This study attempts a pragmatic study of Abiku names
from the face act theory’s perspective.
The thrust of the work is to establish that certain politeness
acts are either violated or obeyed in the Yoruba naming
systems of Abiku children; thereby proving the economy
of words in names and that more is communicated than
said within the little strands of letters. Ten Abiku names
are selected and analyzed using the pragmatic principle
of face act. The study indicates that names, (in particular,
Abiku names) in the traditional African Yoruba setting,
transcend ordinary labeling to historicize, socialize,
spiritualize and influence people psychologically.