K

 

KAALUCHI [Kaalu Chi (nsogbu gi) = Tell God (your problems)]

Gender: Both

 

KAANENE

 

KACHI [Ka Chi... As God...]

Interpretation: Probably from "Ka Chi si cho" = As God wills; or "Ka Chi si kee" = As God shares/ decides/creates. See also ONYEKACHI, since this may be a short version of the popular male name.

Gender: Female

 

KACHIDILIM

 

 

KACHIKWU [Ka Chi kwu = Whatever God says]

DVW: KACHUKWUKWULU, NKECHIKWULU

 

KACHISIKE [Ka Chi si ke = As God has created]

 

KACHIKARA

 

 

KACHISICHO [Ka Chi si cho = As God desires]

 

KAFANAASI [See FANAASI

DVW: KAFANASI, FANAASI, FANASI

 

 

KAEMENA (probably from: Ka emene, anaghi emete ora mma = Whatever is done,  no one satisfies everyone.] It means that no matter what you do, you cannot please all. [See also KAMEMENA]

Gender: Female

 

KALU is a shortened name of, or derived from; "Kamalu" or "Kamanu," the deity of thunder. Kamalu is an important deity in the traditional belief system of the people of many subethnic Igbo people. According to Igbo cosmology, Kamalu, as the powerful deity of thunder, is the dispenser of justice in land or resource adjudication. When invoked, it could kill those who oppress their neighbors with ill gotten gains. [See also AMADI from Amadioha]. Attention: anyone from some areas outside where this name is popular in Igboland answering to this name will raise eyebrows, but there is no known rule restricting this name to a particular arera: it is just popular there.

Gender: As a first name, strictly male; mostly last name, or in combination.

 

KAMEMENA [Ka m emene = No matter what I do....] A particular one means "Ka m emene, umuuwa ga na-asilili." [No matter what I do, folks must always run their mouth]. It is what we call "aha ikpe"; you don't tell a story with your child's name. Give praises for a new life and possible expectations,  not get even with the rough world we live in. This said, I love the name; the pet version is cute too.  [See also Kaemena] It is a chic Igbo name and, the meaning notwithstanding, I love it. If you have a reason to make this statement, go ahead and do it.

DWV: MEME, KAEME, KAMEME

 

KAMNOLU [Ka m nolu = Let me stay or May I stay]

Interpretation: The name-giver, most likely a father, probably want to stay to see the child grow and achieve his full potentials in life. [Ka m nolu ndu rue mgbe i ga-abu nnukwu mmadu = May I stay alive to watch (the child) become an accomplished human being.] This name is about hope, and establishes the fact that children are expected to surpass the achievements of their parents and also look after them at their old age.

DWV: KAMNORO

Gender: Male

 

KAMSOROCHI

 

KAMSOROIBE

 

 

KANAYO [Ka a na-ayo Chukwu = We pray to God]. Some girls or boys later try to use "ANAYO" to differentiate, but it doesn't work. Fact is, some names are simply cross-gender--including the most popular Igbo female name: Ngozi

DWV: KANAYO, ANAYO.

Gender: Both

 

KANU: [Kamanu in some areas] See KALU

 

KAODIMMA [Ka o di mma = May it be okay (through you)]. See also OSITADIMMA

DWV: KODIMMA

Gender: Both, mostly female

 

KAODILI (Ka o dili (Chukwu) - Let it be decided (by God)]

DWV: KAODILINYE, ODILI, KODILI, KODILINYE

Gender: Male

 

KAODILINYE [Ka o dili nye (n’aka Olisa/Chukwu) = Let it be (in the hands

of God)]

DWV: KODILINYE, KODILI, KOODILINYE, KAODILI

Gender: Male

 

KAOSIDICHIMMA [Ka o si di Chi mma = As it please God]

 

KASACHA [probably from "M kasachara" = I told it all] This name is very personal; it is not very popular and the name-giver alone knows what s/he has confessed to doing.

Gender: Both

 

KASARACHI [Kasara Chi = Tell it to God].

Interpretation: In other Igbo dialects, it could be "Kaaluchukwu," "Gwachi,” Gwachukwu,  SEE also GWACHI

DWV: KATARACHUKWU, KASARACHUKWU

Gender: Both

 

KASIE (possibly from "Kasie m obi" = Console me, or shortened from NKASIOBI (Consolation). Interpretation:  May I take solace in you (or at your birth).

