THE WAY WE WERE
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Bende Igbos and their Method of Determining What a Child Should Be Named (Continued)
By Williams I. Eke
IGBO NAMES
COMPLETE PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENT NAMES
AND
THEIR MEANINGS:
Azu = Back, behind. [After].
Bu = Is.
Ike = Power, Potential, Strength.
Onye = Who,
Iro = Enemy, Enemies.
Mu / M = I. me.
Azubuikeonyeirom. My absence is the strength of my enemy or
enemies.
Ajuwa = Asking, questioning.
Chi = Destiny, Fate, God.
Ihe = That, what. [What have].
Mere = Do, did, done.
Ajuwachihemere Asking Destiny, what have I done.
Chi = God. Destiny, Creator, Fate, Almighty.
Ma / Mara = Know, knows, aware, knowledge, understand, understands,
understood.
Names:
Chima God is aware. God knows.
Chimaraobum / Chimaraobim God knows my heart. God understands my
feelings.
Chimaraonum God understands my saying or expression.
Chimaihe God is knowledgeable.
Chimaraihemn’eche God knows what I am thinking [My intents].
Chimaraihemchoru God understood my needs.
Chimaraikem God knows my ability [My strength,
my capacity].
Chimaraonukwuru God knows what each mouth has said.
[Generally this is an allusion to gossips].
Chimaraonundiuwa God knows the gossips of this earth.
Chimauwa The creator understands the world. [Life].
Chimaraonyekwuru God knows who said. [Reference to gossip].
Chimaranyam God understands my expectation/s. [Hope or
hopes].
Chimaranyamn’ele Destiny is aware of my anticipation/s.
Chimaranyamnatu God understands my wishes.
Chimankpam God knows my needs.
Chimakwam God understands my cry or cries.
Chimauzo Destiny knows the way.
Chimauzom Destiny understands my footpath.[Usually
this is a reference to one’s acts and deeds].
Chimagwam God understands my conduct.
[A reference to behavioral suspicion].
Chimaraonum God knows my joy.
Chimaraenyim God knows my friend/s.
Chimarandirom God knows my enemy or enemies.
Chimaraonuakorum God is aware of my abuses. [Usually a
reference to gossips or unjustified treatments
by others because of lack of a child].
Chimaraihehakwuru God knows all that they have said.
[Often a reference to gossip/s].
Chimaraochim Destiny understands my laugh. [ My joy,
comforts and happiness].
Chimandum God knows my life.
Chimaihemn’aro God is aware of my request/s.
Chimaokwum God understands my words. [Usually a
reference to my request].
Chimaraebereya The Almighty knows his mercy or kindness.
Chi = Destiny, God, Fate, Almighty.
Nu / Nuru = Hear, Heard.
Chinu / Chinua / Chinuwa God heard. [Usually a request].
Chinuru Destiny heard. [Usually an appreciative
expression of thanks to Destiny].
Chinuruolum God hear my voice.
Chinuruakwam Destiny heard my cry or cries.
Chinurumkpum Destiny heard my wailing.
Chi = God, Destiny, Creator, Fate, Almighty, Lord.
Bu = Is.
Chibunna The Lord is our father. God is father.
Chibuike The Lord is strength.
Chibundu The Lord is life.
Chibuwa The Lord is the world.
Chibuisi The Lord is paramount. [The Lord is the
head, the number one].
Chibueze The Lord is the king. [The Lord is king].
Chibuonyenwem The Lord is my owner. [My master, guard,
sentry].
Chibuonyeikem The Lord is my strength. [My hiding place
in times of difficulties or troubles].
Chibuonyeike The Lord is powerful. [The Lord is mighty].
Chibuoge The Lord is our timer.
Chibuzo The Lord is the way.[Path, act, behaviors,
and light].
Chibunkwa The Lord is promise. [Usually a reference to
redemption thinking and ideas].
Chibuoke The Lord is masculine. [Important].
