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