IGBEKELE BENEDICTA AYOMIDE

This research studies the semantic and socio-cultural aspects of occupational personal names in the Yoruba language, concentrating on five key professions in traditional Yoruba culture: hunting (Òde), blacksmithing (Ògún/Agbẹdẹ), drumming (Ayan), warfare (Akin/Jagunjagun), and priesthood (Awo). Using the Socio-Cultural Linguistics Approach (SCLA) put forth by Bucholtz and Hall (2005), the study investigates how these names embody the historical, religious, and social values ingrained in Yoruba culture. Data were gathered using qualitative techniques, including interviews with Yoruba speakers and a review of existing literature and dictionaries. The study reveals consistent morphological patterns, such as prefixes (Oní-, Alá-, Akin-, Òde-, Ayan-, Ògún-, and Awo-), and explores their semantic meanings. This research shows that occupational names do more than identify; they reflect family heritage, spiritual beliefs, and social standing, acting as cultural symbols that maintain historical memory and moral principles. Although modernization and the reduction of traditional occupations are occurring, these names remain vital in representing identity and cultural continuity among the Yoruba people. The study concludes that Yoruba occupational names are linguistic representations of heritage that honor work, spirituality, and community identity, and it suggests that they should be incorporated into educational and cultural preservation effort