Not many people know where the name Taiya comes from, many can’t pronounce it either. Lol. My name is pronounced Tay-ya and it is a name made up of names???
Let me explain.
I was in secondary school, and we had an art class where we were told we needed to have an alias as other artists were known to have.
In my dilemma I had a conversation with my brother about it.
That’s when my brother said “why not Taya?” As soon as I heard the name, it made so much sense to me.
I decided to add the “i” in it later in my late teens.
But what does it mean you ask? Well Taiya is a combination of all of my names, of which I have a lot.

‘T’ is for ‘Tewogbade’, which in my native tongue of yoruba means ‘Open your hand and receive the crown’. It’s a very important name to me, because it was the name given to me by my grandfather on my father's side. My grandfather was my first love, in that he was the first positive memory I have of being around a man. I lost him when I was 11, and I hadn’t seen him for 6 years before that. But my memory of him is so vivid. The feeling of feeling safe, and stable that he gave me, has never left me. I even got the name tattooed on me. Much to my mother’s dismay.
‘A’ is for ‘Apinke’ which to be honest I can only describe as a nickname of sorts; it means ‘cared for or looked after by many’.
‘I’ stands for ‘Iyabo’ , one of the many names I was given in honour of my grandmother who passed away just before I was born. It’s our cultures tradition to acknowledge or honour a grandparent who has passed by giving the baby born immediately after their passing a name that keeps a link to that grandparent. ‘Iyabo’ simply means, ‘the mother returns’.
‘Y’ stands for ‘Yetunde, ‘Yeside’ and ‘Yewande’ which again literally means ‘the mother returns’ . It makes me think my grandmother must have been awesome to leave such an imprint that I was named four times. Don’t worry granny, I remember you everyday I hear my name.
‘A’ in Taiya came from me. It stands for ‘Ayanfeoluwa’, which means ‘God’s chosen one’. I fell in love with the name after I heard it spoken. It literally vibrated through me, made me think I had been splashed with cold water. It woke me up. It’s the only name I gave myself, it’s not on any documentation, but it describes value to me, God and my relationship I have with Him. Whenever I speak the name to myself, I feel strong, I feel able, I feel purpose.
Soul is the easy part of this story, Soul comes from the fact that my voice is soulful. Whether I am singing afrobeat, gospel, pop, or whatever; you are always going to hear my soul and soulful voice.
So let me ask; who are ? Let's get to know each either by contacting me, Taiya Soul at Taiya Soul Coaching website.
If so we can both live life Soulfully and successfully in whatever we are doing.
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