Nigerian last names carry deep cultural meaning, history, and identity. Many people search for nigerian last names to understand their origins, choose meaningful names for stories, or explore African heritage. Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, including Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, each with unique naming traditions. These surnames often reflect family lineage, beliefs, occupations, or life experiences. Some names symbolize strength, royalty, gratitude, or divine blessings, while others highlight personality traits or historical events. In this article, you’ll discover a rich collection of Nigerian surnames categorized by style, origin, and meaning. Right after this introduction, dive into the list and explore a wide variety of powerful, modern, aesthetic, and meaningful Nigerian last names.
Traditional Nigerian Last Names
- Adeyemi
- Adebayo
- Adewale
- Adetokunbo
- Afolabi
- Ajayi
- Akande
- Alabi
- Akinwale
- Akinyemi
- Akinola
- Balogun
- Bamgbose
- Bankole
- Bello
- Danjuma
- Dogo
- Eze
- Ezeh
- Ezeani
- Ezeokafor
- Ezeudu
- Garba
- Ibrahim
- Lawal
- Mohammed
- Musa
- Nwankwo
- Nwosu
- Nwoye
- Obi
- Obinna
- Obasi
- Okafor
- Okeke
- Okonkwo
- Okoye
- Onyekachi
- Sani
- Sule
Yoruba Nigerian Last Names
- Adekunle
- Aderibigbe
- Adesina
- Adetola
- Adigun
- Adisa
- Aiyegbusi
- Ajibade
- Ajimobi
- Akanni
- Akintola
- Alade
- Aluko
- Amusan
- Anjorin
- Aribisala
- Asaju
- Awolowo
- Ayeni
- Ayinde
- Ayodele
- Ayoola
- Babatunde
- Bakare
- Banjo
- Bamidele
- Banjoko
- Dada
- Dawodu
- Fasola
- Fashola
- Ibidapo
- Ige
- Ilori
- Kadiri
- Kolawole
- Ogunleye
- Ogunwale
- Olatunji
- Olowu
Igbo Nigerian Last Names
- Achebe
- Adichie
- Agbo
- Agu
- Aguocha
- Akachukwu
- Amadi
- Anozie
- Anyanwu
- Arinze
- Azubuike
- Chibueze
- Chidiebere
- Chijioke
- Chika
- Chimezie
- Chinedu
- Chukwuemeka
- Emenike
- Ibe
- Ibekwe
- Iheanacho
- Iwu
- Maduka
- Maduabuchi
- Ndukwe
- Nkem
- Nnamdi
- Nnaji
- Nneka
- Nnoli
- Nwafor
- Nwankpa
- Nwankwo
- Nwosu
- Nwoye
- Obiora
- Okechukwu
- Okorie
- Onwudiwe
Hausa Nigerian Last Names
- Abubakar
- Abdullahi
- Adamu
- Ahmed
- Aliyu
- Bello
- Bature
- Dantata
- Dogara
- Gambo
- Garba
- Gidado
- Idris
- Isa
- Jibril
- Kabir
- Kaita
- Lawan
- Maikano
- Mamman
- Mohammed
- Mustapha
- Nasir
- Sadiq
- Sani
- Shehu
- Suleiman
- Tanko
- Umar
- Usman
- Yahaya
- Yakubu
- Zubairu
- Zango
- Waziri
- Tafida
- Dankwambo
- Ribadu
- Bichi
- Goni
Modern Nigerian Last Names
- Adebisi
- Adediran
- Adetunji
- Akinfenwa
- Akintunde
- Alagbe
- Alonge
- Amadiobi
- Ayanbadejo
- Babalola
- Bamidele
- Banjoko
- Egbuna
- Ehiogu
- Emenalo
- Igbinedion
- Iheme
- Iroegbu
- Iwobi
- Jatto
- Kalu
- Mba
- Mbachu
- Nwabuike
- Nwankiti
- Nwoyeoma
- Obafemi
- Obasiolu
- Obiora
- Okaforji
- Okekechi
- Okonji
- Okpara
- Okoyeoma
- Oladipo
- Olatoye
- Olowookere
- Onyekwere
- Umeh
- Uzoma
Unique Nigerian Last Names
- Abimbola
- Adanma
- Adesokan
- Afolayan
- Ajose
- Akindele
