African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aadaan m Somali
Somali form of Adhan.
Aadam m Urdu, Somali, Estonian
Urdu, Somali, and Estonian form of Adam.
Aaden m Somali
Somali form of Adam.
Aamiina f Somali
Somali form of Aminah 1.
Aannuliró f Bandial
Means "she was brought down inside" in Bandial.
Aare m Yoruba
Means "commander" in Yoruba. Aàrẹ is a title, usually in the military of the Yoruba warriors company. The leader of the company from a clan takes the title when they join up with a coalition.
Áárónì m Yoruba
Yoruba form of Aaron.
Aba f Akan
Means "born on Thursday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Ababuo f African
Ababuo means a child that keeps coming back. This name is mainly used in Ghana
Abadi m Ijaw
Means "a big sea" in Ijaw.
Abadibo f & m Ijaw
Means "a person from the sea" in Ijaw.
Abadir m Near Eastern Mythology, Coptic (Bohairic), Coptic (Sahidic), Arabic (Archaic), Ethiopian, Somali (Archaic)
Means "mighty father". This was a Phoenician name for the highest deity. It was borne by a legendary Coptic saint who was martyred with his sister Irais (or Iraja, Herais, Rhais).
Abafile f & m Zulu
Means "they are not dead" or "undead" in Zulu.
Abagbe f Nigerian
The meaning of Abagbe is we begged to have this one to lift up
Abaka f Akan
Means "first born" in Akan.
Abakar m Western African
Form of Abu Bakr used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Abam f African
Abam’s meaning is “second child after twins”
Abana f African
Variant of Abena.
Abarahama m Shona
Means "one who has birthed or fathered relatives", derived from Shona kubara "to bear offspring, to bud" and hama "relatives". This is the Shona equivalent of Abraham.
Abasiama m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "it is God that loves" or "God's love" in Ibibio and Efik.
Abayie m & f Akan
Means "has come well" in Akan.
Abaynesh f Amharic
Means "you are the Nile" in Amharic.
Abayomi m & f Yoruba
Means "he came to bring me joy and happiness" or "I would have been mocked" in Yoruba. It is a name given to a child born after a number of unfortunate or near unfortunate circumstances. It is often called in full as Àbáyòmí Olúwaniòjé meaning "I would have been mocked, if not for God".
Abdiaziiz m Somali
Somali form of Abdul Aziz
Abdikadir m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Abd al-Qadir, used outside of Somalia.
Abdirahim m Somali
Somali form of Abdurrahim.
Abdirizak m Somali
Somali form of Abdur Razzaq. A notable bearer was the Abdirizak Haji Hussein (1924–2014), the former Prime Minister of Somalia.
Abdool m Mauritian Creole, South African
Variant transcription of Abdul.
Abdoul Aziz m Western African
Western African form of Abd al-Aziz.
Abdoul Karim m Western African
Western African form of Abd al-Karim.
Abdoul Salam m Western African
Western African form of Abdus Salam.
Abdourahmane m Western African
Form of Abd al-Rahman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Abdu m Swahili
Abdu is a name of Swahili origin meaning worshipper of God and the vowel at the end makes it sound like Abdul
Abdulkadir m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Abd al-Qadir, used outside of Somalia.
Abdullahi m Somali, Nigerian
Form of Abdullah used in Somalia and Nigeria.
Abduwali m Uyghur, Somali
Uyghur and Somali form of Abd al-Wali.
Abebech f Amharic, Ethiopian
Feminine form of Abebe.
Abebi f African
Variant of Abeni.
Abegunde m & f Yoruba
Means "The one who came with the masquerade" in Yoruba.
Abeiku m Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Abejul m & f Bandial
Means "the one who pouts" in Bandial.
Abeke f Yoruba
Means "one begged to care for" in Yoruba.
Abellinut m Berber
Means "determined, brave" in Amazigh.
Abera m Ethiopian
Means "light" or "he shines". Used as both a given name and a surname.
Aberkan m Berber
Means "swarthy" in Amazigh.
Aberuagba m & f Yoruba
Means "the one who respects elders" in Yoruba, derived from a meaning "one person", bẹrù meaning "fear, be afraid" and àgbà meaning "elder".
Abhau m Berber
Means "blond" in Amazigh.
Abhurahama m Shona
Shona form of Abraham.
Abi f Nigerian
Means "owner" in Izere.
