This is a list of submitted names in which the gender is masculine; and the usage is Western African.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Sallau m HausaFrom the Hausa
sallā̀ meaning “prayer, religious holiday”.
Sanusi m Indonesian, Malay, Nigerian, Fula, HausaFrom Arabic سَنُوسِيّ
(sannūsī), the name of a Sufi order and clan that existed in Libya and the Sudan region. The sect was named after its founder, Muslim theologian Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi (1787-1859).
Sele f & m IjawMeans "judge or plan carefully" in Ijaw.
Shadari m HausaMeans "born during the cold season" in Hausa.
Shanono m & f HausaMeans "drink milk" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to a child born when calves are being delivered.
Shima m & f TivShima means heart in Tiv language
Siaka m Western AfricanSiaka, meaning ''chief'', was the one who made the tribes in primarily West Africa. In old culture every family had to name at least one son Siaka.
Siendou m MandingThis name is originally from the Arabic name Said. Among West Africa's Manding people, mainly in Northern Cote d'Ivoire in places like Kong, Dabakala, Satama Sokura and Sokoro. A variant of the name in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea where the same Mande people with differing dialects live, Seydou... [
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Sonomo f & m IjawMeans "seven" in Ijaw. It is typically given to a seventh child, or a child born prematurely in the seventh month.
Sorle f & m OgoniKhana for "there's time" (as in, you have time to do something)... [
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Sorniabari f & m OgoniMeans "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [
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Suanu f & m OgoniMeans "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.
Suara m YorubaDerived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.
Sugrinongma m & f MossiMeans "patience is sweet" in Mossi, spoken in Burkina Faso.
Suoyo f & m IjawMeans "profit or gain" in Ijaw.
Swaa m BaribaMeans "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.
Tafa m & f YorubaMeans "belonging to the white oracle" in Yoruba, derived from
ti meaning "belonging to",
àlà meaning "white cloth; banner" and
ifá meaning "divination; oracle". It is possibly used as diminutive of a longer name as well.
Taio m Yoruba, PapuanVariant of
Tayo. A famous bearer is British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz (1985-), born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, the son of a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother.
Tanko m HausaName given to a boy born after many girls.
Taribi m & f IjawMeans "ask for or seek love" in Ijaw.
Tayo m & f YorubaMeans "worth joy" in Yoruba. It is often used as a short form of names ending in
tayo, such as
Olatayo.
Teawa m & f AkanMeans "the slim one" in Akan.
Tegwolo m IgboAn Igbo name from the YouTube channel House of Ajebo.
Temidire m & f YorubaThis Nigerian name means "Mine has turned to blessings" in Yoruba.
Tidiane m Western AfricanFrom a French word used to refer to a follower of Tijaniyyah, a Sufi order that originated in Northern Africa.
Tima m EfikMeans "remember love" in Efik.
Timidi m IjawMeans "live to see" or "witness" in Ijaw.
Tofunmi m & f Yorubaa strong desire for success and all the amenities of affluence.
Tokunbo m & f YorubaMeans "returned from overseas". It is often given to children born abroad and brought home.
Tola m & f YorubaMeans "prominent for success" in Yoruba, derived from
tó meaning "as prominent as" and
ọlá meaning "wealth, success, nobility". It is also a short form of longer names such as
Omotola,
Oyètọ́lá,
Tọ́lání and
Tọ́láṣe.
Tomi m NigerianMeans "the people" in Kalarbari, spoken in Nigeria.
Uchechukwu m & f Igbo, AfricanBased on the IGBO belief in a Supreme deity, Chukwu whose decision or will is final in the determination of human fate or destiny. It is a combination of two words of the Igbo (IBO), language, UCHE (WISH,WILL,THOUGHT) and CHUKWU (GOD)... [
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Udo m EfikMeans "second son" in Efik.
Uduma m IgboThe name means serenity, quietness. It's derived from the deity god of river, Uduma mmiri. A deity believed to be responsible for maintaining stillness of the waters in ohafia community in Igbo race.
Ugo m & f IgboMeans "eagle" in Igbo. It is also a short form of names containing the element
ùgó.
Ugonna m IgboMeaning "eagle of the father" or "father's glory" in Igbo.
Ugwu m IgboFrom Igbo
Ùgwù meaning "respect; reverence; dignity" or
Úgwú meaning "hill, mountain; highland" or also "north". ... [
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Uke m & f IgboShort form of names beginning with or containing
Uke-.
Umoh m & f EfikMeans "born during a festival" in Efik.
Utibe m EfikMeans "marvelous: wonderful" in Efik.
Uzondu m IgboMeans "way of life; road of life" in Igbo.
Walshak m NgasWAL means "cry", shak means "one another". Which Literally means Feel for one another
Wandoo m & f TivMeans "a child is good" in Tiv.
Wole m Yoruba“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.
Yakasu m BaribaMeans "bush" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born in the bush.
Yambo m Western AfricanA famous bearer was Yambo Ouologuem (1940–2017) a Malian writer. Possibly from the Dogon language.
Yao m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".
Yeggul-ngon m & f WolofWolof 'death prevention' name meaning "s/he has not reached the afternoon".
Yemi m & f YorubaMeans "I am honourable" in Yoruba.
Yezo m Fula, Western AfricanA name used by the Fula people, who are the largest ethnic group in Western Africa and the Sahel.
Yohance m African American (Rare), Hausa (?)Used by American comedian, writer and civil rights activist Dick Gregory for his son born 1973. According to a 1973 issue of
Jet magazine, Gregory and his wife Lillian found the name in a book called
Names from Africa, and Yohance 'means "God's gift" in the Hausa language of Nigeria.'
Ziola m & f IjawMeans "the last born" in Ijaw.
Zuo m & f IjawMeans "protection" in Ijaw.