South African Submitted Names

These name are used in the Republic of South Africa.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Ndabezinhle f Zulu
Means "good news" in Zulu.
Ndabicacile m Ndebele
Means "the story's clear" in Ndebele.
Ndaheni f Tsonga
Means "instruct me" in Xitsonga.
Ndhe'neza m Tsonga
Means "the thing", implying "the secret", in Xitsonga.
Ndiyafhi m & f Venda
Means "where do I go?" in Tshivenda.
Ndleleni m Zulu
Means "on the road" in Zulu.
Ndodana m Ndebele
Means "son" in Ndebele.
Ndondoloza f Zulu
Possibly means "I will guard" in Zulu.
Ndonsa f Zulu
Means "morning star" in Zulu.
Ndumiso f Zulu
Means "praise" in Zulu.
Nduvho m & f Venda
Means "praise" in Venda.
Ndzalama f Tsonga
Means "emerald" in Xitsonga.
Nehemia m Hawaiian, Biblical Hawaiian, Afrikaans, Biblical Finnish
Hawaiian, Finnish and Afrikaans form of Nehemiah.
Nelbe f & m Sotho
Means "the net" in Sotho.
Nelisiwe f Zulu
Means "satisfied" in Zulu.
Nelius m English (American), Afrikaans, Norwegian (Rare)
Afrikaans and Norwegian short form of Cornelius.
Nganakani m Tsonga
From the Xitsonga nganakana meaning "prince".
Nganakati f Tsonga
Means "princess" in Xitsonga.
Ngcondebuku m & f Xhosa (Modern)
A combination of Ngconde, the name of a Xhosa clan, and Buku, a surname.
Nghezimani m Tsonga
Means "be whiter, be clean" in Xitsonga.
Ngisaveni m Tsonga
"Be afraid".
Nhalahla f Zulu
Means "luck" in Zulu.
Nhlakanipho f Zulu
From Zulu inhlakanipho meaning "wisdom".
Nhlalala f Tsonga
Means "honey bird" in Xitsonga.
Nhlamulo m & f Tsonga
Means "answer, solution" in Xitsonga.
Nhlayiseko m & f Tsonga
Means "safety" in Xitsonga.
Nhlohlotelo m & f Tsonga
Means "influence" in Xitsonga.
Nhlonipho m Ndebele
Means "respect" in Ndebele.
Nhluvuko m & f Tsonga
Means "development, progress" in Xitsonga.
Nicolene f English, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, South African
Variant of Nicoline. Known bearers of this name include the South African race walker Nicolene Cronje (b. 1983) and the South African field hockey player Nicolene Terblanche (b... [more]
Nicus m Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Short form of Dominicus. In rare cases, this name can also be a latinization of Nico or Niek.
Nielas m German (Modern, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
German and Afrikaans borrowing of Nilas.
Njabulo f Zulu
Means "happy" in Zulu.
Njabulu f Zulu
Means "happiness" in Zulu.
Nkanyezi m Zulu, Southern African
Means "star" in Zulu.
Nkanyiso m Zulu
Means "light" in Zulu.
Nkateko m & f Tsonga
Means "blessing" in Xitsonga.
Nkazimulo f Zulu
Means "glory" in Zulu.
Nkhangweleni m Venda
Means "forgive me" in Tshivenda.
Nkhetheleng f Sotho
Means "choose for me" in Sotho.
Nkhumbudzeni m & f Venda
Means "remember me" in Tshivenda.
Nkonkoni f Zulu
Means "champion" in Zulu.
Nkosi m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "chief, king, lord" in Xhosa.
Nkosingimele f & m Zulu
Means "God is on my side" or "stand for me" in Zulu.
Nkosingiphile f African, Zulu
Means "the Lord gave me" in Zulu.
Nkosiphendule m Zulu
Means "God has answered" in Zulu.
Nkosiyabo m African, Ndebele, Zulu
Means "their king" in Zulu.
Nkuli f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Diminutive form of Nonkululeko and Nkululeko.
Nkululeko m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Nnyawedzeni m & f Venda
Means "let me rest" in Tshivenda.
Noag m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Noah 1.
Nobhalela f Zulu
Means "the one who writes" in Zulu.
Nṱoḓeni m & f Venda
Means "look for me" in Tshivenda.
Nokhanyo f Xhosa
Means "light, shine" or "enlightenment" in Xhosa.
Nokulunga f Zulu
Means "thankfulness" in Zulu.
Nokuthula f Zulu
Means "peace and tranquillity" in Zulu.
Nolwandle f Zulu
Means "mother of oceans" in Zulu.
Nolwazi f Zulu (Rare)
Means "knowledgeable" in Zulu.
