the etymology and history of first names
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African Names
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The names listed here are used in various places on the continent of Africa. See also about African names.
ABENA f Western African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.
ABENI f Yoruba
Means "we asked for her, and behold, we got her" in Yoruba.
ABERASH f Eastern African
Possibly means "giving off light" in Amharic.
ABIDEMI m Yoruba
Means "born during father's absence" in Yoruba.
ABIMBOLA m Yoruba
Means "born wealthy" in Yoruba.
ABIODUN m & f Yoruba
Means "born on a festival" in Yoruba.
ABIOYE m Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.
ACHIENG f Eastern African
Feminine form of OCHIENG
ADAEZE f Igbo
Means "king's daughter" in Igbo.
ADANNA f Igbo
Means "father's daughter" in Igbo.
ADANNAYA f Igbo
Means "her father's daughter" in Igbo.
ADEBOWALE m & f Yoruba
Means "my crown has come home" in Yoruba.
ADEGOKE m Yoruba
Means "the crown has been exalted" in Yoruba.
ADETOKUNBO m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown came from over the sea" in Yoruba.
ADHIAMBO f Eastern African
Feminine form of ODHIAMBO
ADISA m Yoruba
Means "one who is clear" in Yoruba.
ADJOA f Western African
Variant of ADWOA
ADWOA f Western African
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.
AFIA f Western African
Variant of AFUA
AFOLABI m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.
AFUA f Western African
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.
AKINYI f Eastern African
Means "born in the morning" in Luo.
AKOSUA f Western African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
AKUA f Western African
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.
ALABA f Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.
AMA f Western African
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.
AMADI (1) f Igbo
Means "rejoicing" in Igbo.
AMADI (2) m Yoruba
Means "seemed destined to die at birth" in Yoruba.
AMAKA f Igbo
Short form of CHIAMAKA
ANAN (1) m & f Western African
Means "fourth born child" in Akan.
ASHA (2) f Eastern African
Means "life" in Swahili, likely related to 'AISHA.
ATIENO f Eastern African
Feminine form of OTIENO
AWITI f Eastern African
Means "thrown away" in Luo, possibly used for a child born prematurely.
AWOTWI m & f Western African
Means "eighth born child" in Akan.
AYO f & m Yoruba
Means "joy" in Yoruba.
AYODELE m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come home" in Yoruba.
AYOKUNLE m Yoruba
Means "joy has filled the home" in Yoruba.
AYOMIDE f & m Yoruba
Means "my joy has arrived" in Yoruba.
AYOTUNDE m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has returned" in Yoruba.
AZUBUIKE m Igbo
Means "the past is your strength" or "your back is your strength" in Igbo.
BAAKO m & f Western African
Means "first born child" in Akan.
BABAJIDE m Yoruba
Means "father has returned" in Yoruba.
BABATUNDE m Yoruba
Means "father has returned" in Yoruba.
BABIRYE f Eastern African
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.
BAMIDELE m Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba.
BERKO m Western African
Means "first born" in Akan.
BOIPELO m & f Southern African
Means "proud" in Tswana.
BOITUMELO f & m Southern African
Means "joy" in Tswana.
BOLANLE f Yoruba
Means "finds wealth at home" in Yoruba.
BONGANI m Southern African
Means "be grateful" in Zulu.
BOSEDE m Western African
Means "born on Sunday" in Tiv.
CHAUSIKU f Eastern African
Means "born at night" in Swahili.
CHIAMAKA f Igbo
Means "God is beautiful" in Igbo.
CHIBUEZE m & f Igbo
Means "God is the king" in Igbo.
CHIBUZO m & f Igbo
Means "God is the leader" in Igbo.
CHIDI m Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo.
CHIDIEBERE m & f Igbo
Means "God is the merciful" in Igbo.
CHIDIMMA f Igbo
Means "God is wonderful" in Igbo.
CHIDUBEM m Igbo
Means "guided by God" in Igbo.
CHIEMEKA m Igbo
Means "God has performed great deeds" in Igbo.
CHIKA (1) f Igbo
Means "God is the greatest" in Igbo.
CHIKE m Igbo
Means "the strength of God" or "God's creation" in Igbo.
CHIMA m Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo.
CHINASA f Igbo
Means "God answers" in Igbo.
CHINEDU m & f Igbo
Means "God leads" in Igbo.
