An Ozo initiate assumes a cognomen that will serve as his signature for the rest of his life if for any reason he is not elevated to the rank of red cap chief by the Obi of Onitsha. Except for occasions of Ozo transfer as practised when an Ozo member ascends the throne of Ezechima, the Ozo title dies with its holder. It is said that, “Ka osi so onye oza afia”. This aphorism indicates that the Ozo title name of any initiate is the prerogative of the initiate. This is entirely not correct, as there had been occasions in which initiates had to drop the names hitherto chosen for alternatives following some disagreements. The Ozo Title names have undergone a lot of metamorphosis.

Starting with a handful, the Founding Fathers of the Prestigious Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association chose names that reflected their achievements through some visible and invisible hands. Most of the names revolve around parents, children, strength, Wealth, character, achievement and nobility. Oftentimes, the Shakespearean dictum of “Some are born great; some achieve greatness; some have greatness thrust upon them” is very apt in Ozo names. Such names as Nwakibie, Ezenwa and Nnabuenyi refer to those bom great while, Ojinnaka and Ojinnanaka refer to initialization advantages by some children or men, and Nwabunie, Zeklgowanne, Akunwanne, Ezenwanne, Ugonwanne, Egonwanne, and on 30th December 2015 at O20 Umu Onogbo, Egonwannie, by Aniemena Azokwu. This was after the agnomen of Ifechukwukwulu misconceived as a Woman’s agnomen and Akunetigbuilo also misconcieved as non-available in the Agbalanze agnomen lexicon were rejected by the Agbalanze Executive members occupying the “Table” at that Ina Obibi and Egwu Ututu ceremony. However, the eventual agnomen, Egonwannie, taken by AniemenaAzokwu eventually at the afternoon session would tend to indicate some assistance in the uplifting of an offspring, by a patemal or maternal relation. Aniemena Azokwu’s cascade from Ifechukwukwulu to Akunetigbuilo and Egonwannie is derisively and jokingly referred to as O20 Triangle.

Later developments brought in the agnomen with the prefix Nwa (the
child) who has become the man, indicating the independence of the name bearer through providence in achieving greatness and Ozo title for himself or for his parents or elder relation. Such names include: Nwabunie, Nwawuluaru, Nwanyelugo, Nwazuluaru, Nwachinemelu, Nwachinyelugo, Nwazuluaru and Nwakibie.

Some names reflect very recent sparing incidents. Some of the agnomens in this category can be classified as uncommon and rare. Such names as Onwanetilira, lgwelionwa, Ifechukwukwulu, Mmililienyi, Chukwuebuka, Chinweozo, Chibundo and Ogbuchukwumalu may pass for reactions to events that reflect individual trajectories in life.

Initially, many of the initiates took cognomens with prefixes of Aku and Oku signifying wealth. Such agnomens include Akunne, Akunnia, Akunwata, Akukalia, Akunwanne and Okunwa. Others took names with the prefixes of Nna and Chi ending with Ugo (feather). Examples are Nnanyelugo and Chinyelugo. The third group of agnomens take their bearing and philosophy from Enyi the elephant, the largest of existing land animals hunted for its expensive ivory tusk.

Such names include Nwaenyi, Nnabuenyi, Ononenyi, Enyikwesili and Dakwasienyi. On the part of nobility some initiates take the agnomen of Amalunweze or Ezekwesili.