Behind the Name
the etymology and history of first names
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African Names

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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