short_text First names

Short Yoruba names: 24 names of 3 to 5 letters and their meaning

Easy to remember, easy to say: short Yoruba names are a good way in. Here are 24 names of 3 to 5 letters, with their meaning, and the nicknames that shorten long names.

schedule 5 min
signal_cellular_alt All levels
groups 24 names
1

One word

Names that are a single word

Some names are a simple Yoruba word, which then serves as the base for longer names: adé (crown) in Adebayo, ayọ̀ (joy) in Ayodele.
First nameMeaning
Adecrown
Ayojoy
Ifelove
Olawealth
Onitoday
Dadacurly hair
Igeborn feet first
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Where these meanings come from

The meanings are those of the list of Yoruba names from Behind the Name. When two references contradict each other about a name, we don’t publish it. A Yoruba name often has several readings: take these meanings as guidelines, not as official records.

2

Complete

Complete but brief names

Here, the name is already a short sentence, packed into a few letters.
First nameMeaning
Abeniwe prayed and we received
Alabasecond child after twins
Bunmiwas given to me
Dayojoy arrives
Idowuborn after twins
Iyabothe mother has returned
Kayincelebrate
Segunto conquer
Taiwotaste the world, taste life
Tosinworthy of worship
Toyinworthy of praise
Tundeto return, to return again

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

3

Nicknames

Nicknames: when a long name gets shorter

Yoruba names are often long, and usage shortens them. These short forms have no meaning of their own in our source: they refer back to the full name.
Short formWhere it comes from
Kunleshort form of Adekunle, Ayokunle or Olakunle
Lanreshort form of Olanrewaju
Lekanshort form of Olamilekan
Funkeshort form of Olufunke
Olushort form of names in olú / olúwa (“lord, God”)
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Key takeaway

When you hear a nickname, ask for the full name: that’s what carries the meaning. Kunle can come from three different names.

Short doesn’t mean poor

A whole sentence sometimes fits in three letters. Continue with Yoruba boy names and girl names.

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