Browse Submitted Names

Saade f African

Saadiya f Western African, Indian (Muslim)
Form of Sa'dia used in Western Africa and India.

Sabo m Hausa
Means "new" in Hausa.

Sabre m African, Muslim, Northern African, Iranian, Arabic (Egyptian)
African, Islamic name for boys meaning patient, sharp and enduring.

Sadatu f Western African
Name of Liberian Orgin

Sadau m & f Hausa
From the Hausa sā̀du meaning "get together”.

Saddiq m Nigerian, African American (?)
Variant of Sadiq.

Sade f Yoruba, English (Modern)
Short form of Folasade. It was popularized in the mid-80s due to the Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu (born Helen Folasade Adu, 1959-) and her eponymous smooth jazz band Sade.

Safiatou f Western African
Form of Safiyyah used in western Africa.

Safiétou f Western African
Variant of Safiatou.

Saheed m African American, African
In the Middle East, Saheed holds a special place within the region’s diverse cultural mosaic. It is embraced by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt, where it represents a deep connection to religious and spiritual beliefs... [more]

Saïdou m Western African
Form of Sa'id used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.

Sa'idu m Hausa
Hausa form of Sa'id.

Sainabou f Western African
Form of Zaynab used in Gambia.

Sakinah f Hausa
Means "tranquility, peace of mind" in Hausa.

Sakura m Western African (?)
Mansa Sakura, sixth mansa of the Mali Empire, was a famous bearer.... [more]

Salamatou f Western African
Variant of Salamatu.

Sale m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Salih.

Salemite m Efik
Means "offspring of peace" in Efik.

Salifu m Western African

Salihu m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Salih.

Salimata f Western African
Form of Salima used in parts of western Africa.

Saliou m Western African
Form of Salih used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.

Sallan m Hausa
Means "born on a feast day" in Hausa.

Sallau m Hausa
From the Hausa sallā̀ meaning “prayer, religious holiday”.

Salomey f English (Archaic), English (African)
Variant of Salome.

Saloum m Arabic, Western African
Alternate transcription of Arabic سلوم (see Salum).

Salvation m & f English (African), Filipino (Rare)
English cognate of Salvacion.

Samb m Western African
Senegalese name

Samba m Western African, Fula
Senegalese Fula name used to denote a second-born son.

Sambala f Hausa
Feminine form of Sambali.

Sambali m Hausa
Means "tall, well-formed" in Hausa.

Samory m Western African

Samukelisiwe f African, Zulu
Means "we have received" in Zulu.

Sanama f Efik, Ibibio
Means "completely pure" in Efik and Ibibio.

Sanctus m English, African, Late Roman
Variant of Sanctius.

Ṣàngó m Western African
Yoruba spelling of Shango.

Sãngo f Bariba
Name traditionally given to girls born on a Sunday.

Santrengi f & m Ibibio

Sanusi m Indonesian, Malay, Nigerian, Fula, Hausa
From Arabic سَنُوسِيّ (sannūsī), the name of a Sufi order and clan that existed in Libya and the Sudan region. The sect was named after its founder, Muslim theologian Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi (1787-1859).

Saone f African
Seems to be predominantly used in Botswana.

Saphina f English (African)

Saran f Western African, Manding, Jula
Means "joy" in Jula.

Saratu f Hausa
Hausa form of Sara.

Sariaha f African, English (African)
Name introduced in the early 2010s.

Sariette f French (African)
From French 'sarriette' meaning "savory," most commonly used in Cameroon.

Sarki m Hausa
Means "chief" in Hausa.

Saro m Ogoni
Means "first son" in Khana.

Sarraounia f Hausa
From the name of Sarraounia Mangou, a Nigerian chief or priestess who fought the French colonial troops of the Voulet–Chanoine Mission at the Battle of Lougou in 1899. According to Wikipedia, her name means "queen" or "female chief".

Satou f Western African
Short form of Isatou.... [more]

Saturday m & f English (African), Afro-American (Slavery-era)
From the English word for the day of the week, which derives from Old English sæterdæġ, meaning "Saturn's day".

Saturnine f French (African, Rare), French (Rare)
French form of Saturnina.

Savelina f English (African), Bulgarian

Sayo f & m Yoruba
Means "make joy" in Yoruba.

Sayouba m Western African

Schola f African
Latin word used in reference to singing and learning. May be used as a diminutive of Scholastica.

Scolastique f French (African), Louisiana Creole
Variant of Scholastique.

Sehma m African
Variant of Sahma.

Seiakumokumo f Ijaw
Means "do not take me in a bad way" in Ijaw.

Seidu m Western African

Seihia f Tiv
The name Originates from Tiv and it means "Peaceful Bird" or "One of a kind"

Seinabo f Western African (Expatriate, ?)
Variant of Sainabou.

Seko m & f Western African
child of the sun

Sékou m Fula (Gallicized)
Variant of Sekou.

Sekou m Fula
Fula form of the Arabic title Sheikh.

Seku m Fula
Older form of Sekou.