Chibuebere The Lord is merciful. [Used as an expressed
appreciative statement for the Lord’s gift of
a child].
Chibuobuoma / Chibuobioma The Lord is a comforter.
Chibuifu / Chibuihu The Lord is a director. [Our leader].
Chibuokwu The Lord is the words.
Chibuokwum The Lord is my words. [My answer, my
response and my reply].
Chibuzom The Lord is my path.
Chi = God, Creator, Destiny, Fate.
Nyere = Give, gave. [That which is given as a gift].
Chinyere God’s gift.
Chinyerem That which God gave to me.
Chinyereuwa That which God gave to the world.
Chinyerenwa That which is given by the creator. [A child].
Chinyerendu God gave life.
Chinyeremobu / Chinyeremobi God give me hart. [Usually a reference to
endurance, perseverance, ability and courage
to withstand abuse].
Chinyeremngozi God give me blessing/s.
Chinyeremngozi God gave me blessing/s.
Chinyereihemchoru God gave me my desire.
Chi = God, Creator, Destiny, Fate, Almighty, Lord.
Zaa / Zaru = Answer, answered.
Zarum / Zaram= Answer to my. Answered for me.
Chizaramolu Lord answer to my call. [My voice].
Chi = God. Creator, Destiny, Fate, Almighty.
Kworu / Kwere = Agree, agreed, allow, allowed, permit, permitted, favor-ed.
Chikworu / Chikwere God permit.
Chikworundu / Chikwerendu God permit life. God permitted life.
Chikworuarirom / Chikwerearirom God favor my request.
God favored my request.
Chikworuihmchoru Destiny approve my needs.
Destiny approved my needs.
Chikworuikem / Chikwereikem Almighty permit my strength.
Chikworunwa / Chikwerenwa God favored child.
Chi. = God. Creator. Destiny. Fate.
Nworu / Nwere = Have, has, had.
Chinworu / Chinwere God have.
Chinworuike / Chinwereike God has power.
Chinworuanyi / Chinwereanyi Destiny is our owner. [Owner of mankind].
Chiluwarumogu Destiny fight for me.
Destiny is fighting for me.
Chi = God, Creator, Destiny, Fate, Almighty.
Gbu = Defeat, kill, destroy, stop, fight, [Accomplish, implement].
Chigbuorumonyeiro May Destiny destroy my enemy, (enemies).
Chigbuonyeirom Destiny kill my enemy.
Chigbuorumonu God defeat the gossiper(s).
Chigborumogu Destiny save me from the fight. [Stop the fight].
Chigborumkpa Almighty implement my needs.
Chi = God, Destiny, Creator, Fate.
Oma = Well, Luck, Good. [Perfect].
Chioma Beautiful Destiny. [Well fated person].
E = Don’t.
Gbu = Kill, Destroy, Obliterate, Defeat.
Egbu = [That which cannot be killed. That which cannot be destroy or destroyed].
Egbulachi Don’t kill or destroy destiny.
Egbuchulam Don’t kill or destroy me.
Egbulachim Don’t kill or destroy my destiny.
Egbulanwa Don’t kill the child.
Egbulanwam Don’t kill my child.
Egbulanna Don’t kill the father.
Egbuonwu That which cannot destroy death.
Egbuchi That which cannot destroy fate.
Egbuka That which cannot destroy words.
Egbundu That which cannot destroy life.
Egbuwa That which cannot destroy the earth.
[Lacking the abilities to defeat nature].
Egbueke That which cannot obliterate the creator.
Egbuoha That which cannot obliterate mankind or
a generation.
Egbuche That which cannot destroy thoughts or ideas.
Egbunna That which cannot defeat father.
[A reference to God].
Egbuofo That which cannot defeat wishes. [Also a
reference to the Igbo god “Ofo”].
Egbuaja That which cannot defeat the sand.
Egbuobu / Egbuobi That which cannot destroy the heart or
the mind.
Egbuonyinyechukwu That which cannot destroy the gift of God.