Abiba f Northern African
Has its origins in the Moroccan language and means "first child born after the grandmother has died."
Abigaili f Biblical, Swahili
Swahili form of Abigail.
Abigajil f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Danish (Rare), Biblical Norwegian, Biblical German
Variant of Abigail used in the Norwegian translation of the Bible.
Abikanile f Yao
Meaning "listen" in Yao.
Abiona f & m Yoruba
Means "born during a journey" in Yoruba.
Abisade m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.
Abiso m Yoruba
Means "given" or "acquired" in Yoruba.
Abiy m Amharic
Means "father's joy" in Amharic.
Ablal m Berber
Means "stone" in Amazigh.
Aboderin m Yoruba
Means "one who walks in the company of hunters" in Yoruba.
Abongile m & f Xhosa
Means "thankfulness" or "grateful" in Xhosa.
Aboyo f Luo
Means "one who saunters" in Luo.
Abra f Ewe
Means "Tuesday-born girl" in Ewe.
Abreham m Ethiopian
Ethiopian form of Abraham.
Abrihet f Tigrinya
Means "light" in Tigrinya.
Abshir m Somali
Means "congratulation" in Somali.
Abuchi m & f Igbo
Means "song of God" in Igbo.
Abudrar m Berber
Means "mountaineer" in Amazigh.
Abuk f African Mythology, Dinka
In Dinka mythology (south Sudan), the first woman. She is the patron goddess of women and gardens. Her emblem is a little snake. She is the mother of Deng (Danka).
Abukar m Arabic, Somali
Possibly meaning "father of the unique".
Abukkakken f Bandial
Means "she entrusts to raise (her child)" in Bandial.
Abungu f Luo
Means "of the forest" in Luo.
Aburu m Dagbani
One of the royal gates of Dagbong Kingdom denoting "Corrupted name of Abdulai"
Abush m Oromo
Means, 'little boy' often used to denote the youngest child of a family.
Abuto f Luo
Means "I have hidden" in Luo.
Abyan m Somali
From the Somali word Abyee which translates to "to complete or to perfect"
Abye m Ge'ez
Means "big, large" in Ge'ez.
Achaje m Chewa
Means "stranger" in Chichewa.
Achan f Dinka
Means "female child in the first pair of twins" in Dinka.
Achike m Igbo
Means "take the things of the world easy" in Igbo.
Achiko m & f Shona
A shorter form of the name Achiriko, meaning "one who remained" or "one who is still there".
Achipo f Shona
Meaning "one who remains" or "one who is still here".
Achiriko m & f Shona
A unisex name meaning "one who still remains there".
Achmat m Indonesian, South African
Indonesian form of Ahmad as well as the usual form used by South African Muslims.
Ada m Idoma
Means "father" in Idoma.
Adaego f Igbo
Means "daughter of money" in Igbo.
Adaishe m & f Shona
Meaning "one who has loved the Lord"
Adakole m & f Idoma
Idoma name meaning "father of the house", "head of family", or "head of the home". This name is usually given to the firstborn male or female child in Idoma households.
Adaku f Igbo
Means "daughter of wealth" in Igbo.
Adama m Western African
Form of Adam used in parts of western Africa.
Adamma f Igbo
Means "daughter of beauty" in Igbo.
Adamu m Amharic, Swahili, Hausa
Amharic, Swahili, and Hausa form of Adam.
Adanech f Amharic
Means "she saved" or "she rescued" or "she has rescued them" in Amharic.
Adaobi f Nigerian
Means first Daughter of The Family.
Adaora f Igbo
Means "the people's daughter" in Igbo.
Addimew m Amharic
Means "invite him" in Amharic.
Addis f & m Amharic, Ethiopian
Derived from Amharic አዲስ (addis) "new".
Addisu m Ethiopian
Means "the new one".
Adeben m African
Means "twelfth born son".
Adebimpe f Yoruba
Means "the crown is complete" in Yoruba.
Adebisi f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba. This is the name of the (Nigerian) mother of British musician Seal Samuel.
Adedamola m Yoruba
Means "my crown mixed with blessing" in Yoruba.
Adede f Luo
Means "grasshopper" in Luo.
Adedoyin f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is now honey" in Yoruba.
Adefunke f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given me to cherish" in Yoruba.
