Browse Names

Abdullaahi m Fula
Fula form of Abd Allah.

Abdullahi m Hausa
Hausa form of Abd Allah.

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

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

Afi f Ewe
Ewe form of Afua.

Afolabi m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

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

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

Akli m Berber
Means "slave, servant, black" in Tamazight.

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

Alhaji m Hausa
Means "the pilgrim" in Hausa, a derivative of Arabic حجّ (ḥajj) meaning "pilgrimage, hajj". It is typically a title, not a name.

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

Amadi 1 m Igbo
Means "freeborn man" in Igbo.

Amadi 2 m Yoruba (Rare)
Possibly means "seemed destined to die at birth" in Yoruba.

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

Amondi f Luo
Feminine form of Omondi.

Anuli f Igbo
Means "joy" in Igbo.

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.

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

Bakari m Swahili
From the Swahili name for the constellation Boötes.

Bongani m Zulu
Means "grateful, thankful" in Zulu.

Cabdullaahi m Somali
Somali form of Abd Allah.

Cali 2 m Somali
Somali form of Ali 1.

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.

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.

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

Chukwudi m Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo (a variant of Chidi using Chukwu as the first element).

Dakarai m Shona
Means "rejoice" in Shona.

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

Ɗanladi m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Lahadi "Sunday".

Ɗanlami m Hausa
From Hausa ɗa "son" and Alhamis "Thursday".

Dikeledi f Tswana
Means "tears" in Tswana.

Dumi m Zulu, Ndebele
Short form of Dumisani.

Dumisani m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "praise" in Zulu and Ndebele.

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

Fadhili m Swahili
Means "kindness, favour" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic.

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

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

Faraji m Swahili
Means "consolation" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic فرج (faraj).

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

Femi m Yoruba
Short form of Olufemi.

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

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

Ganizani m Chewa
Means "think" in Chewa.

Hamisi m Swahili
From Swahili Alhamisi meaning "Thursday", from Arabic الخميس (al-khamīs), itself derived from خمسة (khamsa) meaning "five".

Ifeanyi m Igbo
Means "we can do anything" in Igbo. It can be a short form of Ifeanyichukwu.

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

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

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

Itri m Berber
Means "star" in Tamazight.

Jaylaani m Somali
Somali form of Jilani.

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

Kariuki m Kikuyu
Means "reincarnated one" in Kikuyu.

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

Kgosi m Tswana
Means "king, chief" in Tswana.

Koffi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kofi.

Kofi m Akan
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

Komi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwame.

Kondwani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "be happy, rejoice" in Chewa and Tumbuka.

Kossi m Ewe
Ewe form of Kwasi.

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

Kwasi m Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

Kwesi m Akan
Variant of Kwasi.

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

Lawali m Hausa
Variant of Lawal.

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

Limbani m Chewa
Means "be strong" in Chewa.

Limbikani m Chewa
Means "work hard" in Chewa.

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

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

Mandlenkosi m Zulu, Ndebele
From Zulu and Ndebele amandla "strength, power" and inkosi "king, chief".

Marijani m Swahili
Means "coral" in Swahili, originally a borrowing from Arabic مرْجان (marjān).

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

Mawuli m Ewe
Means "God lives" in Ewe.

Mbali f Zulu
Means "flower" in Zulu.

Meti f Oromo
Means "umbrella" in Oromo.

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

Moti 1 m Oromo
Means "leader" in Oromo.

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.

Munyaradzi m Shona
Means "comforter, consoler" in Shona, from nyaradza "to make quiet, to console".

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

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

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

Mwangi m Kikuyu
Means "rapid expansion" in Kikuyu. Kikuyu males were traditionally organized into age sets or generations. The Mwangi generation started around the beginning of the 20th century and lasted for about 30 years.

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

Ndidi f & m Igbo
Means "patience" in Igbo.

Ndubuisi m Igbo
Means "life is foremost" in Igbo.

Netsai f Shona
From Shona netsa meaning "trouble, annoy, bother".

Ngozi f Igbo
Means "blessing" in Igbo.

Nii m Ga
From a Ga word used as a masculine royal title.

Njeri f Kikuyu
Means "travelling one" in Kikuyu. Njeri (or Wanjeri) is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Nkechi f Igbo
Short form of Nkechinyere.

Nnamdi m Igbo
Means "my father is alive" in Igbo. This name is given to a child when it is believed that he is a reincarnation of his grandfather.