- Alawode
- Anigbogu
- Arowolo
- Atanda
- Awoyinka
- Banjide
- Chisom
- Chukwudi
- Dike
- Ebuka
- Echefu
- Ekwueme
- Emordi
- Enyinna
- Ezehukwu
- Ibekaku
- Ifeanyi
- Ikenna
- Iroha
- Iwuagwu
- Nduka
- Nneji
- Nnanna
- Nwachukwu
- Nwobi
- Obiekwe
- Obinnaeze
- Ogbodo
- Ogu
- Okoli
- Okpala
- Olusegun
- Onyekachi
- Uzochukwu
Royal & Powerful Nigerian Last Names
- Adebola
- Adegboyega
- Adeyinka
- Akinjide
- Akinwumi
- Aladejana
- Balogun
- Danladi
- Ezeji
- Ezemma
- Ezenwa
- Ezeudu
- Garba
- Ibrahim
- Ikenna
- Jaja
- Lawal
- Madaki
- Musa
- Nnaji
- Nwafor
- Obiakor
- Obidike
- Obinna
- Okafor
- Okonkwo
- Okorie
- Olatunbosun
- Olayinka
- Olumide
- Onwumere
- Sani
- Suleiman
- Tanko
- Umaru
- Usman
- Yakubu
- Zubairu
- Zuberi
- Zainab
Cute & Short Nigerian Last Names
- Ade
- Ayo
- Obi
- Uche
- Kalu
- Nnam
- Ojo
- Sola
- Tayo
- Yemi
- Zain
- Nna
- Ibe
- Eze
- Ola
- Ugo
- Kene
- Nwa
- Chis
- Ife
- Obioma
- Ehi
- Ama
- Nke
- Chi
- Ngo
- Uzo
- Obiaku
- Iro
- Ike
- Ndo
- Aja
- Idu
- Oke
- Ona
- Ada
- Ude
- Osi
- Eno
- Nya
Rare Nigerian Last Names
- Abanum
- Adimora
- Afamefuna
- Agbasi
- Ahanonu
- Akubue
- Amangbo
- Anoziechi
- Arunsi
- Atuanya
- Azikiwe
- Chukwumaeze
- Dimgba
- Ekechukwu
- Ezenekwe
- Ibeabuchi
- Ihekoronye
- Ikemefuna
- Iloghalu
- Iroakazi
- Ndukwu
- Nnaemeka
- Nwaneri
- Nwankiti
- Obiajulu
- Obikwelu
- Oduah
- Ofoegbu
- Okwuosa
- Oladunjoye
- Olowookere
- Onuorah
- Onyekaba
- Ubah
- Uchechukwu
- Udechukwu
- Ugwuoke
- Ukadike
- Umeh
- Uzodimma
Aesthetic Nigerian Last Names
- Adeola
- Adetunji
- Akinlabi
- Akinwale
- Alawode
- Amaka
- Anayo
- Ayanfe
- Chiamaka
- Chidinma
- Chisom
- Ebunoluwa
- Ejiro
- Enitan
- Ezinne
- Ifunanya
- Imani
- Ireoluwa
- Ireti
- Iyinoluwa
- Kanyinsola
- Kehinde
- Kelechi
- Kosi
- Mayowa
- Mofeoluwa
- Nkiru
- Nnenna
- Nwabisa
- Obianuju
- Olamide
- Oluchi
- Olufunke
- Omolara
- Onyekachi
- Oreoluwa
- Temidayo
- Toluwani
- Uchechi
- Zainabu
Nigerian Last Names with Meanings
- Adeyemi – crown befits me
- Adebayo – crown meets joy
- Adewale – crown has come home
- Afolabi – born into wealth
- Ajayi – born face down
- Akande – firstborn twin
- Balogun – war leader
- Bello – helper
- Danjuma – born on Friday
- Eze – king
- Ezeh – ruler
- Ezeani – king of the land
- Garba – born on Wednesday
- Ibrahim – father of many
- Lawal – first child
- Musa – saved child
- Nwankwo – child born on Nkwo day
- Nwosu – child of God
- Obi – heart or palace
- Obinna – father’s heart
- Obasi – in honor of God
- Okafor – born on Afor day
- Okeke – born on Eke day
- Okonkwo – born on Nkwo day
- Okoye – born on Oye day
- Sani – second child
- Sule – peace
- Umar – long life
- Usman – wise
- Yakubu – supplanter
- Zubairu – strong
- Adebola – crown meets wealth
- Akinwale – bravery comes home
- Olumide – my God has come
- Olayinka – wealth surrounds me
- Chinedu – God leads
- Chukwuemeka – God has done well
- Ifeanyi – nothing is impossible with God
- Kelechi – thank God
- Uche – mind or will