Adeiza f Nigerian
Name of Nigerian origin, meaning "giver (father) of good things" or "giver (father) of wealth".
Adejoke f African
Variant of Ajoke.
Adelakun m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown opens the womb" in Yoruba.
Adeleke f Yoruba
Means "crown achieves happiness" in Yoruba.
Adelola f Yoruba
The name origin came from Nigeria with the name meaning: "The crown brings honour"
Adelowo m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown has honour" or "the crown has respect" in Yoruba.
Ademurewa f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown brought goodness" in Yoruba.
Adeniji m Yoruba
Means "the crown has fame" in Yoruba.
Adeniyi m Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "the crown is precious" in Yoruba.
Adeoti m Yoruba
Means "royalty does not fade" in Yoruba, derived from adé meaning "crown, royalty", (k)ò meaning "does not" and tí meaning "fade, be blemished".
Adeoye m Western African, Yoruba
From Yoruba adé oyè, which literally means "the crown of chieftancy", and is understood to mean "the crown given to me to celebrate my acquired chieftaincy title".
Adepero f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown pacifies" or "the crown calms" in Yoruba.
Aderfi m Berber (Rare)
Means "freed" in Berber.
Aderonke f Yoruba
Means "crown has found something to pet" in Yoruba.
Adesimbo f Yoruba
Means "noble birth" in Yoruba.
Adesina f Yoruba
Means "the crown has opened the way" in Yoruba.
Adesola f Yoruba
Means "the crown honored us" in Yoruba.
Adesua f Edo
Variant of Adesuwa.... [more]
Adesuwa f Edo
Means "in the midst of prosperity" in Edo.
Adetula m Yoruba
Means "royalty survived again" in Yoruba.
Adetule m Yoruba
Variant of Adetula.
Adetutu f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is gentle" in Yoruba.
Adewonuola m & f Yoruba
Royalty enters wealth
Adewumi m & f Yoruba
Means "royalty attracts me" in Yoruba.
Adewuyi m & f Yoruba (Modern)
Means "royalty is prestigious" in Yoruba.
Adeya f Nigerian (Americanized)
Adeya means "a gift from God has come.“
Adeyemi m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "The crown suits me" in Yoruba
Adeyinka f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown surrounds me" in Yoruba.
Adhra f Swahili
Means "apology" in Swahili.
Adia f Igede, Swahili
Means "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa adia "gift".
Adiaba f Efik
Means "first daughter" in Efik.
Adiahaudo f Ibibio
Means "first daughter of a second son" in Ibibio.
Adiam f Ge'ez, Amharic
Possibly means "fair, pretty".
Adid m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Adigheji m Isoko (Rare)
Means "pillar of the house" in Isoko.
Adim m & f Efik
Adiwa f Shona
Meaning "one who is beloved or desired", a longer form of the name can be Adiwanashe, deriving from the verb kudiwa.
Adjoua f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé jɔlɛ "Tuesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Tuesday".
Admase m Amharic
Means "my diamond" in Amharic.
Admassu m Amharic
Means "his horizon" in Amharic.
Admasu m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "his horizon" from Amharic አድማስ (admas) meaning "horizon".
Adole m Idoma
Means "father of the house" in Idoma.
Adongo m & f Luo
Means "second of the twins" in Luo.
Adua f Tigrinya (Italianized, Rare), Italian (Rare)
Italian form of ዓድዋ also spelled Adwa or Aduwa. This is an Ethiopian town whose name means "village of Awa (people)" in Tigrinya.... [more]
Aduke f Yoruba
Means "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
Adunni f Yoruba
Means "sweet to have" in Yoruba, composed by a meaning "a person", dun meaning "sweet" and ni meaning "have".... [more]
Aduor f Eastern African, Luo
Means "born at dawn" in Luo.
Adut f Eastern African
This name is borne by Adut Akech Bior ( born 25 December 1999), a South Sudanese-Australian model.
Adwin m Akan
Means "creative" in Akan.
Aedzwa f & m Shona
Meaning "one who has been tried".
Afae m African
Diminutive of Afeworq.
Afafa f Ewe
Means "the first child of the second husband" in Ewe.
Afagache m & f Kassena
Means "I am on guard, alert" in Kasem.
Afara m & f Shona
Meaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Afe m African
Diminutive of Afeworq.
Affiong f Efik
Variant of Effiong.
Affoué f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé fue "Saturday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Saturday".
