Browse Names

Aamina f Arabic, Somali
Alternate transcription of Arabic آمنة (see Amina 1), as well as the Somali form.

Aaminata f Fula
Fula form of Amina 1.

Abeba f Amharic
Means "flower" in Amharic.

Abena f Akan
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.

Abeni f Yoruba
Means "we prayed and we received" in Yoruba.

Aberash f Amharic
Means "giving off light, shining" in Amharic.

Abidemi m & f Yoruba
Means "born in my absence" in Yoruba. It is typically given to children born when the father is away.

Abimbola f & m Yoruba
Means "born to me with wealth" in Yoruba.

Abiodun m & f Yoruba
Means "born on a festival" in Yoruba.

Abiola f & m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

Abioye m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.

Abosede f Yoruba
Means "comes with the start of the week" in Yoruba, given when the child is born on Sunday.

Achieng f Luo
Feminine form of Ochieng.

Adaeze f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the king" in Igbo.

Adanna f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the father" in Igbo.

Adannaya f Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of her father" in Igbo.

Ade 1 m & f Yoruba
From Yoruba adé meaning "crown", also a short form of other names beginning with this element.

Adebola m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown meets wealth" in Yoruba.

Adebowale m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown has returned home" in Yoruba.

Adedayo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown becomes joy" in Yoruba.

Adenike f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be cared for" in Yoruba.

Adeola f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.

Adetokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown returns from over the sea" in Yoruba.

Adhiambo f Luo
Feminine form of Odhiambo.

Adisa m & f Yoruba
Means "bundled up and set to dry" in Yoruba.

Adjoa f Akan
Variant of Adwoa.

Adwoa f Akan
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.

Adzo f Ewe
Ewe form of Adwoa.

Afi f Ewe
Ewe form of Afua.

Afia f Akan
Variant of Afua.

Afua f Akan
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

Aïchatou f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Aisha f Arabic, Urdu, Hausa, Swahili, Kazakh, African American
Means "living, alive" in Arabic. This was the name of Muhammad's third wife, the daughter of Abu Bakr. Some time after Muhammad's death she went to war against Ali, the fourth caliph, but was defeated. Her name is used more by Sunni Muslims and less by Shias.... [more]

Aishatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Aisha.

Aïssa f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Aïssatou f Western African
Form of Aisha used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Akachi m & f Igbo
Means "the hand of God" in Igbo.

Akinyi f Luo
Means "born in the morning" in Luo.

Akosua f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Akpofure m & f Urhobo
Means "life is peaceful" in Urhobo.

Aku 2 f Ewe
Ewe form of Akua.

Akua f Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.

Akuchi f & m Igbo
Means "wealth from God" in Igbo.

Alaba f & m Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.

Alemayehu m & f Amharic
Means "I have seen the world" in Amharic.

Alheri f Hausa
Means "the charitable, the good" in Hausa, from Arabic خير (khayr).

Alinafe f & m Chewa
Means "he or she is with us" in Chewa.

Ama f Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.

Amahle m & f Zulu
Means "the beautiful ones" in Zulu.

Amaka f Igbo
Short form of Chiamaka.

Amara f Igbo
Means "grace" in Igbo.

Amarachi f Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo.

Amina 1 f Arabic, Bosnian, Tatar, Bashkir, Chechen, Ingush, Kazakh, Urdu, Swahili, Hausa
Derived from Arabic أمن (ʾamina) meaning "safe, secure". This was the name of the Prophet Muhammad's mother, who died when he was young.

Aminata f Western African
Form of Amina 1 used in West Africa.

Aminatou f Western African
Form of Amina 1 used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Amogelang m & f Tswana
Derived from Tswana amogela meaning "welcome, accept".

Amondi f Luo
Feminine form of Omondi.

Anan 1 m & f Akan
Means "fourth born child" in Akan.

Andile m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Annet f Dutch, Eastern African
Dutch variant of Annette, also in use in East Africa.

Anuli f Igbo
Means "joy" in Igbo.

Asabe f Hausa
From Hausa Asabar meaning "Saturday" (of Arabic origin).

Asha 2 f Swahili
From Swahili ishi meaning "live, exist", derived from Arabic عاش (ʿāsha).

Ashura f Swahili
From the name of an Islamic holy day that commemorates the death of Husayn ibn Ali. It is so named because it falls on the tenth day of Muharram, deriving from Arabic عشرة (ʿashara) meaning "ten".

