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 |
Related: Top 100 Yoruba Slangs in Nigeria and their Meanings
Read also: 200+ Cultural Female Yoruba Names and their Meanings
Also read: 1000+ Igbo Names and Their Meanings
Suggested: 90+ Cultural Igbo Names and their Meanings
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. |
Also read: 700+ Yoruba Names and Their Meanings
Related: List of Top 21 Dethroned Traditional Rulers in Nigerian History
Also read: Top 20 Fashion Schools in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria
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. | |
Also read: Top 15 Richest Pastors in Nigeria 2023
Related: Top 10 Most Popular Markets in Lagos State
Read also: Top 10 Most Popular Markets in OSun State