Lists of Ewe names and their meanings

In Ghanaian culture, particularly among the Ewe people, names carry deep significance and are never chosen lightly. Each name is given with a specific reason in mind, reflecting the belief that names can directly impact the lives of their bearers. Ewe names, like many other Ghanaian names, are imbued with meaning, often tied to the circumstances of a person’s birth or the day of the week they were born.

The Importance of Names in Ewe Culture

Ewe names are more than mere labels; they are an integral part of a person’s identity and heritage. The selection process is thoughtful and deliberate, ensuring that each name resonates with the individual’s life and community. This article delves into the meanings behind some common Ewe names, providing insight into their cultural and personal significance.

Examples of Ewe Names and Their Meanings

Day Names

In Ewe culture, one common naming tradition is to name children based on the day of the week they were born. Here are some examples:

• Kofi (Friday-born male): This name is given to boys born on a Friday. It signifies the importance of the day and its influence on the individual’s life.
• Ama (Saturday-born female): Girls born on a Saturday are often named Ama, reflecting the cultural significance of this day.

Circumstantial Names

Names can also reflect the circumstances surrounding a child’s birth:

• Nukunu: This name means “comfort” and is often given to children born after a period of hardship or sorrow, symbolizing the relief and joy they bring.
• Eyram: Meaning “God has blessed me,” this name is typically given in gratitude for a safe delivery or a long-awaited child.

The Cultural Richness of Ewe Names

Exploring Ewe names offers a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of the Ewe people. Each name tells a story, conveying values, beliefs, and the collective memory of the community. Understanding these names enhances our appreciation for the Ewe’s vibrant heritage and the profound connection between identity and culture.

Ewe names are a testament to the thoughtful and meaningful ways in which the Ewe people approach naming. By understanding the meanings behind these names, we gain deeper insight into the cultural and personal identities within this Ghanaian community. Whether indicating the day of birth or the circumstances surrounding it, Ewe names encapsulate a rich heritage that continues to influence and inspire.

Lists of Ewe names and their meanings

Below are the list of Ewe names and their meanings to give to your new born babies;

• MAWUNYO – God is good. ‘MAWU’ means God. The name can be given to both males and females. Shows that God who is believed to be the Almighty One is very good and kind.
• ASIWOME – It means that in your hands. What is in whose hands? All things are in the hands of God.
• ANYO: It shall be well.
• AGBEKO: Only life
• AGBENYEGA: Life is precious or life is great.
• ABLORDE: Freedom
• ASEYE – Praise
• AKPE – The name that means thanks. 
• AWUSHIE – When a female is born with a fleshy-like cloth, this is the name given to her aside from any other names she might be given.
• AGBENYA – Means the word of life. A name like this given to mostly males is an indication of the authority and power of words and in this case the word that carries life.
• ATSU– Given to a male who is a twin with the twin pair being a girl.
• ATSUPI– Given to a girl twin with twin pair being a boy.
• AGBENYA: Life matters.
• AWOENAM: God will do it for me.
• AFEKE: Root of the house.
• ASIWOME: In God’s hands.
• AKORFA – Consolation
• AFEFA: Peaceful home.
• AMETEFE: A replacement. This name is a male given name such when an elderly male passes in a house not long after the birth of the child. It is believed by the people that in a happening like that, the new born child is a replacement to the person who passes away.
• AGBESINYALE: Life has the say.
• AMEWONOR: Mother of people.
• ADEBLEWO: Tongue has deceived them.
• AGBENYAME: Life is human.
• BUTSORMEKPOR: Think about tomorrow.

• XORLA – Means saviour. It specifically refers to God or Christ as the saviour. Mostly, given to males and sometimes even females since it is not gender-specific.
• XORLALI – The saviour exists. Can be both male and female given. Indeed, there are times we feel there is no hope again but this particular name gives the assurance that God who is the saviour truly exists.

NAMES THAT ARE GIVEN AS A RESULT OF THE DAY AN INDIVIDUAL IS BORN

• KWADZO/ KUDZO – Name given to a Monday born who is a male.
• ADZO/ ADZOWOR/ ADZOYO – Given to a female born on Monday.
• KWABLA/ KORMLA – Given to a male born on a Tuesday.
• ABLA/ ABLEWOR/ ABLAYO – Given to a female born on a Tuesday.
• KWAKU/ AWUKU – Given to a Wednesday born who is a male.
• AKU/ AKUWOR – Given to a female born on Wednesday.
• YAO/ YAW/ KORWU – This name is a name given to someone born on a Thursday. It is a male-given name.
• YAWO/ AWO – A female-given name for someone born on Thursday.
• KOFI – A male was born on Friday.
• AFI/ AFIWOR – A female was born on Friday.
• KWAMI/ KWAME – A male was born on Saturday.
• AMI / AMA – A female was born on Saturday.
• KWASI – A male was born on Sunday.
• KWASIWOR/ AWUSI/ ESI – A female was born on Sunday.

