In Benin, a name is rarely just a word: more often than not, it is a condensed sentence commenting on the birth. And for twins, the country has two distinct systems, one Fon and one Yoruba, in a region where twin births are particularly common. Here are 40 Beninese names and the three logics that govern them.
Twins, a category of their own
Nowhere is naming as codified as it is for twins, and Benin is unusual in being home to two traditions that honor them in different ways.
| Tradition | First twin | Second twin | Next child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoruba | Taiwo | Kehinde | Idowu |
| Fon | Dossou for a boy, Dossi for a girl | — | |
The Yoruba detail is wonderful. Taiwo means “the one who first tastes the world.” But it is Kehinde, born second, who is considered the elder: according to tradition, he is the one who sent Taiwo ahead as a scout to check whether the world was worth coming to. The order of birth is therefore the reverse of the order of precedence.
The child born right after twins also receives a reserved name of their own, Idowu. Nothing is left to chance.
Names for the day of birth
The second system, shared with Togo and a cousin of the one used by the Akan of Côte d'Ivoire, is naming a child according to the day of the week. It is used among the Ewe, the Mina and in part of southern Benin.
| Day | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Kossi, Kossivi | Akossiwa |
| Monday | Kodjo | Adjo, Adjoa |
| Tuesday | Komlan | Abra |
| Wednesday | Kokou | Akouwa |
| Thursday | Yaovi | Yawa |
| Friday | Kofi | Afi |
| Saturday | Komi, Kwami | Ama |
A useful note: spellings vary a great deal from one region to another, and the suffix changes depending on the dialect. Kossi and Kossivi refer to the same day. Don't look for an official spelling; there isn't one.
Yoruba names, whole sentences
The third logic is the richest. Among the Yoruba, who live throughout central and eastern Benin, where they are also called Nagot, a name is a statement.
It is built from recurring elements:
- Olu- or Oluwa-: God. You find it in Oluwaseun, “thank God.”
- Ade-: the crown, royalty. Adebayo, Adeola, Adewale.
- Ayo-: joy. Ayodele, “joy has entered the house.”
- Baba-: the father. Babatunde, “the father has returned,” given to a boy born after his grandfather's death.
- Iya-: the mother. Iyabo, its feminine equivalent.
Babatunde and Iyabo deserve a closer look: these names say that an ancestor has returned in the child. This is not a poetic metaphor but a precise understanding of continuity between generations.
Fon names
The Fon, heirs to the Kingdom of Abomey, have their own repertoire, often built around protection and destiny. It frequently includes references to vodoun, of which Benin is the birthplace, and to the deities of its pantheon.
Many Fon names directly comment on the circumstances: a long-awaited child, a birth that took place during a journey, a child born after bereavements. As elsewhere in West Africa, the latter sometimes receive a protective name, modest or belittling, meant not to attract attention.
40 Beninese names
Twin names and birth-order names
Taiwo, Kehinde, Idowu, Dossou, Dossi, Zinsou, Zinsa.
Day-of-birth names
Kossi, Kodjo, Komlan, Kokou, Yaovi, Kofi, Komi, Akossiwa, Adjo, Abra, Akouwa, Yawa, Afi, Ama.
Yoruba names
Ayodele, Adebayo, Adeola, Oluwaseun, Babatunde, Iyabo, Olufemi, Adewale, Bolaji, Folake.
Fon names and others
Sègbo, Houngbé, Adjovi, Sènan, Hounnou, Mensah, Gbenou, Vidjannagni, Ahouandjinou.
The ones that wear best in France
- Ama: three letters, soft, instantly memorable.
- Kofi: made familiar by Kofi Annan, easy to write.
- Ayo: a short form of Ayodele, bright and simple.
- Taiwo: sonorous, with a remarkable story to tell.
- Afi: minimal and elegant.
Worth thinking through: Ahouandjinou and Vidjannagni, wonderful but impractical for everyday life in France, and Idowu, whose meaning only makes sense if you know the story of the twins.
The day-of-birth system also exists in neighboring Côte d'Ivoire, with different names: see our article on Ivorian names. And to broaden your search, see our guide to African names for girls.
Frequently asked questions
What are twins called in Benin?
Among the Yoruba, the firstborn is Taiwo, “the one who first tastes the world,” and the second is Kehinde, considered the elder in the spiritual sense. The child born right after is called Idowu. Among the Fon, twins are Dossou for a boy and Dossi for a girl.
Are there names tied to the day of birth in Benin?
Yes, in the south, among the Ewe and the Mina. A boy born on Monday is Kodjo, a girl Adjo. The system is a cousin of the one used by the Akan of Côte d'Ivoire, with different names.
What does Babatunde mean?
“The father has returned.” This Yoruba name is given to a boy born after his grandfather's death, based on the idea that the ancestor returns in the child. Iyabo is its feminine equivalent.
Why are Beninese names so long?
Because they are often whole sentences condensed into a single word. A Yoruba name can mean “joy has entered the house” or “thank God.” The length is proportional to what there is to say.
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