Browse Names - Behind the Name

Aadan m Somali
Possibly a Somali form of Adam.

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

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

Ayan 3 f Somali
Variant of Ayaan 2.

Ayana 1 m Ethiopian
Meaning unknown (possibly Amharic or Oromo).

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

Berhanu m Amharic
Means "his light" in Amharic.

Cabdiraxmaan m Somali
Somali form of Abd ar-Rahman.

Cismaan m Somali
Somali form of Osman.

Cusmaan m Somali
Somali form of Osman.

Gwandoya m Ganda
Means "met with misery" in Luganda.

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

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

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

Jaylaani m Somali
Somali form of Jilani.

Jumanne m Swahili
Means "Tuesday" in Swahili.

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

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

Maryan f Somali
Somali form of Maryam.

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.

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.

Nanjala f Luhya
Feminine form of Wanjala.

Ramadhani m Swahili
Swahili form of Ramadan.

Shabani m Swahili
Swahili form of Shaban.

Ssanyu f Ganda
Means "joy" in Luganda.

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.

Wanjala m Luhya
Means "born during famine", from Luhya injala meaning "hunger, famine".

Wanjiku f Kikuyu
Meaning unknown. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wanjiru f 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.

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

Xasan m Somali
Somali form of Hasan.

Yohannes m Amharic
Amharic form of John.

Zephania m Southern African, Eastern African
Variant of Zephaniah. This form of the name appears to be used in southern and eastern Africa.

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