diversity_3 First names

Where does a Beninese first name come from? Fon, Mina, Goun, Yoruba, Nago, Kotokoli

A Beninese first name doesn’t always come from Fon. Benin brings together several peoples, and each has its own names. Here are six origins, with examples drawn from a list of 58 first names annotated by Wiktionary.

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diversity_3 6 peoples
1

Fon

Fon: half the list

In this list of 58 first names, 28 are of Fon origin, making it the largest group. Fon is also the language of this site. A few examples:
First nameMeaningOrigin · circumstance
Dossoucircumstance nameFon · boy born after twins
SouroupatienceFon · so that he always stays patient
FifamèPeacemakerFon · a birth that brings peace and reconciliation to the family
MahougnonGod is goodFon · a birth seen as God’s kindness toward the family
Sonangnonthe future will be betterFon · so that he keeps hope whatever the difficulties
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Where these meanings come from

They are taken from the appendix “Meaning of endogenous Beninese first names” of Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0 license), which we rephrase and group here. When this appendix and another reference contradict each other, we don’t publish the name.

2

Mina and Goun

Mina and Goun: close neighbors

The Mina (4 names in the list) notably give names based on the day of birth, such as Adjo / Adjoua (girl born on a Monday) and Afiavi (child born on a Friday). The Goun (5 names) give names such as Alihonou (“the child of the road”). Some names are shared: Donan and Kpèdétin are listed as both Goun and Fon.
First nameMeaningOrigin · circumstance
Adjo / Adjouacircumstance nameMina · girl born on a Monday
Afiavicircumstance nameMina · child born on a Friday
AhouéfaPeace in the houseMina · the parents hope the birth will bring peace to the house
AlihonouThe child of the roadGoun · boy born on the road, before his mother reached the maternity ward
Alihossithe child of the roadGoun · girl born on the road, before her mother reached the maternity ward
DonangraceGoun · a birth seen as divine grace

Speak the language of these names: Parlons Fongbe Academy — 79 video lessons with a native speaker.Discover

3

Yoruba and Nago

Yoruba and Nago: sentence names

The Yoruba (18 names in the list) and their Nago neighbors (1) form sentence names, often about God, joy or wealth. The Nago name Babatoundji is given to a child born just after a death in the family.
First nameMeaningOrigin · circumstance
AyojoyYoruba · a birth that brings joy to the family
IféloveYoruba · a child to whom the parents bring their love
Olouwafèmibeloved of GodYoruba · a child seen as covered with blessings by God
Omantayothe child is a treasureYoruba · a birth seen as a treasure above all others
Babatoundjicircumstance nameNago · child born just after the death of a family member, especially a grandparent
To go further: Yoruba names shared with the Fon and the list of Yoruba boy names.
4

Kotokoli

Kotokoli: Gado and Kandé

The Kotokoli (2 names in the list) give Gado to the child born after twins and Kandé to the girl born after several boys. They remind us that position among siblings matters as much as the date.
First nameMeaningOrigin · circumstance
Gadocircumstance nameKotokoli · child born after twins
Kandécircumstance nameKotokoli · girl born after several boys
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Key takeaway

When you come across a Beninese first name, first ask which people it comes from: the same idea (a birth after twins) gives Dossou among the Fon, Gado among the Kotokoli.

One country, several languages

Fon is only one of Benin’s languages, but it is the language of the economic capital and of the kingdom of Abomey. Read the guide to Beninese first names to go further.

Nɛ a nɔ nyi ?
“What’s your name?” — lesson 3, chapter 1
Parlons Fongbe Academy
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