts, wisdom, or understanding, depending on the usage. Chukwu, Chi and Chineke, as I mentioned before means God. So the name can go like this: Uchechi, Uchechineke and so on. But the most used is Uchechukwu, which can be shortened to Uche or Uc, meaning The Thought(s) of God. It can also be said to mean the will of God. There are variants in the name, too. Uchennam means my Father’s will, and Nna in Igbo means Father.
Consider another name, Obinna, Obinnaya, or even Obichukwu (the Father’s/God’s heart/mind). This name is common in the East of Nigeria. Like the biblical David, who was tagged a man after God’s heart, the name Obinna, Obichukwu, or Obieze (King’s Heart) is also common. Amaka means Beautiful, and Ebube is Glory.
Let us consider the name Chukwuemeka. Chukwu means God, and Emeka translates to ‘has done it‘. So, joining the two literally, we have God has done it. Let’s talk about Chika or Chukwuka. A name translated to God is the Greatest! Also, Chukwubuikem is a beautiful name that means God is my strength. Consider the name Chukwuebuka. Translated to God is the biggest or strongest.
