N

NDUBUISHI  [Ndu bu ishi = Life is supreme.]

Interpretation: First and foremost, life is the essence of earthly existence. There are no two ways about it; you either have it or you have nothing.  

DWV: NDUBUISI, NDII, BUISI. BIISHI, BISI

Gender: Strictly male

NEBEUWA [Nebe uwa.... = Watch the wold......]

Interpretation: I don’t know why anyone would want to watch the world go round, unless to learn from the mistakes of others.

DWV: LEWEUWA

Gender: Male

NEEDUM [(Chi) na-edu m = (God) leads me.]

DWV: Nedu

NGOZICHUKWUKA [Ngozi Chukwu ka = Divine blessing is supreme]

Interpretation: Ngozi is probably the most popular name for females in Igboland. Few males who have the name still use it, but parents are moving away from naming boys "Ngozika." [If you are male and Ngozi, don't worry; mine is being taken over by the girls too.]

DWV: NGOZIKA/NGOZI

Gender: Female

NJOKU

NENNE [Ne nne = Good mother]

DWV: NENEH, NENNEH , NENE

NEZIEANYA

DWV: Nezianya

NKASIOBI [NKasi obi = Consolation of the soul]

Interpretation:  The name is equivalent to Catholic CONSOLATA

DWV: NKASIOBI

NKEIRUKA [Nke iru ka = The future is greater] 

Interpretation: At the birth of a child, parents are often so happy that they celebrate it by proclaiming that "What God will do in future is even greater";  because of the arrival of the new baby many nations will be rise.

DWV: NKIRU, NKIRUKA, NKEIRU, NKIRUKAMMA, NKIIRUKA, NKII

Gender: Strictly female

NKIRU [See NKEIRUKA]

This is the most popular written and spoken version of the name, short for NKIRUKA.  

NKOLIKA: [Nkoli ka = Dialogue is better] 

Interpretation: This name is similar to Ukaamaka; it is better to discuss issue than to resort to fighting. 

DWV: NKOLI, LIKA, KOLIKA

Gender: Strictly female

NMANWAANYI [See MMANWAANYI]

NOTE: Modern Igbo linguistics no longer accepts such "nma" spellings as in "Nmuoneke" and "Uzunma."

NNAEMEKA [See CHUKWUEMEKA]

NNAMDI [Nna m di = My father lives]

Interpretation: This name is usually given if the child arrives after the recent passing of paternal grandfather. This is not always the case though. It is similar to Yoruba "BABATUNDE."

Gender: Strictly male.

NNANNA [Nnanna = paternal grandfather] This name is rooted in Igbo reincarnation beliefs as well as in respect for elder.

NNEAMAKA [Nne amaka = Mother is good/great.]

DWV: NNEMAMAKA [My mother is great] AMAKA

Gender: Strictly female.

NNEBE [(M) nebe uwa .... = I am watching the world] See also ENE, ENEBE 

Interpretation: This is one of those names that originate from one dialectical cluster and end up in another with a slightly diferent meaning. Along the way, people improve on it, use it as a base for more deeper meanings, and we still come back to the shortened version. One thing certain here is that the “NNE” has little to do with “mother.” It is more likely to mean “good,” but I am more inclined to believe that the structured “M” is aspirated by dialect to produce “N” especially as th3e next word starts with an “N.” Take the Owere: M lewe Chi. Here the person is looking up to God. But the Awka/Udi person would say: N nebe Chi. This name is truly loaded, especially when used as the root for “society names” One truly strikes a chord: “(M)nebe uwa, onye enebe m?” [If I keep watching the world, who would watch me.] This name simply reminds folks not to live other people’s live, since no one is going to live theirs.

DWV: MLEMCHI, MLEWECHI, MLEWEUWA, NEBE, NNEBEUWA, NNEBECHI

Gender: Male

NNEBUNNE: [Nne bu nne = Mother is mother; or Mother is true.]

Interpretation: The name is a statement of fact. In Igbo societies, the mother is everything; everyone has one irreplaceable mother. In some dialects, “nne” means true; hence the name might be given to mean that one of the parent’s  mother is an angel.

Gender: Strictly female.

NNEKA [Nne ka = Mother is supreme]

Interpretation:  This name needs no introduction. It is a favorite name given by men who are close to their mothers.

Gender: Strictly female.

NNENNA [Nne Nna = Paternal grandmother]

DWV: NNENNAYA, NENNA, NENA

Gender: Strictly female

NNENNE [Nne nne = maternal grandmother]

DWE: NNENE, NENEH,

Gender: Strictly female

NTASIOBI: [See NKASIOBI]