Behind the Name: Eastern African Names

ABEBAfEastern African, Amharic
Means "flower" in Amharic.

ABERASHfEastern African, Amharic
Means "giving off light, shining" in Amharic.

ACHIENGfEastern African, Luo
Feminine form of OCHIENG.

ADHIAMBOfEastern African, Luo
Feminine form of ODHIAMBO.

AKINYIfEastern African, Luo
Means "born in the morning" in Luo.

ALEMAYEHUm & fEastern African, Amharic
Means "I have seen the world" in Amharic.

AMONDIfEastern African, Luo
Feminine form of OMONDI.

ASHA (2)fEastern African, Swahili
Means "life" in Swahili, related to AISHA.

ATIENOfEastern African, Luo
Feminine form of OTIENO.

AWITIfEastern African, Luo
Means "thrown away" in Luo, possibly used for a child born prematurely.

BABIRYEfEastern African, Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

BERHANEm & fEastern African, Amharic
Means "my light" in Amharic.

BERHANUmEastern African, Amharic
Means "his light" in Amharic.

BONTUfEastern African, Oromo
Means "proud" in Oromo.

BUSINGEm & fEastern African, Kiga
Means "peace" in Rukiga.

CHAUSIKUfEastern African, Swahili
Means "born at night" in Swahili.

CHIMWALAm & fEastern African, Yao
Means "stone" in Yao.

CHIUMBOmEastern African, Mwera
Means "small" in Mwera.

DEJENmEastern African, Amharic
Means "foundation, support" in Amharic.

DESTAf & mEastern African, Amharic
Means "joy" in Amharic.

ESHEfEastern African, Swahili
Variant of ASHA (2).

ESKENDERmEastern African, Amharic
Amharic form of ALEXANDER.

FARAJImEastern African, Swahili
Means "consolation" in Swahili.

FILBERTmEastern African
Variant of FILIBERT. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.

FURAHAfEastern African, Swahili
Means "joy, happiness" in Swahili.

GADISAmEastern African, Oromo
From Oromo gaaddisa meaning "shade".

GADISEfEastern African, Oromo
Feminine form of GADISA.

GUDINAmEastern African, Oromo
Means "growth, advancement" in Oromo.

GWANDOYAmEastern African, Ganda
Means "met with misery" in Luganda.

HAREGEWOINfEastern African, Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.

HIWOTfEastern African, Amharic
Means "life" in Amharic.

IFAmEastern African, Oromo
Means "light" in Oromo.

IMAMUmEastern African, Swahili
Means "spiritual leader" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إمام (Imam).

IMANIf & mEastern African, Swahili, African American
Means "faith" in Swahili, ultimately of Arabic origin.

ISINGOMAmEastern African, Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

JELANImEastern African, Swahili
Means "mighty" in Swahili.

JENGOmEastern African, Swahili
Means "building" in Swahili.

JUMAANEmEastern African, Swahili
Means "born on Tuesday" in Swahili.

KAMARIAfEastern African, Swahili
Swahili name, likely related to QAMAR.

KAMAUmEastern African, Kikuyu
Possibly means "quiet warrior" in Kikuyu.

KARIUKImEastern African, Kikuyu
Means "reincarnated one" in Kikuyu.

KATOmEastern African, Ganda
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

KHAMISImEastern African, Swahili
Means "born on Thursday" in Swahili.

KIBWEmEastern African, Swahili
Means "blessed" in Swahili.

KIDISTfEastern African, Amharic
Means "blessed" in Amharic.

KIRABOm & fEastern African, Ganda
Means "gift" in Luganda.

KISEMBOm & fEastern African, Tooro
Means "gift" in Rutooro.

KONJITfEastern African, Amharic
From Amharic ቆንጆ (qonjo) meaning "beautiful".

LELISAmEastern African, Oromo
From Oromo leellisaa meaning "admirer".

LELISEfEastern African, Oromo
Feminine form of LELISA.

LENCHOmEastern African, Oromo
Means "lion" in Oromo.

LISHANf & mEastern African, Amharic
Means "award" in Amharic.

LULITfEastern African, Amharic
From Amharic ሉል (lul) meaning "pearl".

MAINAmEastern African, Kikuyu
Means "sing, dance" in Kikuyu. Kikuyu males were traditionally organized into age sets or generations, each lasting about 30 years. The Maina generation occupied the last part of the 19th century.

MAKENAf & mEastern African, Kikuyu
Means "happy one" in Kikuyu.

MARJANIfEastern African, Swahili
Means "coral" in Swahili, originally a borrowing from Arabic.

MASAMBAmEastern African, Yao
Means "leaves, vegetables" in Yao.

MCHUMBAfEastern African, Swahili
Means "sweetheart" in Swahili.

MEKLITfEastern African, Amharic
Means "talent" in Amharic.

METIfEastern African, Oromo
Means "umbrella" in Oromo.

MIREMBEfEastern African, Ganda
Means "peace" in Luganda.

MOSImEastern African, Swahili
Means "first (child)" in Swahili.

