Names are stories. They reflect all that we are and all that we can be, displaying family history, dreams of the future and more — both inside and outside the margins.
Not all names are created equal. Those watching American sports may be used to certain monikers scrawling across the athletic landscape — titles like Michael, John, Aaron and Robert, among others.
Forenames like Nnamdi are a different story. They're not quite as common as the appellations previously mentioned. Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike is certainly aware of the rarity of his title in the American sports landscape. There have been some notable ones — former Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha earned four All-Pro selections (two first team, two second team) during his time in the NFL, for example. By in large, though, the denomination hasn't quite caught on, at least when compared to other, more anglicized honorifics.
Nnamdi Madubuike wasn't always Nnamdi. Once, the Baltimorean was Justin, a lively presence in coach John Harbaugh's defensive line.
Times change, though. People do, too. Now, Justin Madubuike is Nnamdi, a name that reflects Madubuike's past as much as it does his present and future.
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With that, here's what you need to know about Madubuike's name change.
Who is Nnamdi Madubuike?
Nnamdi Madubuike, formerly known as Justin Madubuike, is a defensive tackle for the Ravens. The 26-year old previously starred at Texas A&M, earning All-SEC honors in his final season in College Station. Following his glimmering collegiate career, Baltimore selected Madubuike with the 71st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The hulking defensive lineman has gone from strength to strength in his brief career, tallying a career-high 13.5 sacks en route a second-team All-Pro appearance last season. He garnered AP Defensive Player of the Year votes and inked a four-year, $98 million contract with Baltimore during the offseason.
Why did Justin Madubuike change his name to Nnamdi?
Madubuike's new name didn't come out of left field. Rather, it was a tribute to his Igbo roots.
Despite his birth certificate reading as Justin, Madubuike's parents — both of whom are Nigerian — have always called him Nnamdi. It's only outside the home that people would refer to him as Justin.
"Coming from Nigerian culture, our parents give us like an American name and give us a Nigerian name," Madubuike told the Ravens' website. "When we were growing up as little kids, they addressed us as our Nigerian name. So Nnamdi, I believe in my heart, that's my real name."
After putting forth the best year of his career, it felt as good a time as ever for Madubuike to embrace his culture.
"I just felt like when I keep it real, the better player I am, the better man I am," Madubuike said, per the team website. "I just was like, you know, I'm going to go with my real name. So Nnamdi is my real name."
What does Nnamdi mean in Igbo?
In Igbo — the language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group based in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa — Nnamdi roughly translates to "my father's son" or "my father's legacy."
Madubuike's father has played a sizable role in his life so far. So the decision to sport his Nigerian name wasn't a particularly hard one for the 26-year old. Especially not after his father, Festus, approved the move.
"My dad's my biggest supporter, so when he approved it, I was like, 'It's a go,'" Madubuike said.