Kanuri people are one of the ethnic groups in North-East Nigeria and also in the central Nigeria, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara, with a lot of cultural heritage and rich history. With an estimated 3 Million speakers in Nigeria alone, mostly in Borno and Yobe states, the Kanuri people are one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Kanuri names are also popular among the people. This article will outline a list of Kanuri names and meanings in English, including Kanuri male names and Kanuri female names.Kanuri Male NamesAbdu, Buji, Dala or Dallai – Means Abdullahi, servant of AllahRamanu or Darman – Means Abdulrahman, servant of the BeneficentGudusu – Means Abdulquddus, servant of the Holy.Mumin – Means Abdulmumin, servant of the guardian of FaithMele – IdrisKadir or Kadǝr – Means Abdulqadir, servant of the AbleBukar/Aboor/Gawai/Garwa – Means Abubakar, the father of the little girlGarga – Means Ali, the one who will become highNgari – UsmanBunu/Sanda/Gasau or Yarema/Umara – UmarMaaji/Kur – The first-born child in a familyButari – Abu TalibGaji – the last bornChellu – In an incident of three consecutive births, the second child may be renamed Chellu if it is of a different sex from the first and the third.Kawu – A set of twinsWasainyi – HussainiGambo – A child born immediately after a set of twinsDulo – A child from multiple births such as triplets are calledJabba – A person born at the peak of the rainy seasonSǝrwa – A person born during late rainsAsham/Armalan – A person born during the month of Muslim fasting RamadanAji or Baitu – A person born during the month of pilgrimage ‘Dhul Hajj’Maulud – A person born on the twelfth day of the third month of the Muslim calendar Rabi’ul AwwalNgubdo ‘the discarded’ – A child dropped at a refuse dumping site known as ‘Ngubdola’Kundili/Buzu – A child who is very sicklyWagani – When a child’s father dies before the child was bornAbatcha/Abacha/Awuza/Bocu (Awa Chabe) meaning ‘the father is reborn’ – A child born when one of their grandparents died recently.Surumbi ‘the repayment’ – A person’s deceased immediate brother.Tar – Means Mukhtar ‘The Chosen One’Modu/Mommodu/ Allemin – MuhammadDunoma – The strong oneDu’u – Short for servantLaminu – Variation of ‘Al-ameen’, the trustworthyKalla – MusaMammadu – Variant of ‘Mahmud or Muhammad’Taibu – The pure oneTar – Short for MukhtarKonto, Kontoma – AdamSumain or Sumail – Ismai’lYaya – Variant of ‘Yahaya’Jiwurla – Variant of Jibirl, named after an angelKawui – A species of hardwood tree in the savanna as well as a kind of fishWasayni – Variant of HusainiKashim – Variant of KasimBulamaBakuraZannaKachallaMalaGoniKyariKanuri Female NamesNgumuri – A girl born on Sallah dayAji or Baitu – A person born during the month of pilgrimage ‘Dhul Hajj’Madari – HauwaMaulud – A person born on the twelfth day of the third month of the Muslim calendar Rabi’ul AwwalShawwallam – A girl born during the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar; ShawwalLondo/Alima/Kawudi/Kodo/Kula – HalimaNgubdo ‘the discarded’ – A child dropped at a refuse dumping site known as ‘ngubdola’Kundili/Buzu – A child who is very sicklyBudu – Maryam Durtu – When a child’s father dies before the child was bornYecca/Yedza (Yachabe) ‘the mother is reborn’ – A child born when one of their grandparents died recently.Surumbi ‘the repayment’ – A person’s deceased immediate sister.Amsa/Yamara/Hamsatu/Mara/Kalu/Kawul/Kawule- HafsatTukule/Karu/Fandi/Fandau/Falta/Falmata/Yaalta/Kolo/Batul/Bintu/Fanne/Fanna – FatimaBotul/Botula/Busam/Fusam/Dungule/Fanta/Fotuma/Fusam/Koshi/Kului/Lefa/Lewa/Zari – FatimaBalu/Asma– Bilkisu Foji/Kuura/Mangu – Hadiza Madari/Mada – Hauwa Yaruwaiya – RukayyaMaida/Aisa/Aida/Aisa/Asha/Ashe/Bintu/Boli/Maida/Mali/Shetu – Aisha Sato – AminaAbduram- Daughter of AbduBujiram – Daughter of BujiDalaram – Daughter of DalaAdija/Banna/Hadiza/Khadi/Kubura – KhadijahRuwaya or Arkwaya – RukayyaZainawa or Zainam – Zainab,,

Kanuri Culture