Ebook
Ìsọmọlórúkọ — Baby naming the Yoruba Way
Among the Yoruba a name is not a sound chosen for its music. A name is a record.
It says what the family was living through when the child arrived, what they hoped, and what they saw in the child. This guide walks the whole custom — for families at home and in the diaspora, and for anyone naming a Yoruba child who wants to do it properly.
- 26 pages
- 8 watercolours
- A5 PDF
- Instant download
Get it on Etsy — £8.99 ↗ Instant download · secure checkout on Etsy
Look inside — 8 sample pages
What’s inside
- The weight of a name — why the state of the house is read first
- The first days, and the eighth day
- The naming day step by step — the ìkómọ, the water, the tastes of life
- The tasting tray, and what each item asks for the child
- The three kinds of name — àmútọ̀runwá, àbísọ and oríkì
- Twins — Táíwò and Kẹ́hìndé, and the children who follow them
- Choosing well — meaning before music, and keeping the tone marks
- Names you will meet, including the àbíkú names
- The dos and don’ts
- How the tradition sits beside a church service or registry
- A planning checklist, and a glossary
What you get
- A 26-page A5 PDF — reads on a phone or tablet
- Eight original watercolour illustrations
- A clickable contents page
- Instant download, no app or subscription
What is the difference between ìsọmọlórúkọ and ìkómọ?
Ìsọmọlórúkọ is the naming itself — the giving of the name. Ìkómọ is the bringing out of the child. In practice they happen on the same day and people use both words for the occasion; the guide sets out the order of the whole morning.
Does it list Yoruba names and their meanings?
It explains the three kinds of name and the families of names you will meet, so you can read any name you are offered. For a searchable list with meanings, the free name finder on this site is the better tool.
Is it useful if we are not holding a traditional ceremony?
Yes — most of it is about choosing and understanding the name, which matters whether or not there is a ceremony. There is a section on how the tradition sits beside a church service or registry.
Delivery, format and returns
- A digital download — no physical book is posted.
- A guide to read, not an editable or fillable template.
- Customs vary by family and by town — this sets out the shape of it, not a single correct script.
- For personal use. Please don’t resell or redistribute the file.
- Instant downloads can’t be returned — message us if anything is wrong and we’ll put it right.