Nomagugu f Zulu
Means "the precious one" in Zulu.
Nomalanga f Ndebele
Means "mother of sunshine" in Ndebele.
Nomandla f Zulu
Means "mother of strength" in Zulu.
Nomaqhawe f Ndebele
Means "heroine" in Ndebele.
Nomasonto f Zulu
Means "mother of Sundays" in Zulu.
Nomathamsanqa f Xhosa
Feminine form of Thamsanqa.
Nomathemba f Ndebele, Zulu
Means "hope" in Ndebele and Zulu.
Nombuyiselo f Xhosa
Means "she who gives back" or "mother of restoration" in Xhosa, a feminine form of Mbuyiseli.
Nomnikelo f South African, Xhosa
Means "offering" in Xhosa.
Nomthandazo f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "a prayer" in Xhosa.
Nomthimba f Zulu
Means "wedding" in Zulu.
Nomvula f South African, Zulu
Means "after the rain" in Zulu. This is given to babies born after a storm.
Nomzamo f African, Zulu
Means "struggle" in Zulu.
Nonhlanhla f African, Zulu
Means "luck" in Zulu.
Nonjabulo f Zulu
Means "happiness" in Zulu.
Nonkululeko f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, South African
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Nosakhele f Zulu
Means "build for us" in Zulu.
Nothando f Zulu
Means "mother of love" in Zulu.
Novuyo f Xhosa
Feminine form of Vuyo.
Nozibusiso f Zulu
Means "mother of blessings" in Zulu.
Nqobani m Zulu
Means "you must conquer" in Zulu.
Nsoma f Tsonga
Means "anchor" in Xitsonga.
Nsovo m & f Tsonga
Means "grace" in Xitsonga.
Nsuku m & f Tsonga
Means "gold, golden" in Xitsonga.
Nsulo f Tsonga
Wipe away the tears and bring joy
Ntakuseni m & f Venda
Means "help me up" in Tshivenda.
Ntando m Ndebele
Means "will" in Ndebele.
Ntfombi f Swazi
Swazi form of Ntombi.
Nthabi f Sotho
Means "make me happy" in Sotho.
Nthabiseng f Sotho
Means "make me happy" in Sotho.
Nthati f Sotho
Means "one to love me" in Sotho.
Nthuseni m & f Venda
Means "help me" in Tshivenda.
Ntlakuso f Tsonga
Means "elevation, high position" in Xitsonga.
Ntokozo f African, Zulu
Means "happiness" or "joy" in Zulu.
Ntombenhle f Ndebele
Means "beautiful girl" in Ndebele.
Ntombhekya f South African, Xhosa
Means "girl of the house" in Xhosa, from ntombi "girl" and khaya "home, household".
Ntombifikile f Xhosa
Means "a girl has arrived" in Xhosa.
Ntombikayise f Zulu
Means "father's girl" in Zulu.
Ntombiyesizwe f Zulu
Means "girl of the earth" in Zulu.
Ntombiyezulu f Zulu
"girl of heaven" in Zulu
Ntombizanele f African, Zulu
Means "enough girls" in Zulu, from ntombi meaning "lady".
Ntomboxolo f Xhosa
Means "girl of peace" in Xhosa.
Ntsakisi f Tsonga
Means "source of happiness" in Xitsonga.
Ntsako m & f Tsonga
Means "joy, happiness" in Xitsonga.
Ntsebo f Sotho
Means "whispers" in Sotho.
Ntsetselelo m & f Tsonga
Means "mercy" in Xitsonga.
Ntshuxeko m & f Tsonga
Means "freedom" in Xitsonga.
Ntsoaki f Sotho
Means "girl amongst boys" in Sotho, often given to a daughter with many brothers.
Ntsu m Sotho
Means "eagle" in Sesotho.
Ntsumi f Tsonga
Means "angel" in Xitsonga.
Ntswaki f Sotho
Means "girl amongst boys" or "girl with many brothers" in Sotho.
Ntuthuko f Zulu
Means "prosperity" in Zulu.
Ntwanano m & f Tsonga
Means "understanding" in Xitsonga.
Ntwenhle f Zulu
Means "beautiful thing" in Zulu.
Nṱungufhadzeni m & f Venda
Means "make me sad" in Tshivenda.
N'wayitelo f Tsonga
Means "smile" in Xitsonga.
Nxalati f Tsonga
Means "happiness" in Xitsonga.
Nyakallo f & m Sotho
Means "joy" in Sotho.
Nyambeni f & m Venda
Means "speak about me" in Tshivenda.
Nyeleti f Tsonga, Southern African
Means "star" in Xitsonga.