Egwu = Fear. [Ambiguous].
Egbu = Kill, Destroy, Eliminate.
Onwu = Death.
Egwuegbuonwu The fear of death does not eliminate it.
Eligwokauwamma The heavens is better than the earth.
Eligwekauwamma The heavens is better than the earth.
Elekwachi Hope or expect for destiny.
Onwu = Death.
Onwubikohafundu Death please spare life. [Death please spare
the life].
Onwubikohapundu Death please spare life. [Death please spare
the life].
Onwubikohafunwa Death please spare child.
Onwubikohapunwa Death please spare child.
Onwubikohafuzom Death please leave my path.
Onwubikohapuzom Death please leave my path.
Onwuchekwandu Death excuse life.
Onwukwondu /Onwukwendu Death permit life. [If death permits life].
Onwuegbu That which death cannot claim nor demand.
Onwuegbulam / Onwuegbunam Death please spare me.
Onwuekwo / Onwuekwe Death refused.
Onye = Who.
Huru = See, Sees, Seen, Saw.
Onyehuruchi Who have seen Destiny.
Onyehuruchiya Who have seen his creator.
Onyehuruwa Who have seen his destiny.
Onyehurunduya Who have seen his life.
Onyejiuwaka Who is in control of destiny.
Onu = Mouth.
Kwo / Kwube = Talk, Express, Declare, Speak. Utter. [Gossip].
Onukwoiheimaru Mouth speak only what you know.
[Human speak only facts].
Onukwubeiheimara Mouth speak only what you know.
[Human speak only facts].
Onukwokamgerenti Mouth allow me to listen. [Human permit
me to enjoy facts].
Onukwubenkeimara Mouth speak only of what you are certain.
Onyinye = Gift, Gifts.
Onyinyechukwukankemadu God’s gift/s is greater than that of mankind.
Onyinyechukwukanma God’s gift is the best. God’s gift is the most
beautiful.
Onyinyenwachinyerem The gift of a child God gave me.
[The gift of a child is what God gave me].
Okwu = Word. Words.
Chukwu / Chuku = God, Creator.
Emezuwo / Emezwo = Implemented. [Came to pass]. Has happen-ed.
Okwuchukwuemezuwo The word of God has been implemented.
Okwu = Word.
Chi = Destiny, Fate, God.
Mara = Know, Knows, Knew, Understand, Understood, Aware.
Okwuchimara The word or agreement which destiny
is aware of.
Okwu = Word. Words. [Promise-ed].
Chi = Destiny. God, Fate.
Gwara = Tell, Told, Inform, Informed, Spoken.
Mu / M = Me. I.
Okwuchigwaram The word that destiny spoke to me. [The
promise that destiny made to me].
Oke = Share, Apportionment.
Chukwu = God, Creator.
Nyere = Give, Given, Gave.
Mu / M = Me. I.
Okechukwunyerem A share given to me by my God.
Obu / Obi = Heart, Mind.
Ako = Lack, Lacking, Deficient.
Uche = Thought, Thoughts, Idea, Ideas.
Obuakouche / Obiakouche The mind will never lack ideas.
Obuakouchenna The mind of father [God] will never lack
ideas.
Oru / Olu = Work.
Chukwu / Chuku = God.
Ka = Bigger. Great. Greater.
Oluchukwuka The work of God is greater.
Ike = Power. Ability. Abilities. Strength.
Nna = Father.
Ka = Greater.
Madu = Human-being.
Ikennakamadu The power of God the father is above all
human.
Ikennakan’kemadu The power of God is greater than that of
human.
Ikechukwu / Ikechuku The power or the strength of God.
Nkwa = Promise, promised.
Chukwu / Chuku = God.
Kworu / Kwere = Agree, agreed. [Agree to, agreed to].
Mu / M = I, Me.
Nkwachukwukworum The promise that my God agreed to.
The promise my God made to me.
Nkwachukukwerem The promise that my God agreed to.
The promise my God made to me.
