A proverbial name is a type of given name formation in some cultures of Africa. A proverbial name is a name which is condensed from a proverb, proverbial phrase, or a philosophical statement. An example from the Urhobo culture: Okeremute ("there is time for everything")Peter Palmer Ekeh (2005) "Studies in Urhobo Culture ", , pp.81, 101The Uganda Journal, v.11-14 1947-1950, pp.204, 205J. Olowo Ojoade, "African Proverbial Names: 101 Ilaje Examples", Names, 1980, vol. 28, 195-214
References
Relevant literature Abiodun, Michael A., Oluwatoyin M. Olaiya, and Kehinde O. Oladeji. 2022. “A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Yoruba Names Derived from Proverbs.” SKASE Journal of Literary and Cultural Studies, 4, no. 3, 48-60. Akinnaso, F. Niyi. "Names and naming principles in cross-cultural perspective." Names 29, no. 1 (1981): 37-63. Amali, Halima, Zainab Ciroma, and Amina Bashir. 2019. "Idoma Proverbial Names as a Vehicle of Expression: A Sociolinguistic View." Proverbium: Yearbook of International Proverb Scholarship 36.1, 57-74 Fasiku, Gbenga. "Yoruba Proverbs, Names and Consciousness." Journal of Pan African Studies 1, no.4 (2006). John, Ngbede, Uchegbu-Ekweme Chinyere, and Dansabo Nyitzo Friday.2024. "Pragmatic analysis of Àgàtú proverbial names." Ife Psychologia 32.2, 30-39. Ladzekpo, Etse Kobla Makafui. 2024. African Personal Names: An Introduction to Their Historical and Cultural Significance. AuthorHouse. [Chapter 6, proverbial names] Musere, Jonathan. "Proverbial Names of the Baganda." Names 46, no. 1 (1998): 73-79. Nindow, Mohammed Osman. "Morphology and syntax of Dagbani proverbial names." Ghana Journal of Linguistics 12, no. 2 (2023). Nsimbi, N.B., 1950: Baganda Traditional Personal Names. Uganda Journal, Vol. 14, 204–214. Ojoade, J. Olowo. “African proverbial names: 101 Ilaje Examples.” Names 28, no. 3 (1980): 195-214. Ramaeba, Goabilwe Nnanishie. "Preserving the Setswana Culture through Personal Names." Journal of Asian and African Studies (2026): 1-15. Simelane-Kalumba, Phumzile Innocentia. The use of proverbial names among the Xhosa society: Socio-cultural approach. PhD diss., University of Western Cape, 2014.