• DOVENE: Be a companion to him or her.
• DELAWOE: The redeemer has done it.
• EDEM – The “E” in this name actually is a pronoun that refers to God. The name means God has saved me.
• EVAME – ‘It has come to pass. People sometimes go through a lot of complications and struggles before they can give birth to a child. Despite this, such a name is given to the child born who can be either male or female to thank God that even though there have been struggles, the will of God has come to pass.
• ELEMAWUSI: It is in the hands of God.
• EMEFA – A female name that means it is peaceful.
• ESINAM – God has heard my cries.
• ESI – This also means that he(God) has heard.
• ESIANYO – Parents have different expectations concerning the child they desire to have which when comes to pass brings great joy. ESIANYO means that this is good.
• EYRAM – ‘He has blessed me ‘.
• EWOENAM – ‘He has done it for me.
• ESIAWONAM: This is the one I have been given
• EKLENAM: He has shined for me.
• ELORM – He loves me or I am loved by God.
• ELOLO – He is great.
• ELEAGBE: God is alive.
• ELINAM – He(God) is there for me.
• ELI– He (God) lives.
• ESENE– He (God) hears it.
• ENYO– He (God) is good.
• ESENE: God hears. To keep the memory that God is a prayer answering God, a name like this helps to do so as it is mentioned.
• EDZESIM: God knows me.
• ESELALI: The Hearer exists.
• EKORNUNYE: God has sanctified me.
• ENALA: The giver.
• EDZORNA: It happens.
• ESINU: Waiting on God’s time.
• ENYONAM – This tells of the fact that He is good to me. Every human being owes God thanks because it is by His grace that we see and receive good gifts and even favor. If by His favor you have received a child, then you have no option but to give Him all the glory.
• ELIKEM – It means that God has established me. A way of honoring the supremacy of the almighty God.
• GADEDE: Very expensive.
• GANYAGLO: Money issue is too much.
• WORLA – Refers to God as the maker.
• WORLANYO -The maker is good. Tells the fact that God as the maker is good.
• MAWUPEMOR – God’s way.
• MORDZIEFA: The path is peaceful.
• MAKAFUI – ‘I will praise him.
• MAWUKO – ‘Only God’. When the struggles of life seem impossible to overcome and just keep hardening, only God is the one whom we can call. Keeps people reminded of the fact that only God can save.
• MAWUENA – ‘It is God that has given or enabled it ‘. 
• DZIDUDU – ‘Victory’.
• DZIDULA – ‘Winner or Victor’. 
• KLENAM – ‘Shine for me. As children are the delight and hope of parents, such a name keeps it ringing in the mind of the child to shine and glow in glory for the parents.
• VAYRAM – ‘Come and bless me. It is a prayer unto God to call for His blessings.
• MAWUMENYO – ‘To stay in God is good ‘. Where else can comfort that sees no bounds be found except in God? Nowhere.
• SELASI – ‘The listener has heard ‘.
• SEFAKOR: God has comforted me.
• SENANU: God gives gifts.
• SUSUANYO: The mind is good.
• SELIKEM: God has established me.
• SEDEM: God has saved me.
• SENAM: God has given me.
• SETUTSI: God has opened the floodgates.
• SEDUDZI: Victory belongs to God.
• SEFIAMOR: God has shown me the way.
• SUBOE: Worship him(God).
• SITSOFE: Refuge
• SEYRAM: God has blessed me.
• SELORM: God loves me.
• SEMENYO: God is good within.
• SELAWOE: God will do it.
• SEWORNUKU: God has done a miracle.
• SESI: God has heard it.
• KEKELI – ‘Light’
• FAFA – ‘Peace’
• FETULI: There is a reward or punishment.
• FAFALI – ‘There is the existence of peace ‘.
• BUBUNE – ‘Honour to Him’. A name like a prayer always when mentioned sounds like thanksgiving unto God.
• DELA – ‘Savior’
• DELADEM – This name means that the savior has saved me.
• DELALI – ‘The savior exists’.
• DESIADENYO: All is good.
• XOESE – ‘Believe it ‘.
• XORSE – ‘Faith’
• XORNAM – ‘Help me or save me ‘.
• YAYRA – ‘Blessing’.
• MAWULOLO – ‘God is big ‘.
• MAWULI – ‘God exists ‘.
• NUKUNU – ‘Miracle’.
• MORKPORKPOR – ‘Hope ‘
• MESIWOTSO: I have taken refuge in you.
• MALOE: I will love him.
• MALIKE: I will be established.
• MAWUWORGE: God will do it.
• MAWUKOENYA: Only God knows.
• NUNYA – ‘Wisdom’
• NUSINYO: What is good.
• NYALALI: The Word remains or exists.
• MAWUTOR – God has responded.
• PETRO – In English it is Peter.
• ETORNAM – God has answered me.
• DZIGBORDI – Signifies patience as an important value in the life of man.
• MAWULIKPLIM – ‘God is with me ‘. A way of confirming or declaring the presence of God in a person’s life.
• YOHANES – The Ewe name for John.
• EWOENAM – He has done it for me.
• GAMELI – This means that there is time. Name of encouragement for oneself that there is time for everything in life for which reason there is not a cause for fear of failure or current predicament.
• NUKUNU – Means miracle.
• NAYRAM – It is like a prayer or request to God that means and blesses me.
• BUBUNE: Praise him.
• DZIDEDI: Patience
• LEBENE: Take care of him or her.
• LORLORLI: There is love.
• LORLORNYO: Love is good.
• NUKUNYA: Miraculous word.
• NUNANA – It means a gift. Many who give birth to a child consider children as gifts from God because He is the giver of everything and so a name like this tries to emphasize that truly the child given birth to is from God.
• TSOENE – It means that give it to him. What is the object or receiver here? Mostly the object is God and what is being offered to him is the glory and praise that He deserves for his wonderful deeds in a person’s life.
• TORNYELI: I have my own.
• TSORME: Tomorrow
• FIAVI: Prince
• NUNYA – Wisdom.
• NORKPLIM: Abide with me.
• MAWUKO MAYOR: It means that I will always call on God. A reminder that God is the steadfast rock to rely on.
• GANYO: Money is good.
• DODZI: Have courage or in other words, be courageous.
• DZORDZI: Rejoice
• MAWUWORGE: God will do it.
• NUNANA: It means gift.
• ZANETOR: Let the darkness cease.

Conclusion

Discover more about Ewe names and their meanings to fully appreciate the depth and beauty of this Ghanaian tradition.