Sekwo m African
from kasem language in northern part of Ghana that is upper east region of Ghana in the west africa

Sele f & m Ijaw
Means "judge or plan carefully" in Ijaw.

Seledebo m & f Ijaw
Means "the chosen one" in Ijaw.

Selekumo m Ijaw
Means "don't abound me" in Dagbani.

Sella f African, Southern African, Eastern African, Indonesian
Meaning unknown. It may be a loan word from Arabic صَلَّى‎ (ṣallā), meaning "to pray, to bless," or Arabic سَلَّى‎ (sallā), meaning "to amuse, entertain, comfort." It may also be a variation of Selah.

Sellah f African

Sélom m Western African
Komi Sélom Klassou is Prime Minister of Togo.

Selom m & f Western African
A Western African name used for both genders.

Selorm m & f Western African, Ewe
Means "God loves me" or "divine love" in Ewe.

Semere m African, Ethiopian
ethiopian name. meaning Everything goes fine

Semshak m African, Nigerian, Ngas
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Means "stay together".

Senam m & f Western African

Senhorinha f Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (African, Rare)
Diminutive of Portuguese senhora "mistress, lady".

Senyo m Western African

Serval m Western African
Directly taken from the name of the African cat species.

Sesan m Yoruba
Means "God has avenged me" in Yoruba.

Sethina f Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. This name is predominantly used in Ghana.

Sévériane f French (Rare), French (African, Rare)
French form of Severiana. Also compare Sévérienne, which is a bit more common and also better documented.

Sévérienne f French (Archaic), French (African, Rare)
French form of Severiana.

Seyi f & m Yoruba
Short form of Oluwaseyi.

Seyna f Western African (Rare)
Shortened form of Seynabou.

Seyni m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.

Shadari m Hausa
Means "born during the cold season" in Hausa.

Shadreck m English (African), Southern African
Variant of Shadrach. It is particularly popular in Southern African countries.

Shafawu f African
Am a Ghanaian and from the northern region of Ghana.

Shairi f African
Means "song" in Swahili.

Shamano m Kaonde (Rare), African (Rare)

Shango m Western African
The name of a fire god in the traditional Yoruba religion.

Shanono m & f Hausa
Means "drink milk" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to a child born when calves are being delivered.

Shaquon m African

Sharifiya f Hausa
Means "born during Ramadan" in Hausa.

Shekarau m Hausa
From the Hausa shḕkarà meaning “spend the year”.

Shevan m Persian, African
From the Persian, meaning "lion".

Shibkan m Hausa
Means "beans in the sowing season" in Hausa.

Shima m & f Tiv
Shima means heart in Tiv language

Shola m & f Yoruba, African
Short form of names that end with "sola", such as Olusola or Adesola. R&B singer Shola Ama is a well-known bearer.

Shola f Western African

Shorai m & f African
it delive from shona tribe name in Zimbabwe and it means criticise

Shuaibu m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Shuaib.

Shumbusho f & m Rwandan, African
God's consolation. Used both as a family name or a first name.

Shunammite f English (African)
Hebrew for "woman of Shunaam." Associated with the prophet Elisha according to 2 Kings 4:8, although not used as the real name in the Bible.

Sia f Western African, Manding

Siaka m Western African
Siaka, meaning ''chief'', was the one who made the tribes in primarily West Africa. In old culture every family had to name at least one son Siaka.

Sibeth f French (African, Rare)
Sibeth Ndiaye was appointed as spokesman of the French government in 2019.

Sihon m Western African
Masculine name often found in Burkina Faso & neighboring regions.

Sijuola f Yoruba
Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.

Sikena f English (American, Rare), African
Transferred use of the surname Sikena.

Silence m & f English (African), English (Puritan), Romani (Archaic)
Simply from the English word silence, from Middle English from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere "be silent". A popular virtue name amongst the Puritans in the 17th century, it was usually given to girls (very occasionally to boys), ultimately taken from the admonition of Saint Paul: "Let the women learn in silence, with all subjection." Translated into Latin it became Tace, which "in its turn developed into Tacey"... [more]

Simi f Yoruba
Short form of Simidele.

Simidele f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba. ... [more]

Simileoluwa f & m Yoruba
I rest on the Lord

Simonie f Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Archaic), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), French (African, Rare)
Variant of Simonia.

Sinmiloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "rest in the lord" in Yoruba.

Sira f Ogoni
Means "first daughter" in Khana.

Siri f African
Kenya-Tanzania... [more]

Sirlord m Western African
Probably composed from the English words sir and lord.

Sisi f African
Means "born on a Sunday" in Fante.

Sitefanu m Yoruba (Rare)
Yoruba form of Stephen.

Slumber m English (African)
From the vocabulary word "slumber".

Smaragde m French (Archaic), French (African, Rare)
French form of Smaragdos via its latinized form Smaragdus.

Sobenna m & f Igbo

Sobodu m & f Yoruba

Sogo m & f Yoruba
Means "makes glory", a short form of Oluwasogo.

Sogolon f Western African

Solace f & m English (American, Rare), English (African, Rare)
From the English word, solace.

Somayina f & m Igbo
The name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."

