Enitan

Enitan is a Yoruba given name used across Nigeria and in Yoruba-speaking communities worldwide. The name is unisex and commonly given to children to reflect heritage and aspirational qualities. It is derived from Yoruba elements Eni ('person') and itan ('story' or 'history'), and is often interpreted as “a person of history” or “one whose story will be told.”

In daily use, Enitan is primarily a first name and may also appear as a middle name within a longer personal name; it is preserved in the Yoruba diaspora as a marker of cultural identity and lineage.

The name is notably borne by Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the 51st Ooni of Ife, a Nigerian royal who has reigned since 2015. His full name illustrates the common practice of incorporating Enitan into longer traditional names, including as a middle name in prominent families.

As with many Yoruba names, Enitan carries cultural resonance by signaling heritage, memory, and narrative significance. It is one of several names used to evoke history and personal identity within Yoruba naming traditions, and it remains in regular use among Yoruba communities and those influenced by Yoruba culture worldwide.