Our Nigerian name database contains 16.310 Nigerian first names and 6.832 Nigerian surnames categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Nigerian name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format and use it freely in your projects. Africa is very poor organised and has no open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like Nigeria are very limited to the names we know from other countries. The Nigerian names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Nigerian names as well. To create the Nigerian name database we used 165.535 validated Nigerian social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.
Nigerian first names
In Nigeria, parents typically pick a first name for their child based on a combination of cultural and personal factors. Many parents choose a name that has a significant meaning or is connected to their religion or culture. They may also consider names that are popular in their community or within their family. Some parents may also choose a name based on the child's birth order, such as naming the firstborn after a grandparent or ancestor. Ultimately, the decision is a personal one and is often made with a lot of thought and consideration.
Popular Nigerian male names
First name | Percentage*1 | Alternative countries*2 | |
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Emmanuel | 1.7% |
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Ibrahim | 1.1% |
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Prince | 1.0% |
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Abubakar | 0.9% |
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Samuel | 0.9% |
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Michael | 0.9% |
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David | 0.9% |
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Victor | 0.8% |
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John | 0.8% |
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Daniel | 0.8% |
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- *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 165.535 Nigerian social media profiles from which 120.166 (73%) is male.
- *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.
Popular Nigerian female names
First name | Percentage*1 | Alternative countries*2 | |
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Precious | 1.0% |
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Blessing | 1.0% |
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Young | 0.9% |
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Queen | 0.9% |
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TĂșndĂ© | 0.7% |
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Temitope | 0.6% |
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Princess | 0.6% |
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Favour | 0.6% |
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Esther | 0.6% |
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Damilola | 0.6% |
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- *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 165.535 Nigerian social media profiles from which 45.369 (27%) is female.
- *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.
Popular Nigerian surnames
In Nigeria, surnames usually indicate a person's ethnic group or tribe. For example, a person with the surname "Adebayo" is likely from the Yoruba tribe, while a person with the surname "Igwe" is likely from the Igbo tribe. Additionally, many Nigerian surnames also have meaning or indicate a person's occupation or status in society. For example, a person with the surname "Oni" may be a chief or leader in their community.
Last name | Percentage*1 | Alternative countries*2 |
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Emmanuel | 0.8% |
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Ibrahim | 0.8% |
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Abubakar | 0.6% |
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Samuel | 0.6% |
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Muhammad | 0.6% |
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Abdullahi | 0.5% |
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John | 0.4% |
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Bello | 0.4% |
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Michael | 0.4% |
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Yusuf | 0.4% |
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- *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 165.535 Nigerian social media profiles.
- *2 Alternative countries are countries where this last name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.