Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Lulia f Tigrinya, VariousSaid to mean "Diamond" in Tigrinya. Of Eritrean origin, this name gained some popularity around the world.
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Lutalo m GandaFamous bearer is Lutalo Muhammad (born 1991) a British taekwondo athlete.
Luwi m & f LundaMeans "mercy, kindness" in Lunda.
Luyando m & f TongaMeans “To Love” in Tonga. Related to the Tongan name Yandwa.
Lyndall f & m English, South AfricanTransferred use of the surname
Lyndall. This was (first?) used as a given name by the South African author, political activist and feminist Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) for the heroine in her most famous novel,
The Story of an African Farm (1883)... [
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Maaouya m Western AfricanA known bearer is Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (1941-), a Mauritanian military officer who served as the president of Mauritania from 1984-2005.
Mabasen m & f KhoekhoeName mainly used by damara speaking people in Namibia.The name means "stand for yourself" used to encourage and teach an individual independance.
Mabior m Dinka, African MythologyMeans "white bull" in Dinka. The white bull is the most prized and is sought after for sacrifices in celebration.
Mabvuto m & f NsengaName given to a child born when there was trouble/problem in the family or community. For instance war, drought, pestilence
Machanda m & f NyoroMachanda is the Bunyoro month where sesame seeds are planted and sown.
Machar m DinkaMeans "black bull" in Dinka. Black bulls are the second most important for sacrifices.
Machiveyi f Shona"What do you seek or covert?" Situational name given in circumstance where family has covetous neighbours or kin.
Madaya f Guanche, Berber (Archaic)From Guanche
*madăyya, meaning "beautiful thing to see". Besides the Canary Islands, this name was also used in Northern Africa.
Madhil m DinkaMeans "born on the way" in Dinka. This name is given to a male that’s born on the way, for example while the mother is traveling and gives birth on the way to her destination.
Mafamadi m & f AkanMeans "I have taken it for free" in Akan.
Magajiya f HausaMeans "heiress" in Hausa. In some dialects this means "madam" and is avoided.
Magan m SomaliMeans "protection" or "refuge" in Somali.
Magool f SomaliPossibly from the Somali
magooli meaning "blossom".
Magot m DinkaMeans "a very long-horned bull" in Dinka.
Mahado f SomaliPossibly from the Somali
mahad meaning "thanks".
Mahari m & f YorubaMeans "one who forgives" or "forgiver" in Yoruba.
Mairak f HausaMeans "daughter of a chief" in East Hausa.
Mairiga m HausaFrom the Hausa
mài meaning "possessing" and
rī̀gā meaning "gown".
Maita f ShonaA Shona (Zimbabwean) name that implies gratitude for something that has been done well. It may be spelt as Mayita or Mazvita depending on the area of origin of the speaker.... [
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Maitaishe m & f ShonaIt means "You have done it Lord" or simply, "Thank you Lord."
Majani f SwahiliSwahili feminine name meaning "leaves (of a plant)".
Majaya m ShonaGiven to the last male born of the the family born in the same year. If families have male children in a given year the last to be born normally carries the name. The year of boys.
Majok m DinkaMeans "black-and-white bull" in Dinka.
Makana m KongoThe first given name of the German football player Makana Baku.
Makanaka f ShonaMakanaka means "You are good". #This name is usually given in praise of God".
Maker m DinkaMeans "white-and-black bull" in Dinka.
Makida f AfricanIn Ethiopia, Makida was another name for the Queen of Sheba.
Makini m & f SwahiliMeans "of good character" or "strength of character" in Swahili.
Makuu m SwahiliThis name means Great in Swahili. Known for the crocodile leader in The Lion Guard, also a name for the Swahili people. It is a male name.
Malidoma m Western AfricanAccording to the Burkinabé writer Malidoma Patrice Somé (1956-2021), his name means "he who befriends the enemy" or "friend of the stranger" in the Dagaare language.
Maline f French (Modern, Rare), French (Swiss, Rare), Norwegian (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Danish (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English (Modern, Rare), Filipino (Rare)French form of
Malin.
Malith m DinkaRefers to a specific kind of ox in Dinka.
Malkat f Northern African, MuslimPossibly means "queen of the house", deriving from the Arabic element
malaka ("queen"). Name borne by a prominent Sudanese author known for her realist novel The Wide Void.
Mamo m EthiopianThis name is often used when the name of the person is unknown. (Compared
Buddy).
Mamphaki f SothoThe name Mamphaki originates from the Northern Region of South Africa within the Bapedi people. The name was originally given to the first wife of Ntsetse Mailula - Mamphaki 'aMasekela. It was passed down within the Mailula family down to this day.
Mangeni f & m Africanmeans "baby who was born when there is plenty of fish" and is of Bantu origin
Mansa m & f Manding, AkanTitle for "king" or "ruler", now also used as a name. Can also mean "third daughter" in Twi, which is in the Akan language family.
Manthia m Western AfricanManthia Diawara (born December 19, 1953) is a Malian writer, filmmaker, scholar, cultural theorist, and art historian. Meaning unknown.
Marial m DinkaThis is a historical name of "Dinka" people in South Sudan in Africa. The meaning refers to a mixture of beautiful colors of black and white type of a bull. Is a name given to a male child after his mother's bride price was inform of such colored bull... [
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Marieta f Spanish (Rare), Romanian (Rare), Bulgarian, Armenian, Afrikaans, Polish (Rare), Latvian (Rare), Slovene, Croatian, Lengadocian, Provençal, Gascon, AlbanianCognate of
Marietta.
Maru m & f TswanaMeans cloud. In setswana culture anything which has to do with water, which is a precious commodity is loved. Clouds bring rain and so are welcomed wherever they appear.
Mashawila m NsengaMeaning manzi yabila "boiling water", Derived from Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Fall) "the smoke that thunders".
Mashgash m & f IgboPosh name. Meaning: Intelligence and beauty
Mashudu m & f AfricanMashudu is a name used the Vha-Venda tribe in the far north of South Africa (Limpopo Province). The name means Luck
Masimba m ShonaMeans "powers, energy" in Shona. Other meanings are possible.
Masiye m & f ChewaMeans "orphan" in Chichewa, literally translating as "leavings", as in something left behind by a dead person.
Masnsen m BerberFrom the Amazigh
mas meaning "master" and
nsen meaning "of them".
Massa f BerberA term of respect meaning "Mistress" and a name usually given to high born.
Massen m BerberA Term of respect meaning "Master" and a name given to high born.
Massinissa m Berber, Northern African, HistoryMeans "their lord" from the consonants
MSNSN, in turn derived from Tamazight
mas meaning "lord" and
n sen meaning "to them". This was the name of a Berber ruler and the first King of Numidia.
Matemasie m & f AkanMeans "I have heard and concealed the fact" in Akan.
Mateo m ShonaIt is the Shona version of the name Matthew.