I believe most of the people on this forum are of the same generation, or of the two generations that commonly have a traditional and a native name (especially if you're from the eastern region).

I have also seen a trend of parents around our age choosing either only native names or only English names. So I want to survey Nairaland to see what the future will look like.

Will your children have a native and english name, native only or english only?


PS: If you are from the far north, names like Muhammadu, Yusefu are also foreign names, so I want to know if you will use a traditional name or one native to your language?

Native only for me

First name : native.

Middle name : English.

Native names from me. The mother can give English names though...

Native name only.

English name and native name.

All this people above saying native names, You people don't know what is going on... The kids will grow to rename themselves especially on social media.

At the University a lot of girls drop their name.

You might be praying for your son Chisom, while he has acquired the name Kelvin in school..


You might also be praying for your daughter chioma, while she is answering Cynthia in school.

Names u won't know when they imported them.. smh

Nigerians no deh dull at all.

They'll have both.

But the native names, the grandparents will have to choose them . The language that I understand is not one I can name my children in.

Let me contribute! I love native names! Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ishekiri, etc! I also love traditional English names like Williams, Elizabeth, Andrew. Or even the Victorian names like Isabelle...

Depending on who my children's father turn out to be, we would combine our native names,especially the old ones. Asake, Wuraola....mouthing them sef is making me happy

Both
I'm in an inter tribal marriage so we gave our kids both.

Like my son is answering a Northern name while his Father is from the South.

Munzy14:
All this people above saying native names, You people don't know what is going on... The kids will grow to rename themselves especially on social media.

At the University a lot of girls drop their name.

You might be praying for your son Chisom, while he has acquired the name Kelvin in school..


You might also be praying for you daughter chioma, while she is answering Cynthia in school.

Names u won't know when they imported them.. smh

Nigerians no deh dull at all.

It depends. There are some 'sweet' native names out there. What's wrong with Lara, ife, Amarachi? its just best we give them cool names. Just that Africans like to tell their life stories through names. Names like idongesit, ufot or muritala are not appealing.

My children will have both. Most importantly, the native name has to be the first name, the English name must also have a meaning.

Munzy14:
All this people above saying native names, You people don't know what is going on... The kids will grow to rename themselves especially on social media.

At the University a lot of girls drop their name.

You might be praying for your son Chisom, while he has acquired the name Kelvin in school..


You might also be praying for you daughter chioma, while she is answering Cynthia in school.

Names u won't know when they imported them.. smh

Nigerians no deh dull at all.

You also have to teach the child to have pride in themselves. If peer pressure is enough for someone to change their name, that same person is not strong enough to reject drugs, crime, predatory sexual activities etc. Not saying that everyone who changes their name in school is a druggie or criminal but it's a sign that something is missing.

something that hopefully gets patched with maturity but is necessary at a young age because the negative influences in society only increase with time.

I'm having a full native name 100% and I love it. My children will have a full 100% native name. No name can beat the likes of Adediwura, Oluwasunmisola, Adeife, Adesewa, Oyindamola, Kanyinsola, Adelanke, Adebusola, Wuraola, Ewatomi, etc. I'm a proud Yoruba boy, and I'm so proud of the language, culture, heritage. Will white men from Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Australia, etc name their Children African names?
So....natives name all the way, it's a trend in my family, both home and abroad.

kbrisco:
Native only for me

Aswr.....

None of them will answer any foreign name....


I don't know the rationale behind downlooking at our native names while we glorify foreign names

PrimadonnaO:
They'll have both.

But the native names, the grandparents will have to choose them . The language that I understand is not one I can name my children in.

Abeg explain

Toluobaeko11:
I'm having a full native name 100% and I love it. My children will have a full 100% native name. No name can beat the likes of Adediwura, Oluwasunmisola, Adeife, Adesewa, Oyindamola, Kanyinsola, Adelanke, Adebusola, Wuraola, Ewatomi, etc. I'm a proud Yoruba boy, and I'm so proud of the language, culture, heritage. Will white men from Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Australia, etc name their Children African names?
So....natives name all the way, it's a trend in my family, both home and abroad.

I stand with you even though I'm Igbo
.....

I'll rather give my children a Yoruba or African name....

White people will not answer our names, why then should we answer theirs....

I remember a priest who said that for you to do confirmation (Catholic doctrine), you'll have to use a saint name.....and apart from one or 3 saints, the rest are non African

Xavfra:





Aswr.....

None of them will answer any foreign name....


I don't know the rationale behind downlooking at our native names while we glorify foreign names

I have an english name but my child doesn't, and I live in the US. When you leave Nigeria you'll learn that were are the only people in the world that do this lol.

If Barack Hussien Obama can be the president of the US, I don't know why Chioma Ojiaku must becomes Judith Ojiaku to survive UNI. In fact they called Barack Barry as a childhood nickname, but when he was ready to enter politics to took on his real name full time.

