This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African or Hawaiian.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Malama f HawaiianDerived from the Hawaiian word mālama meaning: "moon" or "to care for." Also could be a shortened version of the name
Hanaiakamalama.
Malidoma m Western AfricanAccording to the Burkinabé writer Malidoma Patrice Somé (1956-2021), his name means "he who befriends the enemy" or "friend of the stranger" in the Dagaare language.
Malith m DinkaRefers to a specific kind of ox in Dinka.
Malkat f Northern African, MuslimPossibly means "queen of the house", deriving from the Arabic element
malaka ("queen"). Name borne by a prominent Sudanese author known for her realist novel The Wide Void.
Malulani m & f HawaiianHawaiian unisex name meaning "heavenly shade" or "heavenly protection".
Mamo m EthiopianThis name is often used when the name of the person is unknown. (Compared
Buddy).
Mamo f HawaiianFrom the name of two species of black-and-yellow birds (both extinct) native to the Hawaiian Islands. A notable bearer was Hawaiian-born actress Mamo Clark (1914-1986).
Mamphaki f SothoThe name Mamphaki originates from the Northern Region of South Africa within the Bapedi people. The name was originally given to the first wife of Ntsetse Mailula - Mamphaki 'aMasekela. It was passed down within the Mailula family down to this day.
Mana m & f HawaiianFrom the word referring to a supernatural, religious or divine power.
Mangeni f & m Africanmeans "baby who was born when there is plenty of fish" and is of Bantu origin
Mansa m & f Manding, AkanTitle for "king" or "ruler", now also used as a name. Can also mean "third daughter" in Twi, which is in the Akan language family.
Manthia m Western AfricanManthia Diawara (born December 19, 1953) is a Malian writer, filmmaker, scholar, cultural theorist, and art historian. Meaning unknown.
Marial m DinkaThis is a historical name of "Dinka" people in South Sudan in Africa. The meaning refers to a mixture of beautiful colors of black and white type of a bull. Is a name given to a male child after his mother's bride price was inform of such colored bull... [
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Marieta f Spanish (Rare), Romanian (Rare), Bulgarian, Armenian, Afrikaans, Polish (Rare), Latvian (Rare), Slovene, Croatian, Lengadocian, Provençal, Gascon, Portuguese, Greek, AlbanianCognate of
Marietta.
Maru m & f TswanaMeans cloud. In setswana culture anything which has to do with water, which is a precious commodity is loved. Clouds bring rain and so are welcomed wherever they appear.
Mashawila m NsengaMeaning manzi yabila "boiling water", Derived from Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Fall) "the smoke that thunders".
Mashgash m & f IgboPosh name. Meaning: Intelligence and beauty
Mashudu m & f AfricanMashudu is a name used the Vha-Venda tribe in the far north of South Africa (Limpopo Province). The name means Luck
Masimba m ShonaMeans "powers, energy" in Shona. Other meanings are possible.
Masiye m & f ChewaMeans "orphan" in Chichewa, literally translating as "leavings", as in something left behind by a dead person.
Masnsen m BerberFrom the Amazigh
mas meaning "master" and
nsen meaning "of them".
Massa f BerberA term of respect meaning "Mistress" and a name usually given to high born.
Massen m BerberA Term of respect meaning "Master" and a name given to high born.
Massiva m & f Kabyle, BerberName of the grandson of Numidian king Massinissa, used today as a female name.
Matamela m & f Southern African, VendaPossibly means "the one who does not hold grudges" in Venda. It is the first name of the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (1952-).
Matemasie m & f AkanMeans "I have heard and concealed the fact" in Akan.
Mateo m ShonaIt is the Shona version of the name Matthew.
Maurisha f AfricanIt's a female version of Maurice, which means "from Mauritania", current Morocco.
Maveletiveni m SwaziA famous bearer is Maveletiveni Dlamini, son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Mayen m DinkaMeans a specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Mayom m DinkaA specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Maÿroumfa m Songhai, Western AfricanMeaning unknown. It was the name of an Askia dynasty member of the Dendi Kingdom straddling what are now Benin and Niger.
Mazvita f ShonaMeans "we are grateful" or "many thanks" in Shona.
Mbalienhle f Ndebele, ZuluMeans "beautiful flower" in Zulu and Ndebele, from
mbali "flower, flowers" and
enhle "something that is beautiful of nice".
Mbarka f Arabic (Maghrebi), BerberFeminine form of
Mubarak used in Northern Africa. This was the name of a possibly legendary Berber princess who ruled the ksar or oasis town of El Menia in Algeria.
Mbia m & f Kenyang, JaghamFrom Kenyang
ḿbyáy meaning "pumpkin leaves", a plant species indigenous to Southern Nigeria.
Mbuyi m LubaDerived from the Luba word
mbùùyì meaning "the firstborn of twins".
Medius f & m English (African), Eastern AfricanBorrowed from Latin
medius meaning "middle; half; moderate; indifferent." It is mostly used in Uganda where, compared to other surrounding countries, it is usually feminine in usage.
Megafu m & f IgboMeans "do for all to see" in Igbo.
Meghighda f BerberEtymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
Mehretab m Tigrinya, AmharicFrom Tigrinya መሓሪ (
mehari) meaning “mercy, compassion”, combined with ጣብ (
ṭab) meaning “good, pleasant”.
Meilani f Hawaiian (Modern, Rare)Possibly synthetic Hawaiian name influenced by
Melanie and/or
Leilani using the Hawaiian element
lani "heavenly." Used very rarely in the US, mainly California and Hawaii, since the 1980s or earlier... [
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