Asma'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Asma.

Atieno f Luo
Feminine form of Otieno.

Awa f Western African
Form of Hawa typical of West Africa.

Awiti f Luo
Means "thrown away" in Luo, possibly used for a child born prematurely.

Awotwi m & f Akan
Means "eighth born child" in Akan.

Ayaan 2 f Somali
Means "good luck" in Somali.

Ayan 3 f Somali
Variant of Ayaan 2.

Ayanda m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they are increasing" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Ayo f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ayọ̀ meaning "joy", or a short form of other names containing this element.

Ayodele m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come home" in Yoruba.

Ayomide f & m Yoruba
Means "my joy has arrived" in Yoruba.

Ayotunde m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come again" in Yoruba.

Baako m & f Akan
Means "first born child" in Akan.

Babirye f Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

Bahati f & m Swahili
Means "luck, good fortune" in Swahili, ultimately from Persian بخت (bakht).

Bamidele m & f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba.

Bandile m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Banele m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "it is enough" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.

Berhane m & f Amharic
Means "my light" in Amharic.

Bilƙisu f Hausa
Hausa form of Bilqis.

Boipelo m & f Tswana
Means "joy, rejoicing" in Tswana, from ipela meaning "to rejoice".

Boitumelo f & m Tswana
Means "joy" in Tswana, from itumela meaning "to be happy".

Bolanle f Yoruba
Means "find wealth at home" in Yoruba.

Bonolo f Sotho
Means "ease" in Sotho.

Bontu f Oromo
Means "proud" in Oromo.

Bose f Yoruba
Short form of Bosede.

Bosede f Yoruba
Variant of Abosede.

Buhle f & m Xhosa, Ndebele
From Xhosa and Ndebele buhle "beautiful, handsome", from the root hle.

Bukola f Yoruba
Means "add to wealth" in Yoruba.

Businge m & f Kiga
Means "peace" in Rukiga.

Charlize f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Charles using the popular Afrikaans name suffix ize. This name was popularized by South African actress Charlize Theron (1975-), who was named after her father Charles.

Chausiku f Swahili
Means "born at night" in Swahili.

Chi 2 m & f Igbo Mythology, Igbo
Means "god, spiritual being" in Igbo, referring to the personal spiritual guardian that each person is believed to have. Christian Igbo people use it as a name for the personal Christian god (as opposed to the omnipresent Chukwu, though the names are used synonymously in some contexts). This can also be a short form of the many Igbo names that begin with this element.

Chiamaka f Igbo
Means "God is more beautiful" in Igbo.

Chibuzo m & f Igbo
Means "God is the way" in Igbo.

Chichi f Igbo
Diminutive of Chi 2.

Chidi m & f Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and dị meaning "is". It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chidi.

Chidiebele m & f Igbo
Variant of Chidiebere.

Chidiebere m & f Igbo
Means "God is merciful" in Igbo.

Chidiebube m & f Igbo
Means "God is wonderful" in Igbo.

Chidimma f Igbo
Means "God is good" in Igbo.

Chidinma f Igbo
Variant of Chidimma.

Chidubem m & f Igbo
Means "God is guiding me" in Igbo.

Chiemeka m & f Igbo
Means "God did a greater deed" in Igbo.

Chifundo m & f Chewa
Means "mercy" in Chewa.

Chifuniro m & f Chewa
Means "will, wish" in Chewa.

Chigozie m & f Igbo
Means "God bless" in Igbo.

Chijindum m & f Igbo (Rare)
Means "God holds my life" in Igbo.

Chika 1 f & m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

Chikelu m & f Igbo
Variant of Chikere.

Chikere m & f Igbo
Means "God created" in Igbo.

Chikondi m & f Chewa
Means "love" in Chewa.

Chikumbutso m & f Chewa
Means "memory" in Chewa.

Chima m & f Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and má meaning "know".

Chimezie m & f Igbo
Means "God rectify" in Igbo.

Chimwala m & f Yao
Means "stone" in Yao.

Chimwemwe m & f Chewa
Means "joy, pleasure" in Chewa.

Chinasa f Igbo
Means "God is answering" in Igbo.

Chinenye f Igbo
Means "God is giving" in Igbo.

