African Mythology Submitted Names

These names occur in the mythologies and legends of the various peoples who inhabit Africa.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abuk f African Mythology, Dinka
In Dinka mythology (south Sudan), the first woman. She is the patron goddess of women and gardens. Her emblem is a little snake. She is the mother of Deng (Danka).
Adroa m African Mythology
The God of the Lugbara, who dwell in the area between Zaire and Uganda. Adroa had two aspects: good and evil. He was looked on as the creator of heaven and Earth, and was said to appear to a person who was about to die... [more]
Adze f & m African Mythology
The adze is a vampiric being in Ewe folklore. It takes the form of a firefly and will transform into human form upon capture.... [more]
A'essu m African Mythology
One who provides direct connections to others to benefit everyone and consistently seeks new information to provide to those connected. Relative to the English word "Learned" and African name "Sekou" (SAY~KOO)
Aganju m Yoruba Mythology, Afro-American Mythology
The son of Ọbatala and Odudua. He marries his sister Yemọja and they produce a son named Orungan ("air").
Agemo m Yoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare)
In Yoruba mythology, Agemo is a chameleon who is the messenger of the gods. He is the main deity of the Ijebu people, as he is believed to protect children and safeguard the future of Ijebu people through his blessing.
Ajok m African Mythology
The god of the Lotuko, a Sudanese people. It was believed that he was benevolent, but only if men chose to keep him so. Family strife was seen to be the cue for death to enter the family, and indeed a story is told of a Lotuko mother who implored Ajok to restore her dead child to life... [more]
Akoma m & f Central African, African Mythology
Akoma is the creator god of Pahuin mythology. His name Means “creator” in Pahuin, a common language in parts of São Tomé and Principe, southern Cameroon, much of northern Gabon, and mainland Equatorial Guinea.
Amesemi f Eastern African, African Mythology
Amesemi was goddess of the ancient Kingdom of Kush, and wife of the god Apedemak.
Amma m African Mythology
The god of fertility and of rain among the Dogon of Mali and Sudan.
Anansi m African Mythology, Afro-American Mythology, Folklore
From Akan anansi meaning "spider". In West African and Caribbean folklore, Anansi is a trickster spirit who frequently takes the form of a spider.
Anouke f Egyptian Mythology, African Mythology
Possibly a variant of Anuket, as she is depicted in an almost identical way, or even Neith, and perhaps the inspiration for the Greek Goddess Hestia as they are thought to have shared similar duties... [more]
Anuket f Egyptian Mythology, African Mythology
Allegedly means "the embracer" or "embrace". This was the name of the personification of the Nile in Egyptian mythology.... [more]
Bonduwa f Lingala, African Mythology
Bonduwa was Lonkundo’s first wife in the Mongo mythology complex.
Coti f San Mythology
Corrupted form of ǀHúnntuǃattǃatte̥n, possibly coined to make it pronounceable by the non-native speakers.
Engai m Eastern African, African Mythology
Engai is a deity from Maasai Mythology. His name means “god” in the Maasai language.
Garang m Dinka, African Mythology
According to the Dinka myths Garang is the First Man, created by Nhialic.
Gehidusiusos m & f African Mythology
Gehidusiusos helped africans in south africa to find water and to build houses and make fire.
Gǃkúnǁʼhòmdímà f San Mythology, Astronomy
Meaning "young female aardvark", ultimately derived from Jul'hoan particles gǃkún meaning "aardvark", ǁʼhòm mà meaning "young woman" and the feminine suffix .... [more]
Gǃòʼé ǃHú f San Mythology, Astronomy
Means "oryx horn", ultimately derived from Jul'hoan gǃòʼé meaning "oryx" and ǃhú meaning "horn". It is named after Gǃkúnǁʼhòmdímà's horn... [more]
Hakizimana m Rwandan, Rundi, African Mythology (Modern)
A name which means "God saves everything," imana being the name of the original Rwandan/Burundian deity and now the modern word for God in all monotheistic usages within Rwanda and Burundi.
ǃHãunu m San Mythology
Meaning unknown. In the San mythology, he existed along with his brother-in-law ǂKá̦gára, which they both fought with lightning that causes massive storms.... [more]
ǀHúnntuǃattǃatte̥n f San Mythology
Meaning unknown. In the San mythology, she was described as a rock hyrax and as the consort of ǀKágge̥n.... [more]
Ilánkaka f Lingala, African Mythology
One of the main characters in the Mongo mythology complex. She is the wife of Lonkundo.
Jok m Dinka, African Mythology
Jok is the Supreme God in Lango, Dinka and Alur Mythologies. In A Dictionary of African Mythology, Jok, the supreme being, is described like moving air; he is omnipresent, like the wind, but is never seen, though his presence may be felt in whirlwinds or eddies of air, in rocks and hills, in springs and pools of water, and he is especially connected with rainmaking... [more]
ǂKá̦gára m San Mythology, Astronomy
Meaning unknown. In the San mythology, he existed along with his brother-in-law ǃHãunu, which they both fought with lightning that causes massive storms... [more]
ǀKágge̥n m San Mythology
Meaning unknown. In San mythology, he was described as a mantis and a folk hero of the ǀXam people.... [more]
Katavi m African Mythology, Nyamwezi
A demonic being in the popular belief of the Nyamwezi people of Tanzania. He is reputed to be the chief of the water-spirits, but he also haunts the barren lands and deserts.
