Hausa as a language has been heavily influenced by other languages. Borrowing is the taking of a word or phrase from one language into another or one variety of a language into another. It has been standard practice in most languages. English has borrowed heavily from languages such as Latin, French, Italian, and Greek. Hausa has also borrowed—and continues to do so — from languages like English and Arabic. Hausa has been heavily influenced by Arabic culture, literature, and tradition. Islam as a religion has also played an important role in shaping the culture of Hausa Land and Northern Nigeria in general. It has become so pervasive that some of the cultures and identities of the people in the region have been discarded in favor of Arab culture and traditions. This post aims to list some of the common Hausa names and their meanings in English.
The practice of naming children with the traditional Hausa names had been discarded in favor of Arabic—and sometimes Jewish— names. While much argument has been done on whether these names should be discarded for the more ‘suitable’ Islamic names, one can’t deny the fact that they remain an integral component of Hausa history, culture, and traditions. On that note, here are some traditional Hausa names and their meanings in English that might have been well forgotten.
Read: 150 Great Hausa Proverbs You Want To Remember
List of Hausa Names and Their Meanings in English
- Danliti: One born on a Monday
- Dantala: A male born on Tuesday
- Balarabe: A male born on Wednesday
- Danladi: One born on a Sunday
- Danlami: Born on a Thursday
- Danjuma: One born on a Friday
- Jatau: A traditional Habe name for one who is fair in complexion
- Duna: One who is dark in complexion
- Tanko: A brother to female children in a family
- Gambo: One who follows after twins
- Dandawo: A child born when his mother was in the middle of pounding millets
- Maiwake/ Ci wake: A child born when the parent harvested abundant beans
- Maigero/ Gerau: A child born in the season of abundant millets
- Hakurau: An extremely patient person
- Shekarau: One who spent a year in his mother’s womb
- Nomau: A child born in a planting season.
- Tunau: A person who reminds his mother of birth I.e. conceived a long time after her last pregnancy.
- Ana ruwa: One born when it was raining
- Maifari: One born in the middle of a drought.
- Bako: One born while there are guests in the house
- Sarki: One named after the Sarki; Emir
- Yarima: Someone named after the prince in a Kingdom
- Maikasuwa: The son of a popular merchant
- Maikudi: Son of a wealthy person or who is hoped to be rich.
- Madugu: One born while his parents were on a journey
- Nagoma: The tenth child in a family
- Korau: One born when his mother was divorced
- Babangida: Meaning father of the household, or one who bears the name of a grandfather or father in the household
- Bawa: One brought up by another woman other than his mother
- Talatu/ Talatuwa: A female born on a Tuesday
- Laraba: A female born on a Wednesday
- Jummai/ Jummalo: A female Born on a Friday
- Asabe/ Ta Asibi: A female born on a Saturday
- Lami: A Female born on a Thursday
- Ladidi/ Ladi: A female born on a Sunday
- Shekara: A female who spent a year
- Uwani: Someone who bears a person’s name
- Kyauta: An only child while others are dying
- Kande: A older female daughter born in a family of male siblings
- Kuluwa: A female child loved by her family
- Kyallu: A beautiful female child
- Talle: One born on a Tuesday
- Rahila: A Hausa version of Rachel
- Damina: One born in a rainy season
- Tanimu: A common Hausa name
- Maishanu: One who has a herd of cattle to his name
- Korasu: One born to a guard
- Kumatu: A female with puffy cheeks
- Dan Agulla: A common Hausa name
- Kumbo: An unknown Hausa name
- Dan Goggo/Na Goggo: Means,’Goggos paddy’, named for a mother or grandmother’s favorite son
- Dan Iya: Son of Iya, a Hausa word for an older woman; mostly a Mother or Grandmother
- Iyatu: A female version of Dan Iya
- Audi: A corrupted version of Audu
- Jimrau: One who spent a long time in the womb
- Kosau: Someone born fat giving the impression of being satisfied
- Gwarzo: A courageous person
- Yohanna: A Hausa Christian equivalent of John
- Ishaya: A corrupted version of Ishaq or Isiah
- Delu: A common traditional female Hausa name
- Bayajidda: Named after the founder of the Hausa kingdoms
- Tsalha: A corrupted version of Usman
- Garbati or Garba: A corrupted version of Abubakar
- Belu: A common traditional name
- Bara’u: Common Hausa name.
- Barde: Someone who is a warrior.
- Sallu: A common Hausa name
- Baha’u: A common Hausa name
- Bawale: A common Hausa name.
- Alu: A corrupted version of Aliyu
- Danbaba: A favorite child of the father/.
- Ango: Hausa name for bridegroom which sticks to a person.
- Bature: Hausa name for foreigner
- Bahago: A left-handed person
- Bakutu: A popular traditional female name
- Rakiya: A traditional name reserved for females
- Bawa: A popular Hausa name. Bawa means slave in Hausa
- Dudu: A common name given to females in Hausaland
- Karime: A corrupted version of Karima, an Arabic name
It was a nice piece. Hop to see more from our culture.
But there is a repetation in no1 and 17 of Nomou.
Also in the case of no6: guess you wanted to write Thursday instead of Tuesday.