Kanuri Names for girls and Boys (meaning) - Seek.ng

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Kanuri Names for girls and Boys (meaning)

Published on: • Categories: Know-Nigeria

Kanuri names, influenced heavily by their Islamic heritage and the historical culture of the Kanem-Bornu Empire, often reflect religious connections, traditional titles, or the circumstances of the child’s birth. Many common names are shared with other Muslim communities, while traditional names have unique Kanuri meanings.

Kanuri Names for Boys and Their Meanings

NameGenderMeaning / Origin
MainaBoy (M)Prince, a name of royalty and high prestige.
ZannaBoy (M)Title used for high-ranking traditional officials, often a name of prestige.
BulakarimaBoy (M)Traditional title given to a learned person or scholar.
LawanBoy (M)Village head or District Head.
ShettimaBoy (M)Traditional title, often given to the head of a professional group or a distinguished person.
BakoBoy (M)A male person who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
AmaleBoy (M)Strong and powerful (literally, a full-grown camel).
AbarshiBoy (M)One born after several miscarriages or infantile deaths (from Allah ya barshi – May God retain him).
AltineBoy (M)One born on Monday (a common West African naming tradition).

Kanuri Names for Girls and Their Meanings

NameGenderMeaning / Origin
Maira (Ya Maira)Girl (F)Princess.
YadowomaGirl (F)Name given to the elder sister of the Shehu (traditional ruler).
Ya KingiGirl (F)Name given to the daughter of a prince/princess (granddaughter of an eminent ruler).
JemilaGirl (F)Derived from Arabic, meaning Beautiful.
HawaGirl (F)Derived from Arabic, the name of Eve.
ĮjjąGirl (F)A female person who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
AbartaGirl (F)One born after several miscarriages or infantile deaths (from Allah ya barta – May God retain her).
AtineGirl (F)One born on Monday.
AzumiGirl (F)One born during the holy month of Ramadan (Fasting).

Many Kanuri names, especially those linked to titles (Maina, Zanna, Shettima), are names of prestige given to honor the person or their family’s lineage, and are often more popular than the child’s given religious name.

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