Nicki Minaj Confirms Her Igbo Heritage, Reveals Her Igbo Name

Famous rapper Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, widely known as Nicki Minaj, has revealed that she has an Igbo name.

The superstar confirmed that her first name, Onika, is the Trinidadian version of the Igbo name Onyekachi.

Minaj made the revelation in response to a fan’s post praising her recent appearance at the United Nations, where she spoke out against jihadist violence targeting Christians in Nigeria. The fan noted that Minaj’s name, Onika—meaning “Who is greater than God”—suggests she was destined for remarkable achievements, including standing against injustice.

Sharing a photo explaining the meaning and variations of Minaj’s name on X, the fan wrote: “The name Onika means ‘continued belief in a supreme being who holds ultimate authority and surpasses all others in greatness.’ Let my Nigerian Barbz and friends confirm how God destines someone for greatness before they are even born!”

Minaj responded to the post, adding a hint of intrigue: “Will it get even more mysterious if I told you the tattoo on my arm means ‘God is with me’ in Chinese?”