Nnam = My father.
Du / Di = Is.
Ebube = Holy.
Nnamduebube / Nnamdiebube My father is holy. [A reference to the
Almighty God].
Nwa = Child.
Chukwu / Chuku = God.
Nwachukwu / Nwachuku The child of God. [Son of God].
Nke = That.
Chi = Destiny. God. Fate.
Nyere = Give, gave.
Mu / M = Me, I.
Nkechinyere That which destiny gave.
Nkechinyerem That which destiny gave to me.
Nkemdinakachukwu Mine is in the hands of God.
Nkemdinakachuku Mine is in the hands of God.
Nkem = Mine.
Ka = Bigger, greater. [Greater than].
Onye = Who.
Iro = Enemy, Enemies.
Nkemkaonyeiro Mine is greater than the enemy. [A reference
to the power of the Almighty God].
Nkemjikaonyeirom That which makes me greater than my enemy.
Odumegwu / Odimegwu It is frightening. It is awesome.
Ojoemlamnauwa May this never happen again to me in this life.
[Usually a reference to catastrophic losses].
Onukaranjomereonweya
Onukwurunjomereonweya
Onu = Mouth. [Person, Persons].
Kara / Kwuru = Speak, Spoke, Spoken, Say, Said.
Njo = Bad, Evil.
Mere = Do, did. [The reason why].
Onweya = Itself, himself, herself.
Onukaranjomereonweya The mouth that spoke evil defeats its
purpose. A person who speaks evil dishonor
himself.
Chi = Almighty, Creator, Destiny, Fate, God, Lord.
Chibiko Destiny please.
Chile God look.
Chinagorom Fate wishes me.
Chibueze The Almighty is King, (is the King).
Chinasaokwu God replies.
Chinedumije Destiny leads me through my paths.
Chinweobo God have the reward. (Remuneration).
Chinazaekpere The Almighty answers prayers.
Chidumaga The Lord is leading me through.
Chidumeje The Creator is leading me through.
Chizamekpere The Almighty, answer my prayer(s).
Onwubiko Death please (spare me / us).
Onwukamadu Death is stronger than human-being.
Ogechi Destiny’s time.
Ikpendu Trials of life.
Izuchukwu God’s time. The moment set by God.
Ihemelandu May nothing happen to lives.
Udemba Rumors of a place. News of a town.
Udechukwu Rumors of God. News of God.
Udeagha Rumors of war. Sounds of war.
Ariwaojo
Ariwa = Hoping, Thinking, Wishing, When we are thinking of something.
Ojo = Another, something different, unexpected, surprised, disappointed.
Ariwaojo-ojo eme. When we think and hope that something would happen in our favor, nature has a way of doing it differently.
Iroechenma
Iro = Enemy, malice, envy, meanness, hatred.
Eche = Think, thought, wish, wished, hope, expect.
Nma = Good, beautiful, well, success.
Iroechenma. Enemies never wished (me) well.
Mjiolendirojiachum
Mjiole = How many do I have? How much do I possess?
How many I’m holding?
Ndi = The.
Iro = Enemy, Enemies.
Ji = Because of …
achum = After me. Pursuing me. Running after me [intent to destroy].
Nkemjikaibem = my superiority over my peers.
Nkem = my, mine.
Ji = Have, has, had.
Ka = greater, larger, bigger, [better than others]. (Superiority).
Ibem = Peer mates. My equal.
Nkemjika. (Superiority over others) What I have is greater than the others.
Onwuzuruigboumezuruike
Onwu = Death.
Zuru = Equal, Commensurate, Equivalent. [Evenly shared].
Igbo = Ethnic groups of Nigeria. [Igbo is also a language].
Ume = Scarce, deficient, barren, impotent, unproductive.
Zuruike = [“Make no further demands”].
Zuru = Rest.
Ike = Power, Ability, Abilities, Potent, Potential.
Onwuzuruigboumezuruike When death Equals our population,
the fear of few being left behind will come to rest.