Which Nigerian City Would You Name Your Child After?

Popular Nollywood Actor Alex Ekubor wants to know the city in Nigeria that is suitable to name a child. 

Ekubor was making reference to folks who name their children after European an American cities such as Paris and London.

Any ideas for Nigeria? He suggests Sokoto - Soso for short.

"I think Sokoto is not bad, so you can call him or her Soso for short," Ekubor said

 

 

 

 

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Traditional names in Nigerian and Africa often have unique stories behind them.

From the day or time a baby is born to the circumstances surrounding the birth, several factors influence the names parents choose for their children.

Some people name their child after their parents, someone they love. This is a way of being reminded constantly of the significance of such a person to them.

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Here are some different ways Nigeria/African parents name their children:

Emotional warnings: Some names in Nigeria reflect the mood or circumstance of the family at the time of birth. Some of them serve as warnings or rebukes.

Events surrounding the birth: Among several ethnic groups, picking out names can be influenced by positive or negative circumstances the family finds themselves in around the time a child is born. Often, such names are complete sentences.

Time a child is born: Among some groups in eastern and southern Nigeria, certain names are selected depending on the time of the day or season a child is born.

Order of birth: In many African cultures, there is no need for someone to explain whether they are the eldest or youngest of their siblings. This is because their names can reveal that much. This is especially true of twins.

Days a child is born: Even before parents in Nigeria select a western or religious name for their child, the baby already has a name.

Religious belief: many parents express their religious beliefs through names but some this further than others.