MOTImEastern African, Oromo
Means "leader" in Oromo.

MUBIRUmEastern African, Ganda
Meaning unknown. This is the name of a figure in Ganda mythology associated with forests and hunting.

MUKAMIfEastern African, Kikuyu
Possibly means "the one who milks the cows" in Kikuyu.

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

MUTHONIfEastern African, Kikuyu
Means "mother-in-law" in Kikuyu.

MWANAJUMAfEastern African, Swahili
Means "born on Friday" in Swahili.

MWANGImEastern African, 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.

MWENYEmEastern African, Swahili
Means "owner, lord" in Swahili.

NAFULAfEastern African, Luhya
Feminine form of WAFULA.

NAKATOfEastern African, Ganda
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

NALIAKAfEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during the weeding season", from Luhya liliaka meaning "weeding".

NANJALAfEastern African, Luhya
Feminine form of WANJALA.

NASIMIYUfEastern African, Luhya
Feminine form of SIMIYU.

NEKESAfEastern African, Luhya
Feminine form of WEKESA.

NIA (2)fEastern African, Swahili
Means "purpose" in Swahili.

NJERIfEastern African, 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.

NURUfEastern African, Swahili
Means "light" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic نور (nur).

NYAHfEastern African, Swahili
Variant of NIA (2).

NYAMBURAfEastern African, Kikuyu
From Kikuyu mbura meaning "rain". This is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin legend.

NYONGESAmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born on Saturday" in Luhya.

OCHIENGmEastern African, Luo
Means "born when the sun shines", derived from Luo chieng meaning "sun".

ODHIAMBOmEastern African, Luo
Means "born in the evening" in Luo.

OMONDImEastern African, Luo
Means "born early in the morning" in Luo.

OTIENOmEastern African, Luo
Means "born at night" in Luo.

SANAA (2)fEastern African, Swahili
Means "artwork" in Swahili.

SAUDAfEastern African, Swahili
Means "dark complexion" in Swahili.

SEBLEfEastern African, Amharic
Means "harvest" in Amharic.

SEFUmEastern African, Swahili
Means "sword" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic سيف (sayf).

SIMBA (2)mEastern African, Swahili
Means "lion" in Swahili. This is the name of the main character in the Disney movie 'The Lion King' (1994), about a lion cub who exiles himself after his father is murdered.

SIMIYUmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during the dry season" in Luhya.

SISAYmEastern African, Amharic
Means "good omen" in Amharic.

SSANYUfEastern African, Ganda
Means "joy" in Luganda.

SUBIRAfEastern African, Swahili
Means "patience" in Swahili.

TADESSEmEastern African, Amharic
Means "revived" in Amharic.

TAFARImEastern African, 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.

TAMRATmEastern African, Amharic
Means "miracle" in Amharic.

TARIKUmEastern African, Amharic
Means "his history, his story" in Amharic.

TENDAJImEastern African, Swahili
Means "makes things happen" in Swahili.

TESFAYEmEastern African, Amharic
From Amharic ተስፋ (tasfa) meaning "hope".

TEWODROSmEastern African, Amharic
Amharic form of THEODORE.

WAFULAmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during the rainy season", from Luhya ifula meaning "rainy season".

WAIRIMUfEastern African, Kikuyu
From Kikuyu irimu meaning "ogre, giant". In the Kikuyu origin legend Wairimu is of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

WAMALWAmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during the brewing season" in Luhya.

WAMBUIfEastern African, Kikuyu
Means "zebra" in Kikuyu. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

WANGARIfEastern African, Kikuyu
From Kikuyu ngarĩ meaning "leopard". In the Kikuyu origin legend this is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

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

WANJALAmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during famine", from Luhya injala meaning "hunger, famine".

WANJIKUfEastern African, Kikuyu
Meaning unknown. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

WANJIRUfEastern African, Kikuyu
Possibly from Kikuyu njĩra meaning "way, path". In the Kikuyu origin legend this is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

WANYONYImEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during the weeding season", from Luhya enyonyi meaning "weeds".

WASSWAmEastern African, Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

WEKESAmEastern African, Luhya
Means "born during harvest" in Luhya.

WERKNESHfEastern African, Amharic
Variant transcription of WORKNESH.

WORKNEHmEastern African, Amharic
Means "you are gold", from Amharic ወርቅ (warq) meaning "gold".

WORKNESHfEastern African, Amharic
Feminine form of WORKNEH.

YAREDmBiblical Hebrew, Eastern African, Ethiopian
Hebrew form of JARED. This form is also used in Ethiopia. It was borne by a semi-legendary 6th-century Ethiopian musician who is considered a saint in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

YEWUBDARfEastern African, Amharic
Means "beautiful beyond limits" from Amharic ውብ (wb) meaning "beautiful" and ዳር (dar) meaning "limit, horizon, frontier, shore".

YOHANNESmEastern African, Amharic
Amharic form of JOHN.

ZUBERImEastern African, Swahili
Means "strong" in Swahili.

ZURIfEastern African, Swahili
Means "beautiful" in Swahili.

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