South African Names

These name are used in the Republic of South Africa.
gender
usage
Amahle m & f Southern African, Zulu
Means "the beautiful ones" in Zulu.
Andile m & f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
Ayanda m & f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they are increasing" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
Bandile m & f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
Bongani m Southern African, Zulu
Means "grateful, thankful" in Zulu.
Bonolo f Southern African, Sotho
Means "ease" in Sotho.
Braam m Southern African, Afrikaans
Afrikaans short form of Abraham.
Buhle f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Ndebele
From Xhosa and Ndebele buhle "beautiful, handsome", from the root hle.
Charlize f Southern African, Afrikaans
Feminine form of Charles using the popular Afrikaans name suffix ize. This name was popularized by South African actress Charlize Theron (1975-), who was named after her father Charles.
Chrizanne f Southern African, Afrikaans
Combination of Christine and Anne 1 used in South Africa.
Dumisani m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "praise" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Gugulethu f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele igugu "treasure, pride" and lethu "our".
Hlengiwe f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "helped, rescued, redeemed" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.
Kabelo m Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "allotment, share, gift" in Sotho and Tswana.
Karabo m & f Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "answer" in Sotho and Tswana.
Katleho m & f Southern African, Sotho
Means "success, prosperity" in Sotho.
Lebohang m & f Southern African, Sotho
Means "be thankful" in Sotho.
Lerato f & m Southern African, Sotho
Means "love" in Sotho.
Lindiwe f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "waited for, awaited" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi, from linda "to wait".
Lungile f & m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "correct, right, good" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Mandla m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "strength, power" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Mandlenkosi m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
From Zulu and Ndebele amandla "strength, power" and inkosi "king, chief".
Marietjie f Southern African, Afrikaans
Afrikaans diminutive of Maria.
Mbalenhle f Southern African, Zulu
From Zulu imbali "flower" and hle "beautiful".
Mbali f Southern African, Zulu
Means "flower" in Zulu.
Melisizwe m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "leader of the nation" in Xhosa.
Minenhle f & m Southern African, Zulu
From Zulu imini "day" and hle "beautiful".
Mpho m & f Southern African, Tswana, Sotho
Means "gift" in Tswana and Sotho, a derivative of fa "to offer".
Nkosana m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "prince" in Xhosa.
Nkosazana f Southern African, Xhosa
Means "princess" in Xhosa.
Nolene f Southern African, Afrikaans
Elaborated form of Nola, most commonly found in South Africa.
Nomusa f Southern African, Ndebele
Means "merciful" in Ndebele.
Nonhle f Southern African, Xhosa
From the Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with hle "beautiful".
Nosipho f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa
From the Zulu and Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isipho "gift".
Nosizwe f Southern African, Xhosa
From the Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isizwe "nation".
Noxolo f Southern African, Xhosa, Ndebele
From the Xhosa and Ndebele feminine prefix no- combined with uxolo "peace".
Nqobile f & m Southern African, Zulu
Means "they conquered" in Zulu, from nqoba "to conquer".
Ntombi f Southern African, Zulu
Means "girl" in Zulu.
Ntombifuthi f Southern African, Zulu
Means "a girl again" in Zulu.
Ntombizodwa f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "only girls", from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele intombi "girl" and zodwa "only".
Palesa f Southern African, Sotho
Means "flower" in Sotho.
Puleng f Southern African, Sotho
Means "in the rain" in Sotho.
Sandile m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "we increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele, from anda "to increase".
Sibonakaliso m & f Southern African, Zulu
From Zulu isibonakaliso meaning "sign, token, proof".
Sibongile f Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "we are thankful" in Zulu and Ndebele, from bonga "to thank".
Sibusisiwe f Southern African, Ndebele
Means "we are blessed" in Ndebele.
Sibusiso m Southern African, Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele
Means "blessed" in Zulu, Swazi and Ndebele, from busisa "to bless".
Sifiso m Southern African, Zulu
Means "wish" in Zulu.
Sipho m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "gift" from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele isipho.
Sithembile f & m Southern African, Zulu
Means "we trust" in Zulu.
Siyabonga m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "we thank you" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Sizwe m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "nation" in Xhosa.
Tau m Southern African, Tswana, Sotho
Means "lion" in Tswana and Sotho. Tau was the name of the last ruler of the Rolong in South Africa (18th century).
Teboho m Southern African, Sotho
Means "gratitude" in Sotho.
Thabani m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "be happy" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Thabo m Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "joy, happiness" in Sotho and Tswana.
Thandeka f Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "loved" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Thandiwe f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "loving one" in Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele, from thanda "to love".
Thando m & f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele thanda meaning "to love".
Thato m & f Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "will, desire" in Sotho and Tswana.
Themba m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "trust, hope" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
Thulani m Southern African, Zulu
Means "be quiet, be peaceful" in Zulu.
Thulile f Southern African, Zulu
Means "quiet, peaceful" in Zulu.
Tshepo m & f Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "hope" in Sotho and Tswana.
Tumelo m & f Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "faith" in Sotho and Tswana.
Unathi m & f Southern African, Xhosa
Means "he or she is with us" in Xhosa, from the prefix u- meaning "he, she" and nathi meaning "with us".
Xolani m Southern African, Zulu
Means "peace" in Zulu.
Zola 2 f & m Southern African, Xhosa
From the Xhosa root -zola meaning "calm".