merge By day of birth
Fon name + Western name
Many Beninese have both a day name (Kossi, Adjoa…) and a Western first name (Pierre, Marie…). This dual identity tells the modern history of Benin.
Colonization and Christianization
In the 19th and 20th centuries, evangelization made baptism with a Christian name the rule. Families added this Western name while keeping the traditional Fon name.
The order on official documents
On birth certificates, the usual order is:
When is each one used?
A many-sided identity
This dual identity lets Beninese move between cultures. The Fon name anchors them in tradition; the Western name opens them to global modernity.
Two names, one person
Double naming is a colonial legacy turned into a rich identity. Knowing both names of a Beninese person means gaining access to both of their worlds.
Behind every first name, there is a whole language.
A Fon name is a sentence. To truly hear it, you need the language: 79 video lessons with a native speaker — greet people, introduce yourself, talk about your family, understand your grandmother on the phone.
One free trial lesson when you sign up.
- The Fon video course: see the program — 79 lessons with a native speaker from Cotonou, taught in French
- What is your Fon level? — the free 15-question test