Esentaye: The Sacred Yoruba Naming Ceremony and the Return of the Ancestor

In Yoruba tradition, the birth of a child is not seen as the beginning of life but as a return. A return of spirit. A continuation of legacy. A fulfillment of ancestral promise. This sacred understanding is the foundation of Esentaye, the traditional Yoruba naming ceremony.

What is the Esentaye Yoruba Naming Ceremony

Esentaye means “stepping into the world.” It is the sacred Yoruba naming ceremony that officially welcomes a child into the world, the family, and the lineage. According to tradition, this ceremony must be done on the third day after the child is born. That is why it is called Esentaye. It marks the exact moment when the child spiritually steps into the world.

During those first few days, the child remains in sacred silence, resting in the mystery of transition. On the third day, the gates open. The child is acknowledged not just as a physical being but as a soul who has returned with purpose.

The full naming ceremony may then follow in stages. For female children, it is often completed on the seventh day. For male children, it is completed on the ninth day. But it is Esentaye on the third day when the process begins. This is the first moment of spiritual introduction when divination may be performed and the ancestors are called to witness the return of one of their own.

A Return, Not a Beginning

In Yoruba cosmology, it is understood that children are not born empty. They are born with ori inu, the inner head. They arrive with ayanmo, destiny. And many come through atunwa, the sacred act of reincarnation. Each child may carry the spirit of an ancestor who has chosen to return to the family line. During Esentaye, through divination, prayers, and observation, elders may determine if the child is an abiku, a spirit that repeatedly comes and goes, or if they have come to complete unfinished work, to uplift the family, or to restore spiritual harmony.

The Ceremony: Symbols, Sound, and Spirit

Esentaye is a deeply symbolic and spiritually charged moment. It is not only a celebration of life but a sacred ritual of alignment. On the third day, the child is formally introduced to the world. That same day, two powerful rites often take place. Divination and ritual offering. These are essential to understanding the child’s destiny and ensuring their path is opened with protection, clarity, and support from the unseen realm.

Divination is performed using Ifa or Obi to consult the child’s Ori and identify their spiritual purpose. The reading may reveal whether the child is a returning ancestor, an abiku, or a special being with a unique destiny. It also helps determine the names the child should carry and any spiritual instructions or taboos to be followed.

Based on the divination results, specific offerings are made to the Orisha and the ancestors. These offerings clear obstacles, invite blessings, and spiritually seal the child’s entrance into the world.

The child is cleansed with sacred herbs. Prayers are offered. Praise names are recited. Oriki, the poetry of lineage, is spoken into the child’s ears. Then come the tasting rituals. Honey for sweetness. Salt for wisdom. Water for clarity. Palm oil for peace. Dried fish or kola nut for abundance and strength. Each substance is a blessing. Each taste is a prayer.

Finally, the child is lifted and introduced to the elements. Shown to the sun, the earth, and the sky. This act declares to all of creation that this child has arrived with purpose.

The Power of Names

Names in Yoruba culture are never chosen casually. They are given through revelation, divination, and ancestral memory. A child may receive several names.

Abiso – a name based on the circumstances of birthOruko Amutorunwa – the name brought from heavenOruko Inagije – a nicknameOriki – praise name that honors lineageOruko Baba or Nkan Baba – an ancestral or family name

Each name carries energy. It may speak of the time of birth, the situation surrounding their arrival, or the role the child is destined to fulfill. In some cases, the name is spoken directly through the mouth of the Ifa oracle.

Esentaye in the Diaspora

Across the diaspora, Esentaye continues to live and breathe. From Brazil to Trinidad, Haiti to the United States, families are reclaiming this sacred rite. Even when adapted for new environments, the purpose remains unchanged. To call the child by name. To honor the spirit that has returned. To align the child with their destiny from the very beginning.

This ceremony is an act of remembrance. A way to reconnect with the truth that our children are not blank slates. They are sent. They are known. They are sacred.

Final Reflection

Esentaye is more than a celebration. It is a covenant. It is the moment when a child is not just named but spiritually seen. It is when the world pauses to acknowledge that a soul has returned. Not by accident. But by assignment.

Some children will bring their names through the divining tray. These names are not chosen. They are revealed. They carry instruction, protection, and prophecy. During divination, we learn not only the name but the spiritual agreements the child has brought into this life.

Their taboos are also made known. What the child must never eat. What they must never wear. What must follow them for their protection. These are not limitations. They are divine boundaries that preserve destiny.

The reading may also reveal the child’s mission. Some come to heal. Some to speak. Some to restore balance in the lineage. Others are born with assignments tied to health—either their own or that of the family or community. When these truths are known early, we can walk in alignment and prepare the way.

Esentaye is the beginning of that sacred walk. It is a reminder that we must never take birth lightly. When a child steps into the world, we do not ask “Who is this” but “Who has returned and why”

If you are preparing to welcome a child or want to reconnect with this sacred tradition, we invite you to learn more about hosting an Esentaye within your family or spiritual community.

For guidance, support, or to schedule a consultation, contact

Ogunda Onisese | Ogunderin Temple or visit OgundaOnisese.com.

Return to your roots. Speak the names with power. Welcome the ancestors home.