People Really Have Funny Names//LOH #183

A lot of times where I hear some people's real names, I just feel like meeting their parents right away and having a very long heart to heart with them, like"why on earth will you name your child this? "Wasn't there any other names you could think of?

As a Nigerian, I just have to tell you one simple truth, we are very creative especially when it comes to names. I know sometimes, before a child comes to life, parents may decide names and probably along the way something happens and the child is given another name based on the situation. That is totally fine but hats off to my Nigerian people! The creativity in names is out of this world, where they get the inspiration to give certain names to their kids needs to be studied in schools.

Over here, everybody is expected to be identified by three names. An English name, a native name and a surname. In these three categories, you get to see a lot of creativity. For example, when a couple had a hard time getting a child after so many years of trying, it is kind of expected that the child will get English names like 'Miracle', 'Blessing'.'Testimony'(yeah, testimony of God's goodness). If the parents are from the eastern part of Nigeria, you will be expecting names like 'Chimamanda'(My God will not fail), 'Chinwemmeri'(God has victory) and so on. Nigerians are quite religious so they attribute a lot of their name to God.

I thought I've heard the funniest name ever when I met someone and he told me his name is 'ThankGod'. I think it's the scenario that where I got to know the name added to the humor. It was my first time meeting him at a bank and he actually helped me out, when we were about to part ways I asked "What is your name in case we meet again?

"ThankGod" he said

"Oh yeah? For what?"I asked innocently

"For me, my name is ThankGod"

Wow
We had a good laugh because he understood that it was my first time hearing such a name.

It wasn't till I got into Highschool that I realized that there was more funny names to hear. I think the funniest one yet was having a guy in my class with the name 'Grant Onwunatuegwu'. I could get along with 'Grant', I mean, were Nigerians after all, our names are always top notch, but the other one? Nahh.
From the other name, you could guess he's from the East. It actually means Death is afraid when translated in English.

Really?
Death is afraid?

During the roll calls, his name is always the one to crack everyone up and he's always a subject of teasing in class. They'll make sure to shorten the name as 'death' or even 'fear' as the case may be. You know how the kids are. No matter how much I thought about it, it just couldn't make sense to me the inspiration behind the name. I couldn't even ask because he reports everyone who said anything about his name to the teachers ,even if the person genuinely wanted to know. He couldn't handle the teasings anymore.

Recently, I've come across a lot of names that will put you in stitches. I would have told you about people with name like "Wonder","Consider", and "Deliverance" but I guess we're not ready for that conversation yet.
Image in Freepik