Somto m Igbo
The name Somto is a name with Igbo origin. In Igbo, Somto is a shortened form of Somtochukwu, which translates to "Join me in praising God" or "Rejoice with me in the Lord."

Somtochukwu f & m Western African, Igbo
Means "praise God with me" in Igbo.

Sona f Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]

Sonomo f & m Ijaw
Means "seven" in Ijaw. It is typically given to a seventh child, or a child born prematurely in the seventh month.

Sope m & f Yoruba
Means "be grateful" in Yoruba.

Sordum f & m Ogoni
Means "time of life" in Khana.

Sorle f & m Ogoni
Khana for "there's time" (as in, you have time to do something)... [more]

Sorniabari f & m Ogoni
Means "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [more]

Sotonte m Ijaw
Means "Heaven/God has decided"

Souleymanou m Western African
Form of Sulayman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.

Soumaïla m Western African
Form of Isma'il used in parts of French-influenced western Africa (particularly Mali).

Sowunmi m Yoruba, African
Means "the sorcerer is attractive to me" in Yoruba.

Special f English (African)
Simply taken from the English word special.

Sroda f Western African
Means "respect".

Stambuli f & m African (Rare)

Starline f English (Rare), Haitian Creole, French (African, Rare)
Variant of Starlene, or a feminine form of Starling.

Stelia f Greek (Cypriot), Italian, Portuguese (African)
Feminine form of Stelios.

Stellamaris f English (African)
From the Latin title of the Virgin Mary, Stella Maris, meaning "star of the sea".

Stélvia f Portuguese (African, Rare)
Portuguese form of Stelvia.

Stiviandra f Obscure, Portuguese (African, Rare)
Stiviandra Oliveira (born 1989) is an Angolan model and winner of Miss Angola 2006.

Suanu f & m Ogoni
Means "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.

Suara m Yoruba
Derived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.

Sublime f & m English (African, Rare)
Taken from the English word sublime.

Sudor m & f Nigerian (Rare)

Suely f Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (African)
Variant of Sueli.

Sufficient f & m English (African)
Name given in reference to 2 Corinthians 12:19, “ But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”... [more]

Sulaimanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.

Sulemanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.

Sulemon m African (Rare)
Likely a rare variant of Sulaiman and Salomon that appears to be used in Nigeria.

Sulola f Yoruba
Of Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.

Summeer f & m African

Sune f African

Sunebari m & f Ogoni
Means "give to God" in Khana.

Sunubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Sunday" in Ijaw.

Sunusi m Western African, Hausa
Variant of Sanusi.

Suoton f Ijaw
Means "as planned" in Ijaw.

Suoyo f & m Ijaw
Means "profit or gain" in Ijaw.

Susen f German, English (African, Rare)
Variant of Susan.

Susseigh f & m English (African)
Variant of Susie.

Suwilanji m & f African
From the namwaanga tribe of Northern Zambia and the adjuscent part of Tanzania.... [more]

Suzani f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), English (African, Rare)
Variant of Suzana and Suzanne.

Suzen f English (American, Rare), English (African, Rare)
Variant of Susan.

Swaa m Bariba
Means "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.

Swelia f African
African variation of Swela, from Arabic name Suela, meaning "beautiful and even".

Sylviah f English (African)
Variant of Sylvia.

Symmaque m French (African, Rare)
French form of Symmachus.

Symphora f Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, French (African)
Feminine form of Symphoros and its latinized form Symphorus. Also compare the Greek noun συμφορά (symphora) meaning "a bringing together, collecting, contribution" as well as "misfortune, tragedy".... [more]

Symphore m & f French (Archaic), French (African, Rare), French (Quebec, Archaic)
French form of Symphorus (masculine) and Symphora (feminine). This name has always been predominantly used on men, and today there are no known living female bearers.... [more]

Symphoria f Late Roman, African (Rare), German (Archaic)
Feminine form of Symphorius. It should also be noted that like Symphorina, this name is sometimes encountered as a corruption (or perhaps short form in this case) of Symphoriana.

Symphoriane f French (Rare), French (African, Rare)
Variant of Symphorienne, which is the standard French form of Symphoriana.

Symphorien m French (Rare), French (African), French (Quebec, Archaic), French (Belgian, Rare)
French form of Symphorianus. Known bearers of this name include the French physician and humanist Symphorien Champier (1471-1539) and the French police chief and senator Symphorien Boittelle (1813-1897).

Symphorienne f French (Rare), French (African), French (Quebec, Archaic), French (Belgian, Archaic)
French form of Symphoriana.

Symphorin m French (Archaic), French (African, Rare), French (Quebec, Archaic), German (Archaic)
French and German form of Symphorinus. There have probably also been cases where this name is a corruption or a rare variant of Symphorien (French) and Symphorian (German).

Symphorine f French (Rare), French (African, Rare), French (Quebec, Archaic), French (Belgian, Rare)
French form of Symphorina. There have probably also been cases where this name is a corruption or a rare variant of Symphorienne.

Symphorose f French (Rare), French (African), French (Quebec, Archaic), French (Belgian, Archaic)
French form of Symphorosa.