Kenya Naming Customs

Kenya Wiki Topics

Kenya Beginning Research

Getting Started Online Learning Record Finder Research Strategies Finding Town of Origin

Record Types

Cemeteries Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Emigration & Immigration Jewish Records Military Records Online Genealogy Records Probate Records Religious Records

Kenya Background

History Languages Maps Naming Customs Social Life & Customs

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

In other languages: English | Kiswahili

Africa

Kenya

Naming Customs

Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools

• Behind the Name: Kikuyu Surnames
• Behind the Name: Kikuyu Given Names
• Behind the Name: Luhya Given Names
• Behind the Name: Luo Surnames
• Behind the Name: Luo Given Names
• Behind the Name: Swahili Submitted Surnames
• Behind the Name: Swahili Given Names
• Category:Kenyan names
• Most Common Last Names In Kenya
• Names in Kenya: Meaning of Popular Kenyan Surnames
• Kenya Surnames
• Surname experience at FamilySearch - search by surname to learn its meaning and origin

Surnames

• Traditional Kenyan communities use a patronym or matronym naming system. Many tribes have a prefix in their local language to denote the relationship between a father or mother and their child. For example, the Kikuyu use the term ‘wa’, which means ‘of’. In turn, the name ‘Kimani wa MUMBI’ means Kimani, the son of Mumbi. This practice is becoming less common in contemporary Kenya.
• Today, it is much more common for children to adopt their father’s surname.

Given Names

• A child is usually given at least three names – one selected by the parents, one selected by the maternal grandparents and one selected by the paternal grandparents. This varies from one community to another.
• In Kenya, the naming of a newborn child is considered to be a very important affair. Names may reflect various things. For instance, the name of the child may reflect the tribe they are from.
• It is common for a Kenyan's name to reflect family connections. For example, children are often named after their grandparents.
• Parents may name their children after the time or season of the child's birth. For example, a child of Luo ethnicity who is born during the night may be named as the Luo word for night (e.g. ‘Atieno' for a female or ‘Otieno' for a boy).
• Names may also reference recent global or national events. One example is how many children born in the years after the United States presidential election of 2008 were named ‘Obama' or ‘Michelle' – after the former US President Barack Obama (who has Kenyan heritage) and the former first lady Michelle Obama.
• It is also common for many names to have religious meanings. For example, a child born to Christian parents is usually given a biblical name.<ref name="KC"'>