Ntombi f Zulu
Means "girl" in Zulu.

Ntombifuthi f Zulu
Means "a girl again" in Zulu.

Nyarai f Shona
From Shona nyara meaning "be shy, be quiet, be humble".

Obi m & f Igbo
Means "heart" in Igbo.

Ogechi f Igbo
Means "God's time" in Igbo.

Olubunmi f Yoruba
Means "God gives to me" in Yoruba.

Oluchi f Igbo
Means "work of God" in Igbo.

Olufemi m Yoruba
Means "God loves me" in Yoruba.

Olujimi m Yoruba
Means "God forgives me" in Yoruba.

Oluwafemi m Yoruba
Variant of Olufemi.

Oluwaseyi f & m Yoruba
Means "God made this" in Yoruba.

Oluwayemisi f Yoruba
Means "God honours me" in Yoruba.

Omari m Swahili
Meaning uncertain, possibly a Swahili variant of Umar.

Omondi m Luo
Means "born early in the morning" in Luo.

Oni f & m Yoruba
Means "today" in Yoruba.

Onyebuchi m Igbo
Means "who is equal to God?" in Igbo.

Onyekachi m & f Igbo
Means "who is greater than God?" in Igbo.

Onyinyechi f Igbo
Means "gift from God" in Igbo.

Opeyemi f & m Yoruba
Means "gratitude is suitable for me" in Yoruba.

Penjani m & f Tumbuka
Means "seek for, look for" in Tumbuka.

Pili 2 f Swahili
Means "second (child)" in Swahili.

Pilirani m & f Chewa
Means "persevere, endure" in Chewa.

Ramadhani m Swahili
Swahili form of Ramadan.

Rumbidzai f Shona
From Shona rumbidza meaning "praise".

Sani 2 m Hausa
From Arabic ثانٍ (thānin) meaning "second", a derivative of اثنان (ithnān) meaning "two". If two or more siblings share the same given name, this name may be appended to that of the second.

Sekai f Shona
From Shona seka meaning "laugh".

Sekani m Tumbuka
Means "laugh" in Tumbuka.

Shabani m Swahili
Swahili form of Shaban.

Sidiki m Western African
Form of Siddiq typical of West Africa.

Tafari m Amharic (Rare)
Possibly means "he who inspires awe" in Amharic. This name was borne by Lij Tafari Makonnen (1892-1975), also known as Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Rastafarians (Ras Tafari meaning "king Tafari") revere him as the earthly incarnation of God.

Tamandani m & f Chewa
Means "exalt, praise" in Chewa.

Tambudzai f Shona
From Shona tambudza meaning "make trouble, frustrate".

Taurai m & f Shona
From Shona taura meaning "speak".

Tendai m & f Shona
From Shona tenda meaning "be thankful, thank".

Thabani m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "be happy" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Thandi f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
Short form of Thandiwe.

Thiziri f Berber
Variant of Tiziri.

Thokozani m & f Chewa
Means "thank" in Chewa.

Thulani m Zulu
Means "be quiet, be peaceful" in Zulu.

Tiziri f Berber
Feminine form of Ziri.

Tumaini f & m Swahili
Means "wish, hope" in Swahili, from Arabic طمع (ṭamiʿa) meaning "to desire".

Ugochi f Igbo
Means "eagle of God" in Igbo, from ùgó meaning "eagle, honour" and Chi 2, referring to God.

Unathi m & f Xhosa
Means "he or she is with us" in Xhosa, from the prefix u- meaning "he, she" and nathi meaning "with us".

Uzochi m & f Igbo
Means "way of God" in Igbo.

Wambui f Kikuyu
Means "zebra" in Kikuyu. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wangari f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu ngarĩ meaning "leopard". In the Kikuyu origin legend this is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

Wangui f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu ngũi meaning "song leader". This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wanyonyi m Luhya
Means "born during the weeding season", from Luhya enyonyi meaning "weeds".

Wongani m & f Chewa
Means "be thankful" in Chewa.

Xolani m Zulu
Means "peace" in Zulu.

Yamikani m & f Chewa
Means "be grateful, praise" in Chewa.

Zawadi f & m Swahili
Means "gift" in Swahili, derived from Arabic زواد (zawād) meaning "provisions".

Ziri m Berber
Means "moonlight" in Tamazight.

Zuberi m Swahili
Swahili form of Zubair.

Zuri f Swahili
Means "beautiful" in Swahili.