A Nigerian woman who recently left Christianity to embrace Islam has gone viral on social media after sharing the meaning behind her new name.
Known on TikTok as @Maryam Kenechi, the woman revealed that she converted from Catholicism to Islam after finding faith in the religion, a decision she described with visible excitement.
In her video, she explained that she adopted the name “Maryam” upon conversion and later discovered its connection to her former name, Mary. She noted that both names carry the same meaning in English, allowing her to be addressed by either.
She shared on TikTok, “I don’t just accept Islam ☪️ and change my name. My name is UGWU KENECHI MODESTA MARY. When I accepted Islam, I found out that Mary and Maryam have the same meaning.
“One is English, which is Mary, and Maryam is Arabic. So you can call me Maryam or Mary, all na same. Remember, I am still that Igbo Muslimah from a Christian home who found faith in Islam.”
Although she did not provide specific details about what led to her conversion, her post quickly gained traction online. TikTok users have flooded the comments with reactions, sharing diverse opinions ranging from admiration for her faith journey to curiosity about her decision.
Her video has sparked widespread discussion on religious identity, name changes, and the personal nature of faith, highlighting how many people continue to explore spiritual paths while maintaining connections to their cultural roots.
