African Submitted Names

African names are used in various places on the continent of Africa. See also about African names.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Machie m & f Nigerian
Meaning the "replacement of a lost gem"
Machiveyi f Shona
"What do you seek or covert?" Situational name given in circumstance where family has covetous neighbours or kin.
Madaha f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "grace".
Madaya f Guanche, Berber (Archaic)
From Guanche *madăyya, meaning "beautiful thing to see". Besides the Canary Islands, this name was also used in Northern Africa.
Madhil m Dinka
Means "born on the way" in Dinka. This name is given to a male that’s born on the way, for example while the mother is traveling and gives birth on the way to her destination.
Madin m Dinka
Means "speckled bull" in Dinka.
Madini f Swahili
Means "gem" in Swahili.
Madit m Dinka
Means "masculine twin" in Dinka.
Madzivandlela f Tsonga
Means "know" in Xitsonga.
Mafamadi m & f Akan
Means "I have taken it for free" in Akan.
Mafezi m Southern African
Masculine name in the Chichewa language, country Malawi in southeastern Africa.
Mafuta m & f Lingala
Means "oil" in Lingala.
Magaji m Hausa
Means "heir" in Hausa.
Magajiya f Hausa
Means "heiress" in Hausa. In some dialects this means "madam" and is avoided.
Magan m Somali
Means "protection" or "refuge" in Somali.
Magaya f Kaguru
Means "endurances" in Chikaguru.
Magdaleen f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Dutch and Afrikaans variant of Magdalene. This name is borne by South African author Magdaleen Van Wyk.
Magetalene f Tswana
Setswana form of Magdalene.
Magool f Somali
Possibly from the Somali magooli meaning "blossom".
Magot m Dinka
Means "a very long-horned bull" in Dinka.
Mahad m Somali
Means "thanks" in Somali.
Mahado f Somali
Possibly from the Somali mahad meaning "thanks".
Mahali f Swahili
Means "place" in Swahili.
Mahama m Western African, Thai (Muslim)
Form of Muhammad used in western Africa and Thailand.
Mahamat m Central African, Thai (Muslim)
Form of Muhammad used in central Africa and Thailand.
Mahammoud m Western African (Rare)
A conflation of Muhammad with Mahmud, in this form extremely rare.
Mahamoudou m Eastern African
Mahoran musulman name
Mahari m & f Yoruba
Means "one who forgives" or "forgiver" in Yoruba.
Mahlatse m & f Sotho
Means "lucky" in Sotho.
Mahomed m South African
Form of Muhammad used by South African Muslims.
Mahrem m African, Ethiopian
The Ethiopian warrior god.
Maidei f Shona
Means "what you want" in Shona.
Maigado m Hausa
Means "possessing the throne" in Hausa.
Maikaelelo f Tswana
Means "intention" in Setswana.
Maikano f Sotho
Means "vows" in Sotho.
Maikarifi m Hausa
Means "the strong one" in Hausa.
Maikudi m Hausa
Means "possessing money" in Hausa.
Mailafia m Hausa
Means "easygoing" in Hausa.
Maïmouna f Western African
Form of Maimuna used in French-influenced western Africa.
Maimouna f Western African
Western African form of Mahmuna (see Maymunah).
Maina m Hausa
Means "prince" in Hausa.
Maipelo f Tswana
Means "gratitude" in Setswana.
Mairak f Hausa
Means "daughter of a chief" in East Hausa.
Mairama f Hausa
Variant form of Maryama.
Mairiga m Hausa
From the Hausa mài meaning "possessing" and rī̀gā meaning "gown".
Mairo f Hausa
Diminutive form of Maryama.
Maisha f Swahili (Modern)
Means "life" in Swahili.
Maita f Shona
A Shona (Zimbabwean) name that implies gratitude for something that has been done well. It may be spelt as Mayita or Mazvita depending on the area of origin of the speaker.... [more]
Maiwada m Hausa
Means "possessing wealth" in Hausa.
Majani f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "leaves (of a plant)".
Majaya m Shona
Given to the last male born of the the family born in the same year. If families have male children in a given year the last to be born normally carries the name. The year of boys.
Majekodunmi m & f Yoruba
Means "do not let it be a thing of pain" in Yoruba.
Majok m Dinka
Means "black-and-white bull" in Dinka.
Makambo m Lingala
Means "things" in Lingala.
Makana m Kongo
The first given name of the German football player Makana Baku.
Makanaka f Shona
Makanaka means "You are good". #This name is usually given in praise of God".
