Nicki Minaj Reveals Her First Name Has Igbo Roots
STORY: written by Myra November 21,2025
International rap superstar Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, widely known as Nicki Minaj, has disclosed that she actually bears an Igbo-derived name.
The award-winning music icon explained that her given name, Onika, originates from the Trinidadian variation of the Igbo name Onyekachi.
Minaj made this revelation while responding to a post from a fan praising her recent address at the United Nations, where she condemned extremist attacks on Christians in Nigeria. The fan stated that Minaj’s name, Onika—interpreted as “Who is greater than God?”—reflects her destiny to speak against injustice.
The fan also shared an image on X describing the meaning of her name as “ongoing trust in a supreme being who holds ultimate power and surpasses all in greatness.”
The post added, “My Nigerian Barbz and friends can confirm how God sets a person apart for greatness even before birth!”
Replying to the fan, Minaj added another layer of intrigue: “Would it be even more mysterious if I told you the tattoo on my arm means ‘God is with me’ in Chinese?”
