Many people assume the Hausas have no culture and traditions except Islamic related. Well, they couldn't be more wrong. In view of this, I will be sharing some Hausa traditional names and their meanings.

Traditional Hausa names are given based on the circumstances surrounding the birth of the child. These can range from; day of the week, season of the year, physical attributes, time of birth, situation in the family or community, family history, and so on. No name is given without a meaning to it. I will go beyond names in subsequent posts, but for starters, here we go

Group A
Names based on days of the week

Monday:- Danliti (male) or Liti (unisex)

Tuesday:- Dantala (male) or Talatu (female)

Wednesday:- Bala (male) or Laraba (female)

Thursday:- Danlami/Nalami (male) or Lami (female)

Friday:- Danjuma/Danjummai (male) or Jummai (female)

Saturday:- Dan-Asabe (male) or Asabe (female)

Sunday:- Danladi (male) or Ladi (female)

Group B
Names based on physical attributes

-) Baki/Dikko/Duna (male) or Wula (female)
Meaning: An unusually dark skinned child

-) Cindo (unisex)
Meaning: A child born with six fingers or six toes on one hand or feet respectively

-) Jatau/Bature (male) or Turai (female)
Meaning:- An unusually fair skinned child

-) Kunnuwa/Kunne (male only)
Meaning:- A child with unusually large ears

-) Hanci (pronounced "hanchi"
Meaning: A child with an unusually large nose or funny shaped nose

-) Mairo (female)
Meaning:- A child born looking much smaller than usually seen in newly-borns. The name is commonly confused with Maryam, which is a Jewish/Arabic originated name that means "bitter"

To be continued....

Nice thread.
What’s the meaning of Dangote and Dantata

Continue.....
Group C
Names based on order of birth (siblings)

-) Gambo (unisex)
Meaning: An immediate younger sibling of twins

-) Mati/Mato (male)
Meaning: A child born after many females were born

-) Kande/Delu (female)
Meaning: A child born after many males were born

-) Goma (unisex)
Meaning: The tenth child from the same mother and father

-) Auta (unisex)
Meaning: The last born

ajokebelle:
Nice thread.
What’s the meaning of Dangote and Dantata

Thanks for your question.

In Hausa language and culture, the prefix "Dan" means "Son of"

Hence, Dangote will mean "Son of Gote"

and Dantata will mean "Son of Tata"

The word Gote may likely mean porridge (fate/gwate/gote) but it may have another meaning I may not know (Hausa language is very wide)

Tata may mean a lot of things:
-) Hers - as a pronoun (Son of hers)
-) Correctly/Perfectly - as an adverb (Perfect child)

Group D
Names based on happenings in the family

-) Talle (unisex)
Meaning: A child born after the death of one or both parents (the death may also be soon after birth)

-) Juji/Ajuji (unisex) or Abarta (female)
Now, juji means "refuse dump". But before you freak out, let me explain the culture behind it. It will surprise you:

Traditionally, the Hausas believe that children are a gift from God (Ubangiji), hence Ubangiji gives and takes them at will. When a woman keeps birthing children that die at a tender age, it is interpreted that Ubangiji keeps taking the children away for reasons best known to Him.

Therefore, the next child she gives birth to will be carefully wrapped in warm clothing, and early in the morning, be taken to the refuse dump (located by the side of the busiest road leading to the village) usually within sight of the village. The child will be carefully placed on the refuse dump and left there. Any person (from another village) heading to that village will easily see the baby, and is expected to pick up the baby and bring it back to the village. The person will head to the village square while shouting Ajuji! Ajuji! Ajuji! (meaning "at the refuse dump).

From the village square, the stranger will be directed to the house of the baby's parents where the baby will be handed back to the mother. As soon as the baby re-enters the house, there will be jubilation. The stranger will be showered with gifts as a sign of appreciation.

The whole idea behind this is:
-) taking the baby to the refuse dump signifies the mothers acceptance that Ubangiji will eventually take the child away, hence, she has given up the child willingly

-) the stranger that returns the child to the mother signifies a messenger sent by Ubangiji to return what was given up willingly

Note: An Ajuji usually breaks the cycle of death and the woman continues to bear children that will live full lives.

To be continued on group D

Nice thread

Nice thread
@Gagare1
I thought a Male child born after many female is TANKO

And for the children born on Monday
Dantani and tani is more popular around the middle belt

@YourRealFather

Yes, Tanko is also another variant of Mati and Mato.

However, Dantani (male) or Tani (female) is actually a variant of Danlami and Lami respectively. That's for those born on Thursday.

I believe you are referring to Dantine (pronounced "Dantinay) or Tine (pronounced "Tinay) which are variants for Danliti and Liti for the Monday babies.

I am glad you like the thread.

YourRealFather:
Nice thread
@Gagare1
I thought a Male child born after many female is TANKO

And for the children born on Monday
Dantani and tani is more popular around the middle belt

blackbone989:
Nice thread

Thanks