Makanga m & f Kongo, African Mythology
Means “Wise Person” in Kongo.
Makari m Amharic
Means "wise man" in Amharic.
Makasela m Tsonga
Means "go, crawl to towards one's goal" in Xitsonga.
Makatendeka m & f Shona
Means "you are faithful (to God)" in Shona.
Makaziwe f & m Xhosa
Means "let him/her be known" in Xhosa.... [more]
Makeba f African, African American, Caribbean
Meaning unknown, possibly a transferred usage of the African surname Makeba.... [more]
Maker m Dinka
Means "white-and-black bull" in Dinka.
Makhahlela m Tsonga
Means "beater" in Xitsonga.
Makhanani f Tsonga
Means "joy" in Xitsonga.
Makhokolotso f Sotho
Means "refuse" in Sesotho.
Makiadi m & f Kongo
Means "misfortune" in Kikongo.
Makida f African
In Ethiopia, Makida was another name for the Queen of Sheba.
Makiese m & f African, Kongo
Means "happiness" in Kikongo.
Makini m & f Swahili
Means "of good character" or "strength of character" in Swahili.
Makoi m Dinka
Means "red bull" in Dinka.
Makomborero f Shona
Means "blessings" in Shona.
Makonnen m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "nobleman, official, leader" in Amharic.
Makonnen m Ethiopian
Meaning "king, aristocrat".
Makoud m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Makunga m Swahili
Means "crazy" in Swahili.
Makungu m & f Tsonga
Means "plan" in Xitsonga.
Makuu m Swahili
This name means Great in Swahili. Known for the crocodile leader in The Lion Guard, also a name for the Swahili people. It is a male name.
Malabo f Somali
From the Somali malab meaning "honey".
Malami m Hausa
Means "scholar" in Hausa.
Maleagi m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Malachias.
Maleba m African
African name, originally from Angola
Malebogo m & f Tswana
Means "thanks" in Tswana.
Malek m Dinka
Means "brown bull" in Dinka.
Maleka f South African, African American
Possibly a variant of Malika.
Maleshoane f Sotho
Means "ladybird" in Lesotho.
Maletsatsi f Sotho
Means "sun" or "day" in Sotho.
Malick m Western African
Form of Malik 1 used in parts of western Africa.
Malidoma m Western African
According to Burkinabé writer Malidoma Somé (1956-), his name means "he who makes friends with strangers" in Dagara.
Malija f Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Maria.
Malith m Dinka
Refers to a specific kind of ox in Dinka.
Maliza f Swahili
Accomplished woman
Malkat f Northern African, Muslim
Possibly 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.
Maltiti f & m Dagbani
Means "resolve for us" in Dagbani.
Malundama f Kongo
Means "hidden things" in Kikongo.
Malusi m Zulu
Means "shepherd" in Zulu.
Malwandla m & f Tsonga
Means "hospitality" in Xitsonga.
Mama f Western African, Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Mamo m Ethiopian
This name is often used when the name of the person is unknown. (Compared Buddy).
Mamphaki f Sotho
The 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.
Mamuda m Hausa
Variant form of Muhammadu.
Mamuwalde m African
Niger-Congo
Manatsa m Shona
Means "you have made perfect" in Shona.
Mandeiya m & f Dagbani
"I have accepted", "I have collected"
Mandela m & f African American, Xhosa
Transferred use of the surname Mandela given in honour of Nelson Mandela, South African revolutionary hero and statesman... [more]
Mandisa f Xhosa, African
means "sweet"
Mangeni f & m African
means "baby who was born when there is plenty of fish" and is of Bantu origin
Mangwanani f Shona
Means "morning" in Shona.
Manie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Hermanus.
Manirambona m Rundi
Means "God watches over me" in Kirundi.
Manoka m & f Kongo
Means "rain" in Kikongo.
Mansurah f Hausa
Means "supporter, victorious" in Hausa.
Mantau m Hausa
From the Hausa mântā meaning "forget".
Manthia m Western African
Manthia Diawara (born December 19, 1953) is a Malian writer, filmmaker, scholar, cultural theorist, and art historian. Meaning unknown.
Mantso f Sotho
Means "the dark one" in Sotho.
Manute m Dinka
Means "special blessing" in Dinka.... [more]
Maouloud m Western African
Western African variant of Mouloud (chiefly Mauritanian).
Maṱoḓzi m & f Venda
Means "tears" in Tshivenda.
Mapalo m & f Bemba
Means "God's blessings" in Bemba.