Afiah m Efik
Means "fourth son" in Efik.
Afianwan f Ibibio
Means "fair lady" in Ibibio.
Afiríyie f Akan
Means "happy circumstances" in Akan.
Afiya f African, Arabic
Means "health" in Arabic.
Afogori m & f Bandial
Means "she/he gets buried around" in Bandial. This is considered a death prevention name.
Afriyie m & f Akan
Means "has appeared well" in Akan.
Afryea f Ewe
Means "born during happy times" in Ewe.
Afuluchianya m Igbo
Means "does one see God?" in Igbo.
Afwerki m Tigrinya, Ethiopian
Means "mouth of gold" in Tigrinya.
Agalembo m & f Bandial
Means "s/he ruins it" in Bandial.
Agbani f Nigerian
Meaning unknown.
Agbor m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Means "he/she has fallen" in Jagham and Kenyang, spoken in Nigeria and Cameroon. It derives from the Jagham root gbɔ̌ meaning "to fall" maybe referred to God's blessings falling from above.
Agellid m Berber
Means "prince, king" in Amazigh.
Agemo m Yoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare)
In Yoruba mythology, Agemo is a chameleon who is the messenger of the gods. He is the main deity of the Ijebu people, as he is believed to protect children and safeguard the future of Ijebu people through his blessing.
Agerzam m Berber
Means "cheetah" in Amazigh.
Aghadinuno m Igbo
Means "war is in the house" in Igbo.
Aghbalu m Berber
Means "source" in Amazigh.
Aghilas m Kabyle
Means "leopard; panther; lion" in Kabyle.
Aghiles m Kabyle
Variant of Aghilas.
Agibu m Fula
Fulani name meaning ‘patient, meticulous’
Agizul m Berber
Means "brave" in Tamazight.
Aguta m African
Allegedly a Lugbara name from Uganda.
Agwang f Luo
Means "wolf" in Luo.
Agwmar m Berber
Means "stallion" in Tamazight.
Agyegyesεm m & f Akan
Means "trouble making" in Akan.
Agyeman m Akan
Means "saviour of the nation" in Akan.
Ahamada m Comorian
Comorian form of Ahmad.
Ahamat m Thai (Muslim), Central African
Form of Ahmad used in Thailand and central Africa.
Ahamefuna m & f Igbo
Means "may my name not be lost" in Igbo.
Ahar m Berber
Means "lion" in Tamazight.
Ahmat m Indonesian, Malay, Central African
Indonesian and Malay form of Ahmad, also used in Chad.
Ahou f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé we "Thursday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Thursday".
Ahuskay m Berber
Means "handsome" in Amazigh.
Aïchata f Western African
Western African elaboration of Aïcha (see Aisha).
Aida f Shona
Meaning "One who desired" or "one who (portrayed) love", it derives from the verb ''kuda''.
Aidei f Shona
It is a name that asks a question, meaning "what did he/she desire?"
Aidevo f Yoruba
Means "no one can change my destiny but God" in Yoruba.
Aijuka m Swahili
Aijuka means "he knew' or 'he understands' in reference to gaining knowledge & education.
Aika f Chaga
Aika is derived from Aikambe/Aikamai meaning thank you the Chagga language spoken by the Chagga people of the Mt. Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. ... [more]
Aimut m Amharic
Means "may he not die" in Amharic.
Aina f Yoruba
Means "difficult birth" in Yoruba.
Ainose f & m Esan
Means "no one is greater than God" in Esan.
Ainsworth m African
Transferred use of the surname Ainsworth.
Aishafsat f Western African (Modern)
Combination of Aisha meaning "life" with Hafsat meaning "gathering".
Aissa f Western African
Form of Aisha used in West African countries (primarily Mali, Senegal, and Cameroon).
Aïssata f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Aizivaishe m & f Shona
Meaning "one who knew the Lord".
Ajaero m & f Igbo
Taken from the Igbo phrase ana aja gi n’ihu ana ero gi n’azu, meaning "they praise you to your face and mock you behind your back".
Ajah m & f Bandial
Means "the clever one" in Bandial.
Ajaŋa m Jola
Means "girl" in Jola-Fonyi.
Ajani m & f Jamaican Patois, Yoruba
Means "one (we) fought to have" in Yoruba.
