Find out how popular the first name Chigozie has been for the last 26 years (from 1994 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Chigozie by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Chigozie is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 96% of people named Chigozie being male.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Chigozie.

The history of the first name Chigozie

Chigozie is a name of Nigerian origin, derived from the Igbo language spoken by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The name is a combination of two Igbo words, "Chi" meaning "God" or "the spiritual force," and "gozie" meaning "to bless" or "to protect."

The earliest recorded use of the name Chigozie dates back to the 19th century when the Igbo people were predominantly practicing traditional African religions. At that time, the name was given to children as a way of expressing gratitude to God or the spiritual forces for the blessing of a child.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Chigozie was Chigozie Obieze, a prominent Igbo chief who lived in the late 19th century. He was renowned for his leadership and diplomacy during the period of British colonial rule in Nigeria.

In the 20th century, the name Chigozie gained popularity among Christians in Nigeria, particularly Catholics and Anglicans. This was due to the influence of Christian missionaries who encouraged the use of Igbo names with religious meanings.

One notable person with the name Chigozie was Chigozie Obioha, a Nigerian writer and poet who was born in 1934 and died in 2005. He was known for his works that explored themes of African identity and cultural heritage.

Another famous bearer of the name was Chigozie Agwu, a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for various clubs in Nigeria and Europe during the 1980s and 1990s. He was a member of the Nigerian national team and participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Chigozie Iloeje, born in 1965, is a Nigerian-American actor and filmmaker who has appeared in several Hollywood films and television shows. He is known for his roles in films such as "The Interpretor" and "The Green Book."

Chigozie Obidiegwu, born in 1973, is a Nigerian business executive and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of a successful technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria.

The name Chigozie continues to be popular among the Igbo people of Nigeria and is often given to children as a way of expressing gratitude for the gift of a child and seeking divine protection and blessings.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Chigozie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Chigozie, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!