Chinonso m & f Igbo
Means "God is nearby" in Igbo.

Chinwe f Igbo
Means "God possesses" in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chinwe.

Chinwendu f & m Igbo
Means "God possesses life" in Igbo.

Chinyelu f Igbo
Variant of Chinyere.

Chinyere f Igbo
Means "God gave" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and nyè meaning "give".

Chioma f Igbo
Means "good God" in Igbo, derived from Chi 2, referring to God, and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Chipiliro m & f Chewa
Means "perseverance, endurance" in Chewa.

Chipo f Shona
Means "gift" in Shona.

Chisom f & m Igbo
Means "God goes with me" in Igbo.

Chisomo m & f Chewa
Means "grace" in Chewa.

Chiyembekezo m & f Chewa
Means "hope" in Chewa.

Chizoba f & m Igbo
Means "God continues to save" in Igbo.

Chrizanne f Afrikaans
Combination of Christine and Anne 1 used in South Africa.

Dada m & f Yoruba
Means "curly hair" in Yoruba.

Dalitso m & f Chewa
Means "blessing" in Chewa.

Danai 2 f Shona
From Shona dana meaning "call, summon".

Dayo m & f Yoruba
Means "joy arrives" in Yoruba.

Desta f & m Amharic
Means "joy" in Amharic.

Dihya f Berber
Meaning unknown. This was the real name of the Berber queen Kahina.

Dikeledi f Tswana
Means "tears" in Tswana.

Dubaku m & f Akan
Means "eleventh born child" in Akan.

Ebele f Igbo
Variant of Ebere.

Ebere f Igbo
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.

Efe 2 m & f Urhobo
Short form of Efemena and other names containing efe "wealth".

Efemena m & f Urhobo
Means "here is my wealth" in Urhobo.

Efua f Akan
Variant of Afua.

Ejiro m & f Urhobo
Short form of Ejiroghene and other names containing ejiro "praise".

Ejiroghene m & f Urhobo
Means "praise God" in Urhobo.

Ekene m & f Igbo
Means "thanks, gratitude" in Igbo.

Ekenedilichukwu m & f Igbo
Means "gratitude belongs to God" in Igbo.

Ekua f Akan
Variant of Akua.

Ekundayo f & m Yoruba
Means "tears become joy" in Yoruba.

Emem m & f Ibibio
Means "peace" in Ibibio.

Eniola f & m Yoruba
Means "person of wealth" in Yoruba.

Enitan m & f Yoruba
Means "person with a story, storied person" in Yoruba.

Enu m & f Akan
Means "fifth born child" in Akan.

Enyonam f Ewe
Means "it is good for me" in Ewe.

Enzokuhle m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "to do good" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots enza "to do" and hle "beautiful, good".

Ese f & m Urhobo
Means "gift" in Urhobo.

Eseoghene m & f Urhobo
Means "God's gift" in Urhobo.

Eshe f Swahili
Variant of Asha 2.

Esi f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Etenesh f Amharic
Means "you are my sister" in Amharic.

Faɗimatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Fatima.

Fadumo f Somali
Somali form of Fatima.

Fadzai f Shona
From Shona fadza meaning "please, make happy".

Farai m & f Shona
From Shona fara meaning "rejoice, be happy".

Fatimata f Western African
Form of Fatima used in West Africa.

Fatimatou f Western African
Form of Fatima used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Fatou f Western African
Short form of Fatoumata.

Fatoumata f Western African
Form of Fatima used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Fatsani m & f Chewa
Means "be meek" in Chewa.

Fatuma f Eastern African
Form of Fatima used East Africa.

Folami m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "respect and honour me" in Yoruba.

Fumnanya f & m Igbo
Means "love me" in Igbo.

Fungai m & f Shona
From Shona funga meaning "think, judge".

Funke f Yoruba
Short form of Olufunke.

Funmilayo f Yoruba
Means "give me joy" in Yoruba, also a short form of Olufunmilayo or Oluwafunmilayo.

Furaha f Swahili
Means "joy, happiness" in Swahili, borrowed from Arabic فرح (fariḥa).

Gadise f Oromo
Feminine form of Gadisa.

Gbemisola f Yoruba
Means "carry me into wealth" in Yoruba.

Gugulethu f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele igugu "treasure, pride" and lethu "our".