CHINWE m & f Igbo
Means "God owns" in Igbo.
CHINWENDU m & f Igbo
Means "God owns life" in Igbo.
CHIOMA f & m Igbo
Means "God is good" in Igbo.
CHIPO f Southern African
Means "gift" in Shona.
CHIUMBO m Eastern African
Means "small" in Mwera.
CHIZOBA m & f Igbo
Means "God protect us" in Igbo.
CHUKWUEMEKA m Igbo
Means "God has done something great" in Igbo.
DADA f Yoruba
Means "curly hair" in Yoruba.
DAKARAI m Southern African
Means "rejoice" in Shona.
DAYO f Yoruba
Means "joy arrives" in Yoruba.
DESTA f & m Eastern African
Means "joy" in Amharic.
DIKELEDI f Southern African
Means "tears" in Tswana.
DUBAKU m & f Western African
Means "eleventh born child" in Akan.
EBELE f Igbo
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.
EFUA f Western African
Variant of AFUA
EKENE m & f Igbo
Means "praise" in Igbo.
EKENEDILICHUKWU m & f Igbo
Means "all praise to God" in Igbo.
EKUA f Western African
Variant of AKUA
EKUNDAYO f & m Yoruba
Means "sorrow becomes joy" in Yoruba.
EKWUEME m Igbo
Means "he says, he does" in Igbo.
EMEKA m Igbo
Means "great deeds" in Igbo... [more]
EMEM m & f Western African
Means "peace" in Ibibio.
ENIOLA f & m Yoruba
Means "person of wealth" in Yoruba.
ENITAN m Yoruba
Means "person of story" in Yoruba.
ENU m & f Western African
Means "fifth born child" in Akan.
ENYINNAYA m Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.
ESHE f Eastern African
Variant of ASHA (2)
ESI f Western African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
FARAI m & f Southern African
Means "rejoice" in Shona.
FARAJI m Eastern African
Means "consolation" in Swahili.
FEMI m Yoruba
Short form of OLUFEMI
FOLAMI m & f Yoruba
Means "respect and honour me" in Yoruba.
FUMNANYA f Igbo
Means "love me" in Igbo.
FUNANYA f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo.
FUNGAI m Southern African
Means "think" in Shona.
FURAHA f Eastern African
Means "joy, happiness" in Swahili.
GBEMISOLA f Yoruba
Means "carry me into wealth" in Yoruba.
GWANDOYA m Eastern African
Means "met with misery" in Luganda.
IDOWU m & f Yoruba
Means "born after twins" in Yoruba.
IFE f Yoruba
Means "love" in Yoruba.
IGE f Yoruba
Means "born feet first" in Yoruba.
IMAMU m Eastern African
Means "spiritual leader" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إمام (Imam).
IMANI f Eastern African
Means "faith" in Swahili.
IME m & f Western African
Means "patience" in Ibibio.
ISINGOMA m Eastern African
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.
ITUMELENG m & f Southern African
Means "joy" in Tswana.
JELANI m Eastern African
Means "mighty" in Swahili.
JENGO m Eastern African
Means "building" in Swahili.
JUMAANE m Eastern African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Swahili.
KAGISO f Southern African
Means "peace" in Tswana.
KAMARIA f Eastern African
Swahili name, likely related to QAMAR.
KATLEGO m & f Southern African
Means "success" in Tswana.
KATO m Eastern African
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.
KAYIN m & f Yoruba
Means "celebrated child" in Yoruba.
KAYODE m Yoruba
Means "he brought joy" in Yoruba.
KEFILWE m & f Southern African
Means "I was given" in Tswana.
KGOSI m Southern African
Means "king, chief" in Tswana.
KHAMISI m Eastern African
Means "born on Thursday" in Swahili.
KIBWE m Eastern African
Means "blessed" in Swahili.
KIRABO m & f Eastern African
Means "gift" in Luganda.
KOBINA m Western African
Variant of KWABENA
KOFI m Western African
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.
KOJO m Western African
Variant of KWADWO
KUNTO f Western African
Means "third child" in Akan.
KWABENA m Western African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.
KWADWO m Western African
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.
KWAKU m Western African
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.
KWAME m Western African
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.
KWASI m Western African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
KWEKU m Western African
Variant of KWAKU
KWESI m Western African
Variant of KWASI
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