boy Boys’ names
Fon names for boys
Discover the most beautiful Fon male names, with their deep meaning and cultural origin.
Male names by day of birth
The system azǎngbényí assigns a name according to the day of the week on which the child was born:
| Day | Boy’s name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Monday (Tɛ́nígbé) | Adjovi | Born on a Monday |
| Tuesday (Talàtágbé) | Comlan | Born on a Tuesday |
| Wednesday (Azángagbé) | Azonyiho | Born on a Wednesday |
| Thursday (Nyɔ́núgbé) | Yao / Ayiho | Born on a Thursday |
| Friday (Axɔ́súgbé) | Kofi / Afion | Born on a Friday |
| Saturday (Síɖígbé) | Asiba | Born on a Saturday |
| Sunday (Vodúngbé) | Kossi / Kossigan | Born on the day of the Vodun |
Most common male names
| First name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dossou | Boy born after twins |
| Djimon | Born under a good sign of Fâ |
| Kossi | Born on a Sunday (day of the Vodun) |
| Vidégla | The tree is tall — a long-awaited child |
| Zinsou | First twin boy |
| Sagbo | Second twin boy |
| Hessou | Born after hardship |
| Togbé | Born on a market day |
| Comlan | Born on a Tuesday |
| Fagnon | Fâ is powerful |
| Gbaguidi | The drum has spoken |
| Houngbédji | Born in a Vodun house |
| Sèdégbo | Born during a festival |
Historical and royal names
Some Fon male names carry the heritage of the Kingdom of Dahomey :
| First name | Meaning / Origin |
|---|---|
| Agonglo | King’s name — “the rooster that crows” |
| Gbèhanzin | “The universe holds the egg” — last king of Dahomey |
| Guézo | Reforming king of Dahomey |
| Gangnihessou | First king of the Abomey dynasty |
| Dakodonou | “He who built on Dan’s belly” |
Choosing a Fon name today
More and more Beninese parents in the diaspora choose to give a Fon name to their children born in Europe or America, as an act of cultural transmission. The Fon name is often combined with a French or English first name on the birth certificate.
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