bouba

Bouba is a personal name used as a given name or nickname in various cultures. It can function as a standalone name or as a diminutive form of longer names. In West Africa and North Africa, Bouba is encountered as a familiar form among communities that speak Arabic, Berber, and related languages, among others. The name is also used in diaspora communities and in popular media.

In psychology and cognitive science, Bouba is known for its role in the Bouba-Kiki effect, a robust cross-cultural phenomenon in which people tend to associate rounded-sounding nonsense words with rounded shapes and sharp-sounding words with jagged shapes. The effect suggests that sound symbolism influences perception and category assignment, though the exact mechanisms are debated. Researchers have used Bouba and Kiki as the labels for the pair of abstract shapes and words in experiments.

In literature and media, the name Bouba may appear as character names or pseudonyms, reflecting its use as a familiar given name across cultures. Usage and associations can vary widely by region and community.