Omolola
OH-MOH-LOH-LAH
Omolola is a Yoruba name from south-western Nigeria meaning 'a child is a treasure' or 'a child is wealth'. The name is composed of 'omo' (child) and 'lola' (wealth, honour, prosperity). In Yoruba culture, children are regarded as the greatest blessing and the true wealth of a family, surpassing material riches. The name therefore expresses profound gratitude for the gift of a child and celebrates the joy and value the child brings to the family.
At a glance
A jubilant Yoruba name meaning 'a child is wealth', celebrating the supreme value of children in Yoruba culture.
Etymology & History
Omolola is built from two Yoruba components: 'omo', meaning child or offspring, and 'lola', a compressed form of 'ni ola', meaning 'has honour' or 'has wealth'. The element 'ola' in Yoruba names signifies wealth, honour, and prestige, and appears in many Yoruba names such as Ola, Folasade, and Adenike. The full construction therefore declares that a child constitutes or brings wealth and honour to its family, a foundational belief in Yoruba social and spiritual life.
Cultural Significance
In Yoruba society, the birth of a child is celebrated with great communal festivity, and names are chosen with care to reflect the circumstances and emotions surrounding the birth. Names beginning with 'Omo' (child) are particularly cherished because they articulate the centrality of children to family and community. Omolola reflects the Yoruba belief that children represent continuity, legacy, and divine blessing. The name has gained visibility outside Nigeria through the Yoruba diaspora in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, where it is appreciated for its joyful meaning and musical sound.
Famous people named Omolola
Omolola Akinlabi
Nigerian pastor and founder of The Elevation Church in Lagos, one of the prominent contemporary Yoruba bearers of the name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Names like Omolola
Folasade
“Honour bestows a crown”
Folasade is a Yoruba name from south-western Nigeria, meaning honour bestows a crown or honour has a crown to bestow. The name comes from the words fola meaning honour or prestige, sa meaning to bestow or to give, and ade meaning crown. Together they express the idea that a life lived with honour is itself a form of royalty. The name is best known internationally through the British-Nigerian singer Sade Adu, who was born Folasade Adu. Despite this global exposure, Folasade retains a powerful, culturally specific identity rooted in Yoruba naming traditions.
Lola
“Sorrows”
Lola is a diminutive of Dolores, the Spanish name meaning sorrows, from the title of the Virgin Mary 'Nuestra Senora de los Dolores', Our Lady of Sorrows. Despite this melancholic origin, Lola has entirely transcended its etymology to become a name of vivacious energy and glamour. It has been borne by flamenco dancers, screen icons, and fictional characters of irresistible vitality, making it one of the most spirited names in the Spanish tradition.
Omolara
“Born at the right time”
Omolara is a Yoruba name from south-western Nigeria, composed of omo meaning child and lara meaning family or relating to family, with the fuller sense being a child who belongs to the family or a child born at the right time into the family circle. In Yoruba naming tradition, a child's name expresses the circumstances and feelings surrounding birth, and Omolara conveys that this child was expected, welcomed, and perfectly timed. The name carries a deep sense of belonging, destiny, and familial love.
Yetunde
“Mother has returned; mother reincarnated”
Yetunde is a Yoruba reincarnation name from Nigeria meaning 'mother has returned' or 'mother has come back.' It is given to a girl born after the death of her maternal grandmother or another maternal elder, signaling that the departed woman's spirit has been reborn in the newborn. It belongs to the same family as Babatunde (father has returned) and is its female parallel.
Where you'll find Omolola
Omolola shows up in these curated collections across Namekin.