Gender: Both

 

KASIRIMOBI [Probably from "O kasiri m obi" =S/he consoled me] See also NKASIOOBI

DWV: KAS, SIRIMOBI, OBI, ASIMOBI, KASIMOBI

Gender: Both

 

KAZIA [Kazia = Say/Tell it now]

Interpretation: Now that the deed is done, anyone is free to talk about it!

Gender: Female

 

KAZIE [Kazie = Tell it well]

Interpretation: Probably from "Kaziere nwanne gi"= Teach/Tell your brethren right] The name enjoins siblings to tell each other the truth, to trust our kinfolks.

Gender: Both

 

KECHIDIMMA [(N)ke Chi di mma = God’s own is good]

 

KECHIFONYE

 

KECHINYERE [(N)ke Chi (Chukwu) nyere = that which God gave me. (God-given)] This version is pushing it, and I hope it does not catch on in written version. Taking out the "N" is spoken "sexy/chic" version. If we let it be, expect to see "Gozi" for NGOZI, which should not be confused with "GOZIE" [Chigozie]

 

KELECHI [Kelee Chi = Thank God]

DWV: KELECHUKWU, KELEECHI, KENECHI, KENEECHI, KENEOLISA, KELENNA  

Gender: Both

 

KELEIBE

 

KEMAFO

 

KELECHUKWU: Some suggest that this is a male variant of Kelechi. It might be in some circles but, with the exception of such names as Okeke, Mgbeke,etc., there is no clearly defined line of gender-specific names in Igbo

 

KEMDILIM [(Nke) m dili m = May what is mine remain mine.] Another K-derived name. See NKEMDILIM

 

KEMJIKA [(N)ke m ji ka  = What I have is far better] See NKEMJIKA

 

KEMNAGUM [(N)ke m na-agu m = I desire (only) my own]

Gender: Male

 

KENECHI

DWV: KENEECHUKWU

 

KENENNA

 

KEZIE [(Chi) kezie = Created well (by God)] See also CHIKEZIE

Interpretation: It is proper to give thanks to God for a child with two legs, two arms and one head. What a beeter expression than this: God made the child whole. Also, in KEZIEUWA, this name may imply a request to God or a benevolent communal deity to now deliver justice or to apportion out the rightful attribute to a bundle of joy and the the world (uwa).

DWV: KEZIEUWA. KEZIENDU,

Gender: Female [CHUKWUNARA may be male, but it is not popular.]

 

KEONYEGWACHI [(N)Ke onye gwara chi ya ka o na-emere ya = Whatever you tell you God you are most likely to get.] You get what you ask of your God.

DWV:  KONYEGWACHIE, NKEONYEGWARACHI and GWACHIE.

Gender: Both

 

KEONYEMERE [Nke onye mere... (na-eche ya/na-eso ya = Whatever one does... (awaits/follows him or her)

Interpretation: This name is not an innocent name fit for a child, unless the parents have strong reasons to so do.  But some parents have a thing or two with naming their children: they use it to express themselves. The name means “nemesis” or Karma.

DWV: KONYEMETALU, KAONYEMETERE, NKEONYEMERE, KONYENEEME

Gender: Male

 

KUDEUME: [Kude ume = Exhale)]

Interpretation: To exhale is to take a deep breath and relax, probably after a long struggle to have the child, or some other events that are very personal to the name-giver. On the other hand, it may be a general philosophical statement urging folks to take things easy and simply to enjoy life -- for the air we breath is free. Kuru ume, on it own, means “inhale.”

DWV: KUDETUUME

Gender: Male

 

KURUUME: [Kuru ume (ndu) = Take a breadth (of life)]

Interpretation: To take a breadth of life is to relax, probably after a long strife to have the child, or some other events that are very personal to the namer-give. On the other hand, it may be a general philosophical statement urging folks to take things easy, to value every breadth they take, or simply to enjoy life--for the air we breath is free. Kuru ume, on it own, means “inhale.”

DWV: KURUME, KURUMEH, KURUUMENDU

Gender: Male

 

 

KODILI [Ka o dili (Chukwu) = Let it be decided (by God)]

DWV: KAODILINYE, ODILI, KODILI, KODILINYE

Gender: Male

 

KOOROCHI [Kooro Chi = Tell it to God] See also KASARACHI