Chinwe is a name given by the Igbo people of South-Eastern Nigeria to both sexes but more commonly to girls. It means "God owns" (Chi = God, nwe = owns) and is a shortened form the ending of which can present in a number of ways depending on the intentions behind the naming^[1]

For example:

• Chi nwe ifenu = God is the owner of the universe or everything on mother earth belongs to God
• Chi nwe ndu = God owns life
• Chi nwe ekele = God owns thanks (thanks belong to God)
• Chi nwe aku = God owns wealth
• Chi nwe udo = God owns peace
• Chi nwe ugwu = God owns dignity

It is affectionately shortened to 'Chichi' or just 'Chi' but this property is not unique to it, all Igbo names beginning with Chi can be so shortened.

Notable Chinwes:

• Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy (1952−2012), Nigerian-British visual artist
• Chinwe Obaji, Nigerian academic and former Federal Minister of Education
• Chinwe Okoro (born 1989), Nigerian-American throws athlete
• Chinwe Egbunike-Umegbolu (born 1983), Nigerian-British lawyer

References