Maphoi f Tswana
Means "doves" in Setswana.
Maqrin m Berber
Means "always in a good mood" in Kabyle.
Maragarita f Haya
Ruhaya form of Margaret.
Maraliese f Afrikaans (Rare)
Combination of Mara 1 and Liese.
Mardene f English (American, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Possibly a corruption of Martine influenced by Mardi, or a variant of Mardena.
Mareli f Afrikaans
Short form of Marelise.
Marelie f Afrikaans
Variant of Mareli.
Mareza f Afrikaans
Variant of Maresa.
Marial m Dinka
This 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... [more]
Mariame f Western African
Form of Maryam used in parts of western Africa.
Mariatu f Western African
Western African form of Maria.
Marinda f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Marinus.
Marini f Swahili
Means "pretty" in Swahili.
Marita f Shona
Shona form of Martha.
Mariyamu f Haya
Ruhaya form of Mariam.
Marjani f Swahili, Eastern African
Means ‘Coral’.
Marle f & m Portuguese (Brazilian), Filipino (Rare), Spanish (Latin American), South African (Rare)
Meaning unknown. This name is considered feminine, particularly in the United States, though some masculine usage is present in other communities.
Marlize f Afrikaans
Contraction of Maria and Elize (compare Marlies).
Marno m Dutch, South African, Indonesian
Masculine form of Marna or Marni or a variant of Marnix.
Marthina f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Marthinus.
Marthinus m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Martinus.
Maru m & f Amharic
Means "the honey" in Amharic.
Maru m & f Tswana
Means 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.
Maruapula m Tswana
Means "rain clouds" in Setswana.
Maryama f Arabic (Maghrebi), Somali
Maghrebi and Somali variant of Maryam.
Marye f Amharic
Means "my honey" in Amharic.
Maryke f Afrikaans, Dutch (Archaic)
Afrikaans and archaic Dutch form of Marijke.
Marzanne f Afrikaans
Contraction of Maria and Zanne.
Masana m & f Chewa
Means "daylight" in Chewa.
Masana f Tsonga
Means "sunrays" in Xitsonga.
Masegonyana m & f Tswana
Means "small blessings" in Setswana.
Masensen m Berber
means "Their Master"
Mashawila m Nsenga
Meaning manzi yabila "boiling water", Derived from Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Fall) "the smoke that thunders".
Mashgash m & f Igbo
Posh name. Meaning: Intelligence and beauty
Mashudu m & f African
Mashudu is a name used the Vha-Venda tribe in the far north of South Africa (Limpopo Province). The name means Luck
Masika f Western African
Means "(born during) the rainy season" in Swahili.
Masimba m Shona
Means "powers, energy" in Shona. Other meanings are possible.
Masingisa m Kaguru
Means "he who shakes things" in Chikaguru.
Masingita f Tsonga
Means "miracles" in Xitsonga.
Masinissa m Berber, Northern African, History
Variant transcription of Massinissa.
Masiye m & f Chewa
Means "orphan" in Chewa language.
Masiza m Tsonga
Means "the one who helps" in Xitsonga.
Masnsen m Berber
From the Amazigh mas meaning "master" and nsen meaning "of them".
Masoro f Hausa
Means "small peppercorn" in Hausa.
Massa f Berber
A term of respect meaning "Mistress" and a name usually given to high born.
Massen m Berber
A Term of respect meaning "Master" and a name given to high born.
Massinissa m Berber, Northern African, History
Means "their lord" from the consonants MSNSN, in turn derived from Tamazight mas meaning "lord" and n sen meaning "to them". This was the name of a Berber ruler and the first King of Numidia.
Masvita f Shona
Means "thank you" in Shona.
Mataan m Somali
A name from the Somali word for "twin."
Matadi m & f Kongo
Means "stone" in Kikongo.
Matemasie m & f Akan
Means "I have heard and concealed the fact" in Akan.
Matete m Kaguru
Means "finished, completed" in Chikaguru.
Matewos m Amharic
Amharic form of Matthew.
Mateyas m Amharic
Amharic form of Matthias.
‘Mathapelo f Sotho
Means "mother of prayer" in Sotho.
Mathe f Sotho
Means "saliva" in Sotho.
Matheeletša m Sotho
Means "listener" in Sotho.
Mathuselam m South African
South African form of Methuselah via its latinized form Mathusalem.
Mathys m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Mathijs.
Matidadisa m & f Shona
Means "you have done us proud" in Shona.