Nyikiwa m & f Tsonga
Means "given" in Xitsonga.
Nyiko f & m Tsonga
Means "gift" in Tsonga.
Oasetso m Sotho
Means "child of tradition".
Ockie m Afrikaans
Short form of Ockert.
Oloff m Afrikaans
Variant of Olof.
Olwethu f & m South African, Zulu
Means 'ours' in Zulu.
Omatla m Sotho
You are strong
Omphile f & m South African, Sotho
Means "given".
Ongezwa f Xhosa
Means "addition, one who was added" in Xhosa.
Orpa f Biblical German, Biblical Dutch, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
German, Dutch and Afrikaans form of Orpah.
Otlile f South African
South African name meaning "She has come; she is here". Otlile "Oti" Mabuse is a professional dancer seen on Strictly Come Dancing.
Paballo f Sotho
Means "protection" in Sesotho.
Pacificus m Late Roman, South African
Means "peacemaker" in Latin. From the Latin pāx 'peace' and faciō 'I do, make'.... [more]
Paolosi m Sotho
Sesotho form of Paul.
Paseka m Sotho
Means "Easter" in Sesotho.
Peet m Estonian, Afrikaans
Estonian short form of Peeter and Afrikaans short form of Petrus.
Peo f Sotho (Modern, Rare)
The meaning is “Seed” and it is a rare Sesotho name predominantly used in Lesotho
Pfarelo m & f Venda
Means "forgiveness" in Tshivenda.
Pfukani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga pfuka meaning "rise".
Pfunani f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga pfuna meaning "help".
Phahamo m Sotho
Means "eminance" in Sesotho.
Phaṱhutshedzo m & f Venda
Means "blessings" in Tshivenda.
Pheello m Sotho
Means "perseverance" in Sesotho.
Pheko m South African
Medicine or herb. Ussually medicine used for protection
Phethisi m Sotho
Means "completion" in Sesotho.
Phila m & f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "to live" or "get well, be healthy" in Nguni languages.
Philene f English (American, Rare), Haitian Creole, South African
Possibly a variant of Philine, a contraction of Philomène, or a feminine form of Phil using the common name suffix lene.
Philisiwe f South African, Zulu
Means "healed" in Zulu.
Phillippus m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Philip.
Phindile f South African
A very common female South African name.... [more]
Phumlani m Zulu
Means "rest" in Zulu.
Phusu m & f Venda
Means "havoc" in Tshivenda.
Phutheho f Sotho
Means "congregation" in Sesotho.
Poloko m Sotho
Means "safety" in Sesotho.
Ponisa f Tsonga
Means "save" in Xitsonga.
Pontsho m & f Sotho
Means "vision" in Sotho.
Praisthel f South African (Rare)
The name comes from the the phrase Praise the Lord. Some of the letters from the pharse are removed to turn it into a name.
Pula f Sotho
Means "rain" in Sotho.
Pulane f Sotho
Means "rainy" in Sesotho.
Qenehelo f Sotho
Means "pity" in Sesotho.
Qondiwe f Xhosa
Possibly related to qonda, meaning "to understand".
Qoqanani m & f Ndebele
Means "organise yourself" in Ndebele.
Quilene f Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Rare), English (American, Rare), German (Rare)
Most likely a combination of a name starting with Qui- (such as Quinn and Quirijn) with a name that ends in -lene, such as Helene and Marlene.... [more]
Quintilla f Ancient Roman, Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Rare), English (Rare), Italian (Archaic), Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Latin diminutive of Quinta, which thus makes this name the feminine equivalent of Quintillus.
Rabelani m & f Venda
Means "to pray" in Tshivenda.
Rachela f Italian (Rare), Polish (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Italian variant of Rachele, Polish form of Rachel as well as a Latinate form of Rachel.
Racheltjie f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Rachel.
Ramatjato f Sotho
Derived from the Sesotho tjato meaning "agility".
Ramatla f Sotho
Means "strength" in Sotho.
Rancina f Zulu
Zulu form of Francine.
Ratsebo f Sotho
Derived from the Sesotho tsebo meaning "knowledge".
Realeboha m Sotho
Means "we are thankful" in Sesotho.
Reaotlotla m Sotho
Means "We praise His name" in Sesotho.
Relebohile f Sotho
Means "we are grateful" in Sesotho.
Remaketse f Sotho
Means "we are surprised" in Sesotho.
Reneilwe m Sotho
This is borne by the retired South African soccer player Reneilwe 'Yeye' Letsholonyane (1982-).
Rethabile f & m South African, Sotho
Means "we are glad/ happy".
Retief m Afrikaans
Transferred use of the surname Retief.
