Renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed that her now-famous first name, Chimamanda, was not given to her at birth but was a creation of her own.
In a recent interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Bounce Radio Live, the multiple award-winning writer disclosed that her parents named her Ngozi Grace, but the name never resonated with her. “I made up the name, I invented the name Chimamanda. My parents did not name me Chimamanda. It is true,” she said.
Adichie explained that growing up, she felt disconnected from her given names. “I was born Ngozi Grace; my mother is Grace. Growing up, I always felt that I was not Grace, that was my mother, and Ngozi felt too common to me. In primary school, I was Ngozi,” she noted.
Her journey to adopting the name Chimamanda began during her Catholic confirmation when she had the opportunity to choose a name. Inspired by a character named Amanda in a novel she had read, she chose Amanda despite it not being a saint’s name. She persisted, and the priest eventually allowed it. From then, she was known as Amanda throughout secondary school and into her early university years.
However, her time in the United States marked another turning point. “About a month into my time in the US, I was in class as an undergraduate, and there were about five people with the name Amanda. It was not unique anymore, and the way it was pronounced put me off. I started thinking about how I could change the name,” Adichie recounted.
Longing for a name that reflected her Igbo identity, she sought to reinvent herself. But because many of her official documents bore the name Amanda, she wanted an Igbo name that retained its essence. Then, shortly before the release of her debut novel, inspiration struck.
“I remember exactly where I was when it came to me. I was in my brother’s house in England, lying on a narrow bed, thinking about the fact that my novel was going to be published, and I didn’t want to be introduced to the world as Amanda. I wanted an Igbo name but didn’t feel like Ngozi; it felt too common. Then, it just came to me — Chimamanda,” she said, describing the moment as almost revelatory.
The name Chimamanda, which translates to “My God will not fail,” allowed her to honour her Igbo roots while preserving Amanda’s familiarity. The Half of a Yellow Sun author further reflected on how the name has since gained popularity. “Do you know how many people in Igboland are called Chimamanda today? They say culture doesn’t change, but it does,” she remarked.
Adichie’s story is a testament to identity, self-discovery, and the power of names in shaping how individuals navigate the world.