Kiwanuka m Ganda, African Mythology
Kiwanuka is the hammer wielding God of Thunder and Lightning in Ganda Mythology. His name means “someone who was born on a Thursday”.
Konyek m Eastern African, African Mythology
Konyek is a character from Maasai Mythology. His name has no known meaning.
Lianja m & f Lingala, Central African, African Mythology
The name of a major demigod in the Lingala/Mongo-Nkundo mythology complex.
Lokenio m Lingala, African Mythology
A prince in Nkundo mythology.
Lubanga m African Mythology
A god of good health of the Bunyoro People of Uganda.
Mabior m Dinka, African Mythology
Means "white bull" in Dinka. The white bull is the most prized and is sought after for sacrifices in celebration.
Mahrem m African Mythology
The pre-Christian Ethiopian (Aksumite) warrior god.
Makanga m & f Kongo, African Mythology
Means “Wise Person” in Kongo.
Mami Wata f African Mythology, Afro-American Mythology
The name of a water spirit venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa and in the Afro-American diaspora.
Mbombo m African Mythology
Mbombo, a god, also Bakuba god (mbombo) named Bumba, The story of Mbombo's creation tells that in the beginning, Mbombo was alone, darkness and primordial water covered all the earth. It would happen that Mbombo came to feel an intense pain in his stomach, and then Mbombo vomited the sun, the moon, and stars... [more]
Menhit f Egyptian Mythology, African Mythology
Means "(she who) massacres". ... [more]
Minona f African Mythology
This is the name of a goddess of protection in the mythology of the Dahomey (or Fon), an ethnic group who live in Benin in western Africa. Minona is a daughter of Gbadu.
Musoke m Ganda, African Mythology
Musoke is the God of Rain in Ganda mythology. His Name derives From ‘mu’, indicating a single individual, and ‘soke’, which means ‘rain’.
Naka m African Mythology
A creator-deity of the Sonjo people of Tanzania.
Nhial m & f Nuer, African Mythology
The Nuer counterpart of Nhialic, the main creator god of Dinka mythology.
Nomkhubulwane f African Mythology
Epithet of the Zulu goddess Mbaba Mwana Waresa, a shapeshifting fertility goddess who rules over rainbows, agriculture, harvests, rain, and beer and has power over water and earth. The name means "she who chooses the state of an animal" referring to the goddesses ability to shapeshift into an animal.
Nyaliep f Nuer, African Mythology
Nuer Goddess of the River.
Oba m & f Yoruba, Yoruba Mythology
Means "king, ruler" in Yoruba. It can refer to Obaluaye, a spirit associated with infectious disease and healing.
Oduduwa m Yoruba Mythology
Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Emperor and First Suzerain of the Yoruba, was the Oba of Ile-Ife. His name is generally ascribed to the ancestral dynasty of Yorubaland due to the fact that he is held by the Yoruba to have been the ancestor of their numerous crowned kings... [more]
Ogun m African Mythology
The god of thunder in Yoruba mythology.
Okeoma m & f African Mythology
Okeoma meaning good gift from God
Olodumare m & f African Mythology
The "creator" manifestation of Ọlọrun
Olofi m & f African Mythology
A manifestation of Ọlọrun which acts as the conduit between Orun (Heaven) and Ayé (Earth).
Orungan m Yoruba Mythology
Means "air" in Yoruba.... [more]
Oya f Yoruba Mythology, Afro-American Mythology
Literally means "she (who) tore" in Yoruba. ... [more]
Rheme f African Mythology
Rheme was used in African Mythology and means 'The Life'
Rukuba m & f Nyanga, Central African, Eastern African, African Mythology
Rukuba is a folk hero in Nyanga mythology, who happens to be a Basenji dog. His name has an unknown meaning.
Tchue m African Mythology
A cultural founder hero of the Bushmen. Tchue's deeds and transformations were 'many, many and not one'. He was a genius of fruit; also was he at different times a bird, an elephant, a fly, a lizard and even a water hole... [more]
Tsoede m African Mythology
A culture hero of the Nupe people (west-central Nigeria). He seized the throne by killing his uncle and extended the frontiers of his kingdom. He introduced his subjects to the rudiments of technology, showing them how to build canoes and how to work metals... [more]
Tsui m Khoekhoe, African Mythology
The Khoikhoi god of rain and thunder.
Unkulunkulu m Zulu, African Mythology
Means "the old, old one" or "ancestor" in Zulu. This was the name of a mythic first ancestor in early Zulu mythology, who appeared, or was created from, breaking reeds. It may have also been used to denote any significant ancestor... [more]
Wangũi f Kikuyu, African Mythology
Variant of Wangũ. A famous bearer of the name was one of the daughters of Kikuyu and Mumbi, the first man and woman in Kikuyu Mythology.
ǃXo f San Mythology
Meaning unknown. In the San mythology, she was described as a porcupine and an adopted daughter of ǀKágge̥n and ǀHúnntuǃattǃatte̥n.... [more]