Rhabela f Tsonga
Means "pray" in Xitsonga.
Rhandzu m & f Tsonga
Means "love" in Xitsonga.
Rhangani m Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga word rhanga meaning "to begin".
Rhengu m & f Tsonga
Means "plan" in Xitsonga.
Rhulani m & f Tsonga
Means "to have peace" in Xitsonga.
Riaan m Dutch, Afrikaans
Short form of Adriaan.
Riana f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Rian.
Riana f Dutch, Afrikaans
Variant of Rianna.
Rianie f Afrikaans
Likely a variant of Riane.
Ricus m Afrikaans
Short form of names ending in -ricus, such as Ulricus or Henricus.
Riette f Afrikaans
Variant of Riëtte.
Rifumu m Tsonga
Means "wealth" in Xitsonga.
Rindzela m & f Tsonga
Means "expect, wait for" in Xitsonga.
Ripfumelo f Tsonga
Means "belief" in Xitsonga.
Risima m & f Tsonga
Means "value" in Xitsonga.
Risuna f Tsonga
Means "agreeable scent" in Xitsonga.
Rivoningo f Tsonga
Means "light" in Xitsonga.
Roṋewa m & f Venda
Means "we are given" or "we are blessed" in Tshivenda.
Rofhiwa m & f Venda
Means "we are blessed" in Tshivenda.
Rolihlahla m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "pulling the branch of a tree" in Xhosa, colloquially "stirring up trouble" or "troublemaker". This was the given name of Nelson Mandela (Rolihlahla Mandela) and is now typically attributed to him as a middle name.
Ronelda f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Ronald. Ronelda Kamfer (born 1981) is an Afrikaans-speaking South African poet.
Ronella f Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Rare), English (Rare)
Feminine form of Ronald, created by combining its short form Ron 1 with the popular feminine name suffix -ella.
Rotshidzwa m & f Venda
Means "we have been saved" in Tshivenda.
Rual m English (American, Rare), Spanish (Mexican, Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), South African (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Reuel (anglophone world) and Raul (Latin America).... [more]
Ruan m Afrikaans
Combination of Rudolf and Johan.
Ruandi f Afrikaans (Modern, Rare)
Most probably a combination of Ruan and Yolandi.
Ruhan m Afrikaans
Variant of Ruan.
Rynhard m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Rijnhard.
Saartjie f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Sara. This name was borne by Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman, an African slave (member of the Eastern Cape Khoisan, the indigenous herding tribe that once populated part of South Africa) who was displayed in Europe in the early 19th century.
Sagaria m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Zachariah.
Sakhile m Zulu
Means "we have built" in Zulu.
Salomie f Afrikaans
Variant of Salome.
Samkeliso m Swazi
In Swazi culture this means, a gift has been given. In Swaziland, the meaning of names is determined by the circumstances around the birth.
Samukelisiwe f African, Zulu
Means "we have received" in Zulu.
Sandisiwe f Xhosa
Means "increased" or "we have been added to" in Xhosa.
Sarel m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Charles.
Sasavona m & f Tsonga
Means "helper" in Xitsonga.
Saseka f Tsonga
Means "pretty" in Xitsonga.
Sasekani f Tsonga
Means "beautiful" in Xitsonga.
Sasekisa f Tsonga
Means "beautiful, decorate" in Xitsonga.
Sayina f Tsonga
Means "sign" in Xitsonga.
Schalk m German (Archaic), Afrikaans
From Old German scalc meaning "servant".
Sebolai m Sotho
Means "assassin" in Sotho.
Sechaba m Sotho
The meaning is 'nation' as in 'our nation', 'the country we live in'.
Seef m & f Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Limburgish (Rare)
This name is more often seen on men than on women. For men, the name is a short form of Josephus and in some cases also of Severinus and its Dutch form Severijn... [more]
Sefanja m & f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch, Dutch (Surinamese)
Swedish, Afrikaans and Dutch form of Zephaniah.
Sehlolo m Sotho
Means "disaster" in Sotho.
Seilatsatsi f Sotho
Meaning unknown. Seilatsatsi is a character in some Sotho tales.
Semakaleng m & f Sotho
Means "surprise" in Sotho.
Senzeni m & f Ndebele
Means "what did we do?" in Ndebele.
Sethekele f Ndebele
"We visited"
Setifene m Sotho
Sotho form of Stephen.
Setjhaba m Sotho
Means "nation" in Sesotho.
Shameel m Indian (Muslim), Urdu, South African
Variant transcription of Shamil.
Shamiel m South African
Meaning unknown.
Shandukani m & f Venda
Means "to change" in Tshivenda.
Shané f African American, Afrikaans
Probably a variant spelling of Shanae.