Unisex Tiv Names and Their Meanings

All 66 unisex Tiv names in the archive, in alphabetical order, with their English meanings. Where the archive records it, each name also carries a note on what it expresses, the story behind it and the occasions when it is given.

Angbiandoo

A brother / sister is an asset

About the name: Names Showing Kinship Ties
Origin: Angbian + doo
When it is used: Sibling kinship name; celebrates fraternal bonds.

Aondoaver

May God bless

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Aôndo + a + ver
When it is used: Sentence-prayer name invoking divine blessing.

Aôndodoo (Terdoo)

God is good

Aondohemba

None is as powerful / helpful as God

About the name: Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha
Origin: Aôndo + hemba
When it is used: God wins / God is supreme; compound divine name.

Aondowase

Helped / assisted by God

About the name: Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha
Origin: Aôndo + wase
When it is used: Aôndo is the Tiv name for God; expresses divine assistance.

Aondoyima

Saved / delivered by God

About the name: Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha
Origin: Aôndo + yima
When it is used: Expresses divine deliverance.

Bemshima

Peace / tender heart

About the name: Names Expressing Human Virtues
Origin: Bem + shima
When it is used: Cherished societal value; gentleness and peace.

Devaan

Stop crying

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: De + vaan
When it is used: Full-sentence name; a plea for comfort.

Dezamber

Stop begging

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: De + zamber
When it is used: Full-sentence name; a plea for dignity.

Dondo

Last of twins to be born

About the name: Circumstances of Birth or Family History
When it is used: Twin name; complement to Hemen (first of twins).

Dooamoshazwa

Only pays lip service; the heart is far away from me

About the name: Philosophy of Life, Attitude, and Life Experience
When it is used: Pet-style / proverbial usage; expresses betrayal or insincerity.

Faeren

treated well

Fanan

well given

Fanen

be aware

Gbande

Drum

About the name: Simple Personal Names
When it is used: Single-root name; simple structure.

Gbenda

Road

About the name: Simple Personal Names
When it is used: Single-root name; simple structure.

Igbadoo

Mother's kinsmen are a great asset

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Igba + doo
When it is used: Celebrates the value of the maternal lineage.

Igbahemba

None is as powerful / helpful as maternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Igba + hemba
When it is used: Celebrates the supreme importance of maternal kin.

Igbawase

Helped / assisted by maternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Igba + wase
When it is used: Honours the mother's lineage; Igba = maternal kin group.

Igbawua

Killed by maternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Igba + wua
When it is used: Records a difficult family history involving maternal kin.

Igbayima

Saved / delivered by maternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Igba + yima
When it is used: Honours the mother's lineage.

Ikyo

Forest

About the name: Simple Personal Names
When it is used: Single-root name; also rendered Ikyô.

Iorveyaakaave

They should take what belongs to them

About the name: Philosophy of Life, Attitude, and Life Experience
When it is used: Pet-style / proverbial usage; assertion of rights and boundaries.

Ishima

Heart

About the name: Simple Personal Names
When it is used: Single-root name; simple structure.

Ishimataver

Determination

About the name: Names Expressing Human Virtues
Origin: Ishima + taver
When it is used: Cherished societal value; inner strength and resolve.

Iti

Name

About the name: Iti means name

Ityavwua

Reminds the family that a member was killed during war

About the name: Circumstances of Birth or Family History
When it is used: Historical family event name; preserves memory of loss.

Ityohemba

None is as powerful / helpful as paternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Ityo + hemba
When it is used: Celebrates the supreme importance of paternal kin.

Ityowase

Helped / assisted by paternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Ityo + wase
When it is used: Honours the father's lineage; Ityo = paternal kin group.

Ityoyima

Saved / delivered by paternal kinsmen

About the name: Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen
Origin: Ityo + yima
When it is used: Honours the father's lineage.

Iyangedue

The sunrise

About the name: Relationship with the Creator
When it is used: Links the individual to God as the source of light and new beginnings.

Jubu

Socks

About the name: Simple Personal Names
When it is used: Single-root name; simple structure.

Kumakaven

it is high time to understand

Kwaghlaade

Let that thing stop

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Kwagh + la + a + de
When it is used: Full-sentence name; a prayer for an end to hardship.

Kwaghlaaer

Let that thing happen / come to pass

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Kwagh + la + a + er
When it is used: Full-sentence name; a prayer for fulfilment.

Kwaghsaanga

Truth must be revealed

About the name: Compound Personal Names
Origin: Kwagh + saan + ga
When it is used: Tri-morpheme compound name; assertion of truth.

Mailumo

It could have been me / I wish I were the one

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Ma + i + lu + mo
When it is used: Full-sentence name; expresses empathy or longing.

Mhoonom

Compassion

About the name: Names Expressing Human Virtues
When it is used: Cherished societal value; also rendered Mhôônom.

Mluwamkuman

I am contented the way I am

About the name: Philosophy of Life, Attitude, and Life Experience
When it is used: Expresses contentment with one's condition.

Mmem

I rested / I refrain

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: M + mem
When it is used: Full-sentence name structure; expresses withdrawal or rest.

Mnguanyi

What do I have?

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: M + ngu + a + nyi
When it is used: Full-sentence name structure; expresses poverty or humility.

Mnguaorga

I have no helper

About the name: Philosophy of Life, Attitude, and Life Experience
When it is used: Expresses hardship and independence from external help.

Movihinze

None is so bad as to be rejected

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Mô + vihin + ze
When it is used: Full-sentence name; expresses universal worth and inclusion.

Mrumun

I agree

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: M + rumun
When it is used: Full-sentence name structure; expresses consent.

Mtagherornyi

In what way am I a hindrance to anybody?

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: M + tagher + or + nyi
When it is used: Full-sentence name structure; expresses innocence.

Mvendaga

I have no objection

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: M + venda + ga
When it is used: Full-sentence name structure; expresses compliance.

Ngulianga

Easily identifiable

About the name: Compound Personal Names
Origin: Ngu + lian + ga
When it is used: Tri-morpheme compound name.

Orfega

Nobody knows / nobody knows tomorrow

About the name: Sentence-Like Personal Names
Origin: Or + fe + ga
When it is used: Full-sentence name; philosophical acceptance of uncertainty.