Friday, March 28, 2008

And His Names Are ...

I must thank you all for your congrats and best wishes. And for the names too. In my family, there had always been this tradition of everybody giving a baby a name.

I can remember my Dad introducing to someone and saying something like
'She was the one who gave you the name XYZ? or 'Why do you think you are called ABC? He gave you the name!'. The child has a family name which is 'given' by the father (long story) and the Mother gives any number of names she wants. The grandparents, aunties, uncles and then friends of the family. Usually, friends give names in their own language.

One rule though: A son cannot bear the same first name as his father.

And 'Junior' is not a name.

In all, I think I had about 70 names of different origins/languages etc including Sebastian, which I dont like at all. My first son had 43 names including Abu Rafiq which was given to him by my Lebanese colleagues after the slain former Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri.

And so, his names are:

Ademayowa
Adedeji
Olubukunola
Unwanaobong
Moyosooretoluwasefunmi (What? Don't look at me, thats from the Mother!)
Kwaku
Ndidiamaka
Effiong
Olaoluwakiitan (I think Jinta, 36 and Naapali share the honors here)
Onetoritsebawoete (Thats Black007)
Ademide
Olumide (I sincerely hope that my son gets to meet Auntie 36-inches someday. There would be an introduction that day!)
Ekemini
Abasiama
Ewezu
Kanu
Raheim
Rami
(*Space)
(*Space)
(*Space)
(*Space)


I cannot believe that I have been away from the Internet for a whole week. My Internet subscription at home lapsed on Thursday but I was just so occupied with the new baby that I did not renew it. Abi, na Internet the baby go chop?

I was there in the labor room and had some pictures and videos on my phone of the baby barely an hour after he was born but I just cant seem to connect the phone to the PC via cable! I have tried to use infrared, whosai? and the phone does not have blue tooth. I will put the pictures up as soon as I have them ready.

One thing though. You know in the past babies were born with their eyes closed and usually stays closed for up to a month before they open their eyes. Barely twenty minutes after he was born my son had opened his eyes! And the Doctors said it was normal. Children of nowadays.

I also think that constitutional provisions should be made for a fully paid 'paternity leave' for working fathers too. At least we were in the labor room together, we sleep in the same room with the baby abi?

17 comments:

Jinta said...

congrats again, nimmo and lol at the name the mum gave him (powerful name, though)

babies open their eyes quick time now, how else will they mark their territory for their turn on playstation 3?

Nine said...

12 names?Wow!I'm not even going to ask how you ended up with 70...

guerreiranigeriana said...

oh wow!!!!...okay...two names huh...a moment while i think...and i am honored that i had two spaces held for me:)...

...from my mom's side (ibibio-akwa ibom state)...you choose the one you like: ekemini-God's time or abasiama-God's love...

...from my dad's side (biase-cross river state)...i don't know the meanings here...ewezu or kanu...

...four options for the two spots...

ablackjamesbond said...

Hey man! Congrats again, i will let my son know he has a name sake and i hope someday the two Bawo's will meet.

Please upload the photos quickly...

Congrats again!

Naija Chickito said...

All lovely names. Congrats once again. God bless you and your family.

Afrobabe said...

Congrats man....there I was accusing u on Gnaija's page of errrrm always being there with long comments and not even realising u r a family man....

congrats jare...you do well....

Afrobabe said...

and how come there is only space for Gnaija??????

two spaces at that...

abeg my own name for the home boy is....















Rahiem.......just cos it sounds like a star's name!!!

bumight said...

congratulations are in order! Baba bomboy!!! lovely sset of name, I must say

Diva-Delicious said...

hey first time here too...returning the love...

Congrats on being a father...

i look forward to reading more of your blog...

i hope you are enjoyin fatherhood thusfar...

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

hahaha! Those are great names but Ndidiamaka, is that not a woman's name. And Moyoore...funmi - HABA! o ga o!

Anyway, these babies are in a rush nowadays, really. All our children came out with full heads of hair and eyes wide open. Don't be surprised if your boy starts holding his head up in a couple weeks. Some of them are anxious to see everything. God bless you all. And get used to less sleep, and late night back rubs/burping for the guy. these will be the best of times, he can't talk back. lol!


NIGERIAN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE...

Jennifer A. said...

But surely u cannot remember all 70 names people give you? Wow, it's actually beautiful to have a lot of names...I like that tradition o.

Congratulations!!!

N.I.M.M.O said...

@Jinta: Many thanx Bros.
@Nine: 12 is just the beginning ...
@GNaija: Trusted you would deliver. But how do I choose two out of four beautiful names. Lets just take all four abi? I believe the 'Kanu' is as in Kanu Agabi SAN and not Nwankwo Kanu, the footballer right?
@Black007: Y'know, I am looking forward to doing the introductions 10/20 years away.
@9ja Chick: Many thanx Sis.
@Afrobabe: Haba! I left enough spaces for you too now. Check well. LOL. Raheim actually sounds good to me. Many thanx.
@Bumight: Thanx but where is the name you are giving?
@Diva-D: Many thanx.
@Solomonsydelle: Na so we see am o. Ndidi is actually a unisex name. I had a room mate in the univ who was so named. Many thanx.
@Jaycee: Trust my Dad, he wrote them all down. Many thanx for your comments.

36 INCHES OF BROWN LEGS said...

yah!!!!! my names made the cut, oya im looking forward to meeting ur son o!! so u can tell him this aunty iwth d long legs gave u these names! lol. congrats again!!

Ms. Catwalq said...

congrats oooooo...

I name him Rami. After Rami Nuri.

Oh, can I?

Naapali said...

Again, congratulations o! This child will live up to and surpass his names!

As to the paternity leave: I revert to my usual phrase; I agree with NIMMO.

Mz. Dee said...

awww congratz on ur baby!!!!
My mum is lookin 4 a babyboi so i use urz as "a point of contact"..as churchez wud say..
congratz again!

UndaCovaSista said...

Awwww, bless! Babies rock! Would love to see the pictures. Congratulations (albeit belated...)

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