Matigonera m & f Shona
Means "you have done us good" in Shona.
Matimba m & f Tsonga
Means "strength" in Xitsonga.
Matinunura m & f Shona
Means "you have rescued us" in Shona.
Matinyaradza m & f Shona
Means "you have comforted us" in Shona.
Matipa m & f Shona
Means "you have given us" in Shona.
Matirangarira m & f Shona
Means "you have remembered us" in Shona.
Matiropafadza m & f Shona
Means "you have blessed us" in Shona.
Matiwos m Ethiopian, Amharic
Ethiopian, possibly Amharic verison of Matthew
Matizorodza m & f Shona
Means "you have given us rest/peace" in Shona.
Matome m Sotho (?)
A Northern Sotho translation of "Duke".
Matondo m Kongo
Means "thanksgiving" in Kikongo.
Matšeliso f Sotho
Means "consolation" in Sotho.
Matshadi f African
Setswana
Matshediso f Sotho
Means "consolation" in Sesotho.
Matshepo f Southern African
Feminine form of Tshepo.
Matsimela m Sotho
Means "roots" in Sotho.
Matthys m Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, West Frisian
Medieval Dutch form of Matthijs as well as the modern Afrikaans and West Frisian form of Matthijs. In the Netherlands, the name has survived to modern times, but it is highly rare there currently, especially when compared to its modern counterpart.... [more]
Matulumi m & f Kaguru
Means "decorations" in Chikaguru.
Matunda f & m Swahili
Means "fruit" in Swahili.
Maua f Swahili
Means "flower" in Swahili.
Mauritz m Afrikaans, Swedish, Finnish
Variant of Maurits. The "H" in the clothing company H&M's name stands for Mauritz (the original name is Hennes & Mauritz, H&M is an abbreviation).
Maveletiveni m Swazi
A famous bearer is Maveletiveni Dlamini, son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Mavhu f Shona
Means "sand" in Shona.
Mavika f Kongo
A Bisingombe and Mboma feminine name.
Mavuno m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "harvest time".
Mawanikwa f Southern African, Shona
Means "you have been found" and "married" in Shona.
Mawuena f African
god is the giver... [more]
Maxahmed m Somali
Variant of Maxamed.
Maxamad m Somali
Variant of Maxamed.
Maxamud m Somali
Somali variant of Muhammad.
Maxamuud m Somali
Somali form of Mohammad.
Maxbuub m Somali
Somali form of Mahbub.
Mayangi m & f Kongo (Modern)
Means "joy; happiness" in Kongo.
Mayen m Dinka
Means a specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Maygaag m Somali
Means "bath" in Somali.
Mayibongwe f Ndebele
Means "give thanks" in Ndebele.
Mayibongwinkosi m Ndebele
Means "give thanks to the Lord" in Ndebele.
Mayibuye m & f Ndebele
Means "let it come" in Ndebele.
Mayihlome m & f Ndebele
Means "let's take up arms" in Ndebele.
Mayingi f & m Kongo
Nicknamed: Yingi
Mayom m Dinka
A specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Mayowa m & f African
Some sources say this name means "one who brings joy".... [more]
Mazvita f Shona
Means "we are grateful" or "many thanks" in Shona.
Mbada f Shona
Means "leopard" in Shona.
Mbala m Central African
From Mbala Mbuta Biscotte, a Congolese soccer player
Mbalienhle f Ndebele, Zulu
Means "beautiful flower" in Zulu and Ndebele, from mbali "flower, flowers" and enhle "something that is beautiful of nice".
M'baŋba m & f Dagbani
"I have known them"
Mbazima f Tsonga
Means "they are tough" in Xitsonga.
Mbhoni f Tsonga
Means "witness" in Xitsonga.
Mbhurhi f Tsonga
Means "beautiful girl" in Xitsonga.
Mbi m & f Kenyang
Means "road" in Kenyang.
Mbia m & f Kenyang, Jagham
From Kenyang ḿbyáy meaning "pumpkin leaves", a plant species indigenous to Southern Nigeria.
Mbilime f Kaguru
Means "runner" in Chikaguru.
Mbo m & f Dagbani
Means "good" in Dagbani.
Mbomela m & f Lingala, Luba
Means "sixth born child" in Lingala and Luba.
Mboso m Ibibio, Nigerian
From the ibibio speaking tribe of Nigeria in West Africa.
Mboutidem m & f Ibibio
Means "faith" in Ibibio.
Mbù f Central African
A Kom name.