Hadija f Swahili
Swahili form of Khadija.

Hadiza f Hausa
Hausa form of Khadija.

Hadizatu f Hausa
Hausa variant form of Khadija.

Hafsat f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Hafsatu f Hausa
Hausa form of Hafsa.

Halima f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili
Feminine form of Halim. Halima was the name of the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad.

Halimat f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Halimatu f Hausa
Hausa variant of Halima.

Haoua f Western African
Form of Hawa used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Haregewoin f Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.

Hauwa f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawa.

Hauwa'u f Hausa
Hausa form of Hawa.

Hawa f Arabic, Swahili
Arabic form of Eve.

Hawo f Somali
Somali form of Eve (via Arabic Ḥawāʾ).

Hibo f Somali
Somali form of Hiba.

Hiwot f Amharic
Means "life" in Amharic.

Hlengiwe f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "helped, rescued, redeemed" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.

Hodan f Somali
Means "rich, lush" in Somali.

Idowu m & f Yoruba
Means "born after twins" in Yoruba.

Ife f & m Yoruba
From Yoruba ìfẹ́ meaning "love".

Ifeoma f Igbo
Means "good thing" in Igbo, derived from ífé meaning "thing" and ọ́má meaning "good, beautiful".

Ifiok m & f Ibibio
Means "wisdom" in Ibibio.

Ifunanya f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo (literally "to see in one's eye").

Ige f & m Yoruba
Means "born feet first" in Yoruba.

Ijeoma f Igbo
Means "good journey" in Igbo.

Imani f & m Swahili, African American
Means "faith" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إيمان (ʾīmān).

Ime 1 m & f Ibibio
Means "patience" in Ibibio.

Iminathi f Zulu
Means "he stands with us" in Zulu.

Iniobong m & f Ibibio
Means "God's time" in Ibibio.

Inyene m & f Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.

Itai 2 m & f Shona
From Shona ita meaning "do, act, perform".

Itoro m & f Ibibio
Means "praise, glory" in Ibibio.

Itumeleng m & f Tswana
Means "be happy" in Tswana, from itumela meaning "to be happy".

Iyabo f Yoruba
Means "mother has returned" in Yoruba.

Jamila f Arabic, Urdu, Hausa
Feminine form of Jamil. This was the name of a wife of the caliph Umar.

Janeth f Spanish (Latin American), Eastern African
Variant of Janet, currently in use in South America and East Africa.

Jummai f Hausa
From Hausa Jumma'a meaning "Friday" (of Arabic origin).

Kadiatou f Western African
Form of Khadija used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.

Kagiso m & f Tswana
Means "peace" in Tswana.

Kahina f Berber
Derived from Arabic الكاهنة (al-Kāhina) meaning "the diviner, the fortuneteller". This was a title applied to the 7th-century Berber queen Dihya, who resisted the Arab expansion into North Africa.

Kamaria f Comorian
From Arabic qamar meaning "moon", also the root of the name of the island country of the Comoros.

Karabo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "answer" in Sotho and Tswana.

Katlego m & f Tswana
Means "success, prosperity" in Tswana.

Katleho m & f Sotho
Means "success, prosperity" in Sotho.

Kayin m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "celebrate" in Yoruba.

Kefilwe m & f Tswana
Means "I was given" in Tswana, derived from filwe "given".

Kehinde m & f Yoruba
Means "comes last" in Yoruba. It is typically given to the second of twins.

Keitumetse f & m Tswana
Means "I am happy" in Tswana, from itumetse meaning "happy".

Kelebogile f & m Tswana
Means "I am thankful" in Tswana, derived from leboga "to be thankful, to thank".

Kelechi m & f Igbo
Means "thank God" in Igbo.

Khumbo m & f Chewa
Means "wish" in Chewa.

Kidist f Amharic
Means "blessed" in Amharic.

Kirabo m & f Ganda
Means "gift" in Luganda.

Kisembo m & f Tooro
Means "gift" in Rutooro.

Konjit f Amharic
From Amharic ቆንጆ (qonjo) meaning "beautiful".

Kumbukani m & f Chewa
Means "remember" in Chewa.

Kunto f Akan
Means "third child" in Akan.

Kyauta m & f Hausa
Means "gift" in Hausa.

Ladi f Hausa
From Hausa Lahadi meaning "Sunday" (of Arabic origin).

