Chinwe

Bringing up my name is a conversation starter, one where people can ask where I am from, the mystery of its unruly pronunciation, or its significance. In Igbo, Chinwe means “God’s own”, commonly given to girls of South-Eastern Nigeria (Campbell). The two syllables represent a spirituality connected between them, perhaps a hopeful reminisce of belonging and identity. Within my name, there's a harshness between the letters, connected in almost an irreverent way that seems jarring. It is not docile, not sweet, but rather determined and possessive. I think of the name as a way to connect to my Nigerian side, a way to connect to the culture of my ancestors and God.

In the U.S., Chinwe is not a common name, with only around 145 Chinwes in the entire country (CHINWE First Name Statistics). However, in Nigeria, it is more popular, with around 81,000 people bearing this first name (Chinwe Name Meaning, Origins & Popularity). The prefix -Chi refers to “God” in the Igbo language, while the -nwe refers to “owns” (Campbell). Chinwe can often be a prefix for a name itself, as there are a variety of endings to add to it in the Igbo language, such as Chinwendu (God owns life) or Chinweekele (Thanks be to God). 

Religion has been a big part of my upbringing, which is evident through the definition of my name and how it connects to my family tradition. I have almost always been referred to by my whole name “Chinwe”, and have rarely received nicknames. I believe this has helped me to create a greater connection to my name, and embracing my culture fully without hesitation. I often used to be ashamed to state my ethnic name in classes, however learning to love it has been one of the best experiences of self-identity and expression. Now I fully embrace it, unafraid to pronounce or articulate all its vowels and consonants. My name reminds me of the beauty of Nigeria, the spicy egusi, the smooth fufu, and the companionship of my family.

Through my name, I have gained a deeper understanding of appreciation of my culture and the values it holds. It is the comfort of my name that lets me know that I have someone to hold onto even during the loneliest of times. 

Works Cited:

Campbell, Mike. “Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Chinwe.” Behind the Name\,

      www.behindthename.com/name/chinwe. Accessed 21 Sept. 2023. 

Chinwe Name Meaning, Origins & Popularity - Forebears, forebears.io/forenames/chinwe.

     Accessed 22 Sept. 2023. 

“First Name Chinwe.” CHINWE First Name Statistics by MyNameStats.Com,                                          www.mynamestats.com/First

     Names/C/CH/CHINWE/index.html. Accessed 21 Sept. 2023.