Xavfra:



I stand with you even though I'm Igbo
.....

I'll rather give my children a Yoruba or African name....

White people will not answer our names, why then should we answer theirs....

I remember a priest who said that for you to do confirmation (Catholic doctrine), you'll have to use a saint name.....and apart from one or 3 saints, the rest are non African

This is interesting. Is there a reason you prefer a Yoruba name or did I miss understand you?

OruExpress:


I have an english name but my child doesn't, and I live in the US. When you leave Nigeria you'll learn that were are the only people in the world that do this lol.

If Barack Hussien Obama can be the president of the US, I don't know why Chioma Ojiaku must becomes Judith Ojiaku to survive UNI. In fact they called Barack Barry as a childhood nickname, but when he was ready to enter politics to took on his real name full time.

I do as well have an English name although I'm going to change it sooner.....


Native names carry great powers and authority.....

If you take your time and study your name, you'll see that it holds power.and authority.....

When I was younger, I used to believe a person without an English name was local.....no.....it's people who have English names that are suffering from inferiority complex.......

Our local names tell who we are.....

If I say my native name or.my surname, you'll be able to know where I'm from....( NATIVE NAMES GIVE IDENTITY TO US)

But when someone answers James brown, you'll wonder where he or she is from and...


As Chinua Achebe said, " he doesn't know where the rain started to beat him wouldn't know where he dried his clothes".

OruExpress:


This is interesting. Is there a reason you prefer a Yoruba name or did I miss understand you?

It's not like I prefer it, but Igbo and Yoruba names carry great powers and authority ( please other tribes should be offended)......

I'm using it as an example as well

Xavfra:



It's not like I prefer it, but Igbo and Yoruba names carry great powers and authority ( please other tribes should be offended)......

I'm using it as an example as well

oh ok, I thought you meant that you will personally name your child with a Yoruba name rather than Igbo. But yes I agree with you, both languages have names that are major assets in shaping identity and purpose. I can never sacrifice that to start calling my child Crypus or Darlington lol

First name: English, middle name: native

OruExpress:


You also have to teach the child to have pride in themselves. If peer pressure is enough for someone to change their name, that same person is not strong enough to reject drugs, crime, predatory sexual activities etc. Not saying that everyone who changes their name in school is a druggie or criminal but it's a sign that something is missing.

something that hopefully gets patched with maturity but is necessary at a young age because the negative influences in society only increase with time.

@bold:

OruExpress:


oh ok, I thought you meant that you will personally name your child with a Yoruba name rather than Igbo. But yes I agree with you, both languages have names that are major assets in shaping identity and purpose. I can never sacrifice that to start calling my child Crypus or Darlington lol

Sure......

All those names have no power in Africa..... I call them surface names......

African native names are deep and meaningful.....

OruExpress:


oh ok, I thought you meant that you will personally name your child with a Yoruba name rather than Igbo. But yes I agree with you, both languages have names that are major assets in shaping identity and purpose. I can never sacrifice that to start calling my child Crypus or Darlington lol

Sure I can't.....

Our African names are superior........

Our parents generation were fooled to believe you have to give your child an English name (after a saint) for the child to be baptized especially in the Catholic Church and I think it's still the case in Nigeria
I was willing to do a first name: native (father's tribe) middle name: native(mothers tribe) and an English baptizimal name but I was informed he didn't need an 'english name's so I dropped it.

I have an English middle name and when foreign colleagues ask if they can call me by it..I always tell them no. If I can pronounce your name, you can pronounce mine too. And I make sure they pronounce it properly no matter how long it take us

Xavfra:


Aswr.....

None of them will answer any foreign name....

I don't know the rationale behind downlooking at our native names while we glorify foreign names

Does giving English names indicate looking down on native names.

Toluobaeko11:
I'm having a full native name 100% and I love it. My children will have a full 100% native name. No name can beat the likes of Adediwura, Oluwasunmisola, Adeife, Adesewa, Oyindamola, Kanyinsola, Adelanke, Adebusola, Wuraola, Ewatomi, etc. I'm a proud Yoruba boy, and I'm so proud of the language, culture, heritage. Will white men from Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Australia, etc name their Children African names?
So....natives name all the way, it's a trend in my family, both home and abroad.

Oga you scattered my Dada with those beautiful names o

Omoluabi16:
My children will have both. Most importantly, the native name has to be the first name, the English name must also have a meaning.

No Aragon and Aliona?

GboyegaD:


Does giving English names indicate looking down on native names.

It depends on why it is done and sometimes yes...
No vex ooh....
But why would you give your child an English name......

Xavfra:


It depends on why it is done and sometimes yes...
No vex ooh....
But why would you give your child an English name......

Because I like them and they have meanings I like for the ones I like. More so, as a Christian, my religion permits my child(ren) to have Baptismal name. Most importantly, my last name is an English name and I love it that way.