Lebogang m & f Tswana
Means "be thankful" in Tswana.

Lebohang m & f Sotho
Means "be thankful" in Sotho.

Lelise f Oromo
Feminine form of Lelisa.

Lerato f & m Sotho
Means "love" in Sotho.

Lesedi f & m Tswana
Means "light" in Tswana.

Lesego m & f Tswana
Means "luck, blessing" in Tswana, from sego "blessed".

Lethabo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "joy, happiness" in Sotho and Tswana.

Lethokuhle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "bring goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots letha "to bring" and hle "beautiful, good".

Lindiwe f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "waited for, awaited" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi, from linda "to wait".

Lisakhanya f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "still shining" in Xhosa and Zulu, from the roots sa "still, continuing" and khanya "to shine".

Lishan f & m Amharic
Means "award" in Amharic.

Lubanzi m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "it is wide" in Xhosa and Zulu, from the phrase uthando lubanzi "love is wide".

Lulit f Amharic
From Amharic ሉል (lul) meaning "pearl".

Lumusi f Ewe
Means "born face down" in Ewe.

Lungile f & m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "correct, right, good" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Lwandle m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "ocean" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Madalitso m & f Chewa
Means "blessings" in Chewa.

Makena f & m Kikuyu
Means "happy one" in Kikuyu.

Malaika f Swahili
Means "angel" in Swahili, derived from Arabic ملك (malak).

Manyara f Shona
Means "you have been humbled" in Shona.

Mariama f Western African
Form of Maryam common in West Africa.

Mariamu f Swahili
Swahili form of Miriam.

Marietjie f Afrikaans
Afrikaans diminutive of Maria.

Maryamu f Hausa
Hausa form of Maryam.

Maryan f Somali
Somali form of Maryam.

Masego f Tswana
Means "blessings" in Tswana, from sego "blessed".

Masozi m & f Tumbuka
Means "tears" in Tumbuka.

Mawunyo m & f Ewe
Means "God is good" in Ewe.

Mayamiko m & f Chewa
Means "praise, gratitude" in Chewa.

Mayeso m & f Chewa
Means "test (from God)" in Chewa.

Mbalenhle f Zulu
From Zulu imbali "flower" and hle "beautiful".

Mbali f Zulu
Means "flower" in Zulu.

Meklit f Amharic
Means "talent" in Amharic.

Melokuhle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "stand for goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots mela "to stand for, to represent" and hle "beautiful, good".

Meti f Oromo
Means "umbrella" in Oromo.

Minenhle f & m Zulu
From Zulu imini "day" and hle "beautiful".

Mirembe f Ganda
Means "peace" in Luganda.

Mojisola f Yoruba
Means "I wake up to wealth" in Yoruba.

Monifa f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "I am lucky" in Yoruba.

Mosi f & m Swahili
Means "first (child)" in Swahili.

Mphatso m & f Chewa
Means "gift" in Chewa.

Mpho m & f Tswana, Sotho
Means "gift" in Tswana and Sotho, a derivative of fa "to offer".

Mtendere m & f Chewa
Means "peace" in Chewa.

Mudiwa f & m Shona
Means "beloved, darling" in Shona.

Mukami f Kikuyu
Possibly means "the one who milks the cows" in Kikuyu.

Mumbi f Kikuyu
Means "she who shapes" in Kikuyu. In Kikuyu mythology Mumbi was the wife of Gikuyu and the mother of his nine daughters.

Munashe m & f Shona
Means "with God" in Shona, derived from ishe meaning "lord, God".

Muthoni f Kikuyu
Means "mother-in-law" in Kikuyu.

Mwajuma f Swahili
Contracted form of Mwanajuma.

Mwanahamisi f Swahili
Means "child born on Thursday" in Swahili.

Mwanahawa f Swahili
Combination of Swahili mwana meaning "child" and the name Hawa.

Mwanaidi f Swahili
Means "child born during the festival" in Swahili.

Mwanaisha f Swahili
Combination of Swahili mwana meaning "child" and the name Aisha.

Mwanajuma f Swahili
Means "child born on Friday" in Swahili.

Mwayi f & m Chewa
Means "opportunity" in Chewa.

Mwenya f & m Chewa
From the Chewa word for a type of flowering tree (species Breonadia salicina).