Igbo kwenu.

As a non-native Igbo I have tentatively named my child Arianna. Somebody then said that aria means sick, at least in Abia. I shouted upon hearing this! Distin na confusin, because I picked the name from a list of names found on the net (who knew the net could be wrong ). I have googled this and see no signs of this name being anything but an error. I have seen maybe two igbo women with this name online, but possibly this is the western version abi. Here on Nairaland a few have discussed it, please enlighten me so I can stop this before it goes too far.

I found the name on kwenu.com;

ARIANNA: [Aria nna = Father's possession]

DWV: "Aria" is a general term used for mostly handy personal possessions, not lands and houses. It is a loving gesture for a father to consider her daughter a priced possession, and it should not be seen from the economic sense because "aria" has mostly sentimental values; folks won't part with their "aria" no matter the amount you offer.

Gender: Strictly female

The most logical explanation I have seen thus far is here on nl from here: https://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings/11

vickanny: 8:22pm On Sep 04, 2008

@ndubu,
They are right! I mean the ones that said that ARIA means possession. Aria, OR Aya according to my late grandmother means personal possession. During the little time she stayed with us I constantly heard her use AYA M ie my belongings in stories she told us/me. Eg Eburu m ngwo aya m wee jee ahia. According to central Igbo it would be ARIA pronounced phonetically as - saw-saw- A-RIA. So by the aforegoing they are right though I've never seen anyone bearing that name. But you know names were invented by people, so why can't we invent more?

That is how wannabes will carry big yeye names give baby na so e go carry am dey Waka like load

LOL! Is arianna even a nigerian name. As far as I know, it's european, and any similarity with an Igbo name is coincidental.

This is how it is nowadays when the Igbo population barely knows anything about itself. Anyway, OP, there is nothing wrong with that name. It is one name among a similar category of names. It should also come as no surprise to you that the name is hard to find.

In the era where you will find Igbo people naming their children every form of Chi-till-I-die, you should expect every other names to border on non-conventional to unknown. So notin spoil. Carry go.

ChinenyeN:
This is how it is nowadays when the Igbo population barely knows anything about itself. Anyway, OP, there is nothing wrong with that name. It is one name among a similar category of names. It should also come as no surprise to you that the name is hard to find.

In the era where you will find Igbo people naming their children every form of Chi-till-I-die, you should expect every other names to border on non-conventional to unknown. So notin spoil. Carry go.

Daalu! I was thinking exactly that it was uncommon, which might be why I did not hear of it. This was also why I liked the name. I also wanted to call her Ojiugo after my great-grandmother, but the wife no dey gree. I was avoiding chi, because names with Chi na too much these days. Even my own name contains Chi. I will keep the name, and not worry too much. Again, thank you very much.

Ah...I should learn Igbo to avoid confusion

Perhaps someone with the knowledge could explain the etymology, I have a feeling a few people will deny that this name is Igbo. Is the above explanation regarding 'Aya m' the correct explanation? Thanks to all contributors.

Hahaha, OP don't fidget. Arianna is a cool name. It means Father's possession or Father's belongings. Aria here means a collection of things. My mother would always go to the market to kwaa aria ofe( soup) maobu situu(stew).


Hope you grab?

Chinachriss:
Hahaha, OP don't fidget. Arianna is a cool name. It means Father's possession or Father's belongings. Aria here means a collection of things. My mother would always go to the market to kwaa aria ofe( soup) maobu situu(stew).


Hope you grab?

I do I do, just looking for extra assurance to alleviate insecurity. Ah, mek I no vex. Thanks again, I will carry on knowing the name doesn't mean sick papa

OP CALM DOWN, IGBO LANGUAGE IS VERSATILE AND THATS WHY SOME NAMES ARE BETTER EXPLAINED BY SOME PART IN IGBO LAND.... SO ARIANNA CANT BE EXPLAINED BY SOMEONE FROM ANAMBRA BUT CAN ACTUALLY MEAN A THING IN ABIA AND IMO...SO COOL DOWN, SOMEONE FROM THOSE REGION MIGHT BE ABLE EXPLAIN TO U WHAT IT MEANS/// THOUGH ARIRIA ANYA IN NNEWI MEANS EYES INFECTION DONT KNOW ABOUT ARIA

RedboneSmith:
LOL! Is arianna even a nigerian name. As far as I know, it's european, and any similarity with an Igbo name is coincidental.

You are wrong!
Do you even understand Igbo, for you to make the statement you made?
Arianna is a 100% Igbo name. It means Fathers prized possession.

The European name you are referring to is Ariana which has only one "N" as opposed to two. Nna in Igbo means father. Omit one "n" and it becomes meaningless

Chimaaba:


I do I do, just looking for extra assurance to alleviate insecurity. Ah, mek I no vex. Thanks again, I will carry on knowing the name doesn't mean sick papa

Nwanna ujo atuna gi.
Arianna means: Fathers prized possession.
The person that told you aria means sick is not very proficient in Igbo language and gave you a very wrong interpretation.
Sickness in Igbo is Oria and not aria. Aria means possession. Nna means father

Phut:

You are wrong!
Do you even understand Igbo, for you to make the statement you made?
Arianna is a 100% Igbo name. It means Fathers prized possession.

The European name you are referring to is Ariana which has only one "N" as opposed to two. Nna in Igbo means father. Omit one "n" and it becomes meaningless

Lol. Calm down. I understand Igbo very well thank you, and aria does not mean anything in the types of Igbo I understand. Maybe it's more of an Imo thing. I'm also sure there are words in the types of Igbo I speak that you have no idea what they mean. So, it means prized possession for you. Good, thank you, I have learnt that one today.

The European Arianna can be spelt with double n, for your info. There are many ways to spell it. There is Ariana, arianna, Aryana, ariane etc.

Anyhow. I called my papa, he tell me say in Umuahia nobody carries this name. He seems to think only Calabar people ansa Arianna, Aria and so on.

The man is not omniscient, nor is he an authority on naming trends in all of Umuahia or Abia state for that matter.

Of course it is an Igbo name jor, but its semming rarity and the apparent discussion it brings up begs the question which part of Igbo land this name is prominent/normal.

Never knew we had such rare names most folks don't recognize them as Igbo even!

This name is a Greek origin it mean most holy
I am giving it to my dota next week

It's so funny that Amanda, Arianna, etc are now being argued to be Igbo names.

Next it'll be sharwama