Find out how popular the first name Taiwo has been for the last 45 years (from 1975 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Taiwo by gender

Based on the last 45 years of data, Taiwo is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 69% of people named Taiwo being male.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Taiwo.

It's also interesting to see that despite Taiwo being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2019 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Taiwo.

The history of the first name Taiwo

The name Taiwo originates from the Yoruba people of West Africa, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is a masculine given name that means "having the first pair of twins" or "the first twin." The Yoruba culture has a deep reverence for twins, and Taiwo is traditionally given to the first-born twin.

The name can be traced back to the 14th century, when the Yoruba people were established as a dominant ethnic group in what is now southwestern Nigeria. It is derived from the Yoruba words "ta" meaning "to taste" and "iwo" meaning "this world," signifying the first twin's arrival into the world.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Taiwo can be found in the Odu Ifa, a sacred literary corpus of the Yoruba people. The Odu Ifa contains verses and stories that serve as a guide for divination and moral conduct, highlighting the importance of twins in Yoruba cosmology.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Taiwo. One of the earliest recorded figures was Taiwo Akinsanya (1925-1962), a Nigerian writer and playwright who played a significant role in the development of Yoruba literature and theater during the mid-20th century.

Another prominent figure was Taiwo Akinkunmi (1928-2009), a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the Western Region of Nigeria during the 1960s.

In the realm of sports, Taiwo Ogunjobi (born 1950) was a Nigerian football player who represented his country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.

Taiwo Afolabi (born 1957) is a renowned Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist who has worked tirelessly to promote democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.

More recently, Taiwo Awoniyi (born 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Taiwo throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural significance and the impact it has had across various fields.

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 Taiwo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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