Male and Female Yoruba Oriki Names + Meanings

Timelessgist November 28, 2023 Culture & History, Nigeria Leave a comment

Yoruba Oriki names and Oriki meaning – In Yoruba culture, an “Oriki” is a form of praise poetry or a praise name. It is a genre of Yoruba verbal art through which individuals, families, and communities express their identities and feelings. Oriki can be used to praise a person, a deity, a town, or even an event. It serves as a means of preserving and transmitting the history, culture, and values of the Yoruba people.

Orikis are often used in various social and cultural contexts, such as ceremonies, rituals, and celebrations. They are highly poetic and can be intricate, using metaphorical language to convey deep meanings and highlight the virtues or characteristics of the subject being praised.

Yoruba names are grouped into five categories which include:

Yoruba Names Groups	Meaning
Oruko Amutorunwa	meaning Destiny Names
Oruko Oriki	meaning Panegyrics
Oruko Inagije	meaning Alias
Oruko Abiso	meaning Acquired Names

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Yoruba Oriki names

Yoruba Oriki Names for Female (yoruba Female Oriki)

Nr.	Yoruba Female oriki	Oriki Meaning
1	Atunke	means a child that would be continually taken care of.
2	Àbèní	means we begged to have this one i.e. a child that was begged for to have or born (from God or, more often traditionally, the gods).
3	Akanke	means one who is especially cherished or pampered.
4	Àlàké	means someone that circumstances had to be overcome to take care of her.
5	Amoke	means one known in order to care for.
6	Ajoke	means jointly cherished or jointly beloved or meaning meant to be taken care of by all.
7	Àbèbí	This Oriki name is given to someone that was given birth to after a lot of persuasions (probably a difficult birth).
8	Agbeke	means one carried in order to pet.
9	Aweni	means a child to be bathed and possessed.
10	Àdùké	means a child that people will fight over the privilege to care for her and pamper her.
11	Amope	Thisname means that one whose knowledge is complete.
12	Awero	means one that is bathed and covered in wrappers.
13	Ajike	means someone that wakes up to petting/pampering.
14	Abeke	means one that is begged to care for or pampered.
15	Ànìké	means a child that was born to be pampered.
16	Abegbe	mean a child that we begged to carry.
17	Adubi	means one we struggled to birth. Usually, given to a baby born via breech birth.
18	Ayinke	means was that is meant to praise and pet.
19	Asake	meaning a daughter picked or selected to be pampered or cherished.
20	Ayoka	meaning one who causes joy.
21	Aduni	mean a joy to have or one we struggled to have.
22	Àríké	meaning someone that is meant to be pampered or care for on sight.
23	Asabi	means one selected for birth.
24	Apeke	means called or born to be cared for or pampered. The name is usually followed by soothing words and songs.

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Yoruba Oriki for Male (yoruba Male oriki)

Nr.	yoruba Male oriki	Oriki Meaning
1	Adisa	The literal meaning of this Oriki is one bundled up and spread to dry.
2	Ajala	It means the one who has fought and survived.
3	Akanni	means one that is special to have.
	Akangbe	means one consciously or deliberately carried.
4	Ayinla	A child meant to be praised, feted, and disciplined.
5	Aremu	It means the one needing to be consoled before being picked up.
6	Akanbi	means one that is consciously or deliberately born.
7	Ajadi	meaning the end of a conflict.
8	Alade	means one who survives to arrive.
	Alagbe	means the one who survived to be carried.
	Akande	eans one who purposefully came.
9	Alabi	means one born to the white cloth (of Ọbàtálá).
10	Adigun	means the perfectionist.
11	Atanda	This name one created to shine brightness.
12	Àjàní	meaning a child we fought for to have. It is a name given to a son that is valued and cherished because of the victory fought and overcame to have him.
13	Ayinde	Meaning one who arrives when praised.
14	Ariyo	meaning someone that people rejoice at the sight of him.
15	Àkànní	meaning “met only once to have this child.” It is also a Yoruba Oriki given to a first male child.
16	Alani	means one we survived to have.
17	Àkànjí	means the one whose touch gives life.
19	Àkànde Àgàn	meaning favourite of the prince.
20	Akanmu	Yoruba Oriki name meaning personally chosen.
	Àjàgbé	meaning fought to carry this child.