LUO NAMES THAT DO NOT BEGIN WITH "O"

Let me admit it upfront; most Luo names begin with the letter "O". Onyango, Otieno, Odhiambo, Okoth.. and the list goes on. The unwritten law in Luoland is that male names begin with "o" while female ones begin with "a". So many names conform to this norm that one may be excused to think that there are no names that don't. Far from it. They may be rare - and may even seem outdated - but there are indeed Luo names that do not conform to this unwritten law. And there aren't few. And I dare say they used to be more common then their "o-counterparts" in the past.

 The fact that most people living day have grandfathers and great grandfather bearing the non-o variation is a testament to the fact that the non a/o names were more common in the past than they are now. Another fact that support this theory is the names of places and clans (which are obviously named after patriarchs) normally bear names that do not necessarily begin with "o" or "a". We can therefore safely conclude that the shift to the o-variant is a recent phenomen. How recent, though, we can never know for sure.

There is an emerging trend of young generation of Luos reverting to the non-a/non-o variants as they shy away from names that so easily give away their tribal identity. But there is another jinx in the mix. In Luoland names aren't given arbitrarily. Names are associated with clans, and certain names are more acceptable in certain clans than others. But if you're looking for a Luo name to give to your kid, we've got you covered. For good measure, we've listed Luo names that do not begin with letter "a/o" here and give their meanings (where applicable). Disclaimer? This list is by no means exhaustive.

Buore - Means "abroad or overseas"

Bala - "Born in a place where salt is mined"

Bor - means "tall" or "fat" 

Bolo - no apparent meaning

Banja - Means "crooked"

Sabiano - means "foreign"

Sianga' - Means "One who separates"

Sande -  Means "one who is brought forth in suffering"

Seda - means "one who wanders."

Sigo - Means "enmity".

Siamba - Means "one who drives away bad omen."

Dawo - no apparent meaning.

Damba - no apparent meaning

Dola - Means "one who is bent over"

Diang'a -  

Dwasi - means "productive"

Demba - "Means "polite."

Gambe - Means "gift".

Dede - means "locust"

Dulo - Has no apparent meaning

Dimba - means "dignified"

Dito - Means "huge" 

Demba - means "polite"

Gem - Means "brought to us" or "given".

Gweth - means "blessing."

Gogo - "Born during a fishing period."

Got - means "hill."

Gor - Means "Mysterious"

Gumbo - Means "slow." or "windowed"

Guya - Means "new"

Hera - "love"

Hono - means "miracle"

Huli - means "he who reveals."

Jalang'o - Means "one who resembles a Kalenjin"

Jaramogi - Means "of the Ramogi"

Jambe - means "wealth"

Jiambe - no clear meaning.

Jera - Means "Unique".

Jura - Means "abundance"

Jowi - means "buffalo"

Kanindo - Means "born when people were asleep."

Kapesa - Means "Born with money"

Kago - means "fed."

Keya - Means "he who scatters"

Koyo - Means "born during the cold season"

Kuyo - Means "born during a sad period".

Kwach - means "leopard."

Kwanya - means "one which is picked up."

Kiche - means "born at a camp or temporary dwelling."

Kidero - means "born near a granary."

Liech - Means "huge" or "elephant"

Lieta - Means "born during a hot season".

Loch - means "reign"

Lwala - means "arid place"

Lwanda - means "rock"

Magoha - Means "borrowed"

Madowo - Means "speckled"

Magak - means "crow"

Makuge - Means "sleek"

Machar - Means "whitish"

Mariwa - means "mixed together."

Mao - Means "one who takes with force"

Malo - means "upward" or "uplifted."

Mbara - No apparent meaning

Mbaka - means "conversation"

Meo - Means "wealthy"

Mito - Means "sweet one"

Milang - No apparent meaning

Misiko - Means "the one who stays or lives long"

Miguna - means "born on a sack."

More - means "happiness"

Muok - means "groundhog" 

Muma - means "word".

Migwambo - Means "mysterious one."

Misao - No apparent meaning 

Mwalo - means "born in a place towards the lake."

Ngire - means "eloquent"

Nyakure - Means "One who comes from an unknown place."

Nyadibo - Means "white one"

Nyading - No apparent meaning

Nyasi - Means "Celebration" 

Nyada - Means "end of sorrow".

Nyong'o - Means "Soft one".

Pala - Means  "sword."

Pamba  -Means "born near a cotton farm."

Rabala - Means "born in a place where salt is mined."

Ramba  - Means "born in an open field".

Rabuor - means "chocolate skinned".

Rachier - means "cobra"

Rachuonyo - means "he who comes and stays"

Rachula - means "has connection with an island" or "born on an island"

Ramogi - means "answered prayer."

Rambo - means "unchained".

Rao - Means "hippopotamus"  

Ralek - means "dreamer"

Rateng - Means "black" 

Riaga - No apparent meaning 

Tama  - means "the one who doesn't conform."

Tunya  - means "boastful."

Tolo -  No apparent meaning

Tonge - means "spears"

Wango - Means "born with fire".

Wira - Means "repeated."

Can you add some more names? Please comment below..