Ajewole m & f Yoruba
Means "riches have been bestowed on this house," from 'aje' meaning "wealth," 'wo' meaning "enter," and 'ile' meaning "house."
Ajoke f Yoruba
Means "jointly beloved" in Yoruba.
Ajonathan f Nigerian (Americanized, Rare)
The long version of Ajani, often seen in the mountain regions of Chimborazo
Ajuoga f Luo
Means "doctor" in Luo.
Ajwoba f Akan
Variant form of Adwoa.
Akachukwu m Igbo
Means "hand of God" in Igbo.
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)
Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Akale-work m Ge'ez
Means "body of gold" in Ge'ez.
Akammboñaa f Jola
Means "she tries it for nothing" or "she does it there for nothing" in Jola-Fonyi. This is applied to a woman in reference to her repeated failure to carry a pregnancy to term, implying the bearer gets pregnant in vain.
Akande m Yoruba, Nigerian
means "first born"
Akani m Tsonga
Means "build, build together" in Xitsonga.
Akanimoh m & f Efik
Means "greater than wealth" in Efik.
Akanyang f Tswana
Means "think about it", "think" in Setswana.
Akashinga m & f Shona
Meaning “one who is resilient or brave”.
Akatendeka m & f Shona
Meaning "one who is faithful", deriving from the verb kutendeka.
Akawel m Berber
Means "the black" in Amazigh.
Akaziwe f Nguni
Means "she must be introduced" in Nguni.
Akech f Luo
"birthed during a famine"
Akeelah f South African (Rare), English (Modern, Rare), Arabic
Variant of Akilah, notably used in the 2006 movie 'Akeelah and the Bee'
Akello f Luo
Means "born after twins" in Luo.
Akeredolu m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "one who becomes prominent at a young age" or "he who reduces (humbles) himself in order to become king" in Yoruba.
Akersim m Berber
Means "caracal" in Tamazight.
Aketch f Luo
Means "born during a famine" in Luo.
Akhere m & f Western African, Esan
Means "the younger twin" in Esan.
Akiki m Eastern African, Nkore
Means "friend" in Nkore, spoken in Uganda.
Akin m Yoruba
Means "the brave one" in Yoruba.
Akinbolade m Yoruba
Means "bravery comes with wealth" in Yoruba.
Akinfela m Yoruba
Means "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
Akintunde m Yoruba
Means "bravery returns" in Yoruba.
Akissi f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
Akissi f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé kisie "Monday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Monday".
Akkalenjayi f & m Bandial
Means "she torments her mother" or "he torments his mother" in Bandial.
Akkayil m Bandial
Means "he surpasses them" in Bandial.
Akli m Kabyle
Means "slave, prisoner, captive" in Kabyle. It was historically used to refer to Tuareg slaves and servants, who are typically dark-skinned in colour.
Aklilu m Tigrinya
Means "laurel wreath" in Tigrinya.
Akobundu m Igbo
Means "wisdom is life" in Igbo.
Akol m & f African
From Iteso in eastern uganda. Meaning nicelooking.
Akoma m & f Central African, African Mythology
Akoma is the creator god of Pahuin mythology. His name Means “creator” in Pahuin, a common language in parts of São Tomé and Principe, southern Cameroon, much of northern Gabon, and mainland Equatorial Guinea.
Akomo f Luo
"someone delivered during planting or prosperous times of the year"
Akon m African American, Western African
One of the given names of the musician known as Akon.
Akonawe m Isoko
Means "let the teeth laugh" in Isoko.
Akoth f Luo
Feminine of Okoth, meaning born while it was raining
Akou f Ewe
Akou is a name often given to a girl born on a Wednesday in Ewe culture.
Akpadiaha m Ibibio
Means "first son of first daughter" in Ibibio.
Akpo m & f Edo
Means "short person" in Edo.
Akpoebi f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "life is good" in Ijaw.
Akpomatunemibofa m & f Ijaw
Means "nobody has a knowledge of the world" in Ijaw.
Akpomofa f & m Ijaw
Means "the world is not as you think of it" in Ijaw.
Aksil m Berber, Northern African, History
Means "cheetah" or "leopard" in Shawiya Tamazight. This was the real name of Kusaila (كسيلة), a 7th-century Berber king.
Aku m Igbo
Means "wealth" in Igbo.
Akú f Akan
Means "Wednesday" in Akan.
Akúá f Akan
Variant of Akua.