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.
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.
Mbuso m Ndebele
Means "kingdom" in Ndebele.
Mbuyi m Luba
Derived from the Luba word mbùùyì meaning "the firstborn of twins".
Mbwui m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Corruption of m̀-búi meaning "goat."
Meaza m & f Ge'ez
Means "perfume" in Ge'ez.
Mebrahtu m Tigrinya
Means "His light" in Tigrinya.
Mebrate m Amharic
Means "my lamp" in Amharic.
Mechine f African (Modern, Rare)
African name meaning "Tears/Sadness." From common dialect of Bassa. Appearance in Liberia and Ghana.... [more]
Medene m Amharic
Means "my redeemer" in Amharic.
Mediferiash-work f Amharic
Means "your means of being bold is gold" in Amharic.
Medius f & m English (African), Eastern African
Borrowed 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.
Medupe m Tswana
Means "continuous rain" in Setswana.
Meenuba m Igbo
Means "make/cause wealth" in Igbo.
Megafu m & f Igbo
Means "do for all to see" in Igbo.
Meghighda f Berber
Etymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
Mehari m Ge'ez
Means "merciful" in Ge'ez.
Mehluli m Ndebele
Means "conquerer" in Ndebele.
Meissa f Western African, Astronomy
Variant of Maïssa; from Arabic maḥīṣ meaning "shining, glittering". This is also the traditional name of Lambda Orionis, a star in the Orion constellation.
Mej m Gusii, Ibibio (Latinized, Archaic)
Ibibio form of Mike and Gusii form of Matt.
Mekdes f African
African, Ethiopia
Mekioussa f Berber (Rare)
Of Kabyle Berber origin with an unknown meaning.
Mekre m Amharic
Means "my advice" in Amharic.
Melaher f Ethiopian
Means “wisdom of god”.
Melake-berhan m Ge'ez
Means "angel of light" in Ge'ez.
Melaku m Ethiopian
Means "the angel" in Amharic.
Melokuhle m & f South African, Xhosa
Meaning ''beautiful one''.
Melubari m Ogoni
It is known among the Ogoni people of Southern Nigeria and it means "who is God?"
Membolu m Igbo
Means "do something to me and I retaliate" in Igbo.
Menari m & f Igbo
Means "do more than is expected" in Igbo.
Mene f & m Ogoni
Means "rich/ wealthy" in Khana,... [more]
Menebue m Ogoni
Means "Paramount Ruler", "Chief of a Community" or simply "A King"
Menegbo f & m Ogoni
Means "wealthy/ rich friend" in Khana,... [more]
Menelik m Ge'ez, Amharic
Means "son of the wise man" in Ge'ez and Amharic. According to the legend Menelik was the first emperor of Ethiopia. In the 10th century BC, he is said to have inaugurated the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia, so named because Menelik I is supposed to be the son of the biblical King Solomon of ancient Israel and Makeda, the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba.
Mengesha m African
A name once found mainly amongst the higher-up figures of Imperial Ethiopia, often superseding important titles of royal hierarchy. Now a much rarer name in modern Ethiopia.
Mengistu m Eastern African, Amharic
Derived from Amharic መንግሥት (mängśtə) or መንግስት (mängstə) meaning "government".
Menkam m Bamileke, African
noble child, ... [more]
Menza f Berber
Meaning unknown.
Menzi m Southern African, Zulu
Means "creator" in Zulu.... [more]
Mepoho f Eastern African
A famous bearer of the name was the Mijikenda diviner Mepoho.
Merapelo f Tswana
Means "prayers" in Setswana.
Merhawi m Tigrinya
Means "here value; here glory" in Tigrinya.
Merinda f English (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
English variant of Marinda and Afrikaans variant of Marinda.
Meseret f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "foundation" in Amharic.
Mesfin m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "monarch, noble, prince" in Amharic.
Meshesha m Amharic
Means "refuge" in Amharic.
Meshindi m Zulu
Means "victor" in Zulu.
Mesi f Yao (Modern)
Modern variant of Miesi.
Meskerem f Ethiopian
Means "September" in Ethiopian.
Mezian m Berber (Rare), Northern African (Rare)
Variant of Meziane (chiefly Algerian and Moroccan).
Meziane m Berber, Northern African
Derived from Tamazight meẓyan meaning "young, little".
Mfaanga m Dagbani
Means "bravo, well done" in Dagbani.
Mfan'bomvu m Zulu
Means "red boy" in Zulu.
Mfọn m & f Ibibio
Means "grace" in Ibibio.
Mgbemena m & f Igbo
Means "whenever it's done" in Igbo.
Mhambi f Zulu
Means "traveler" in Zulu.
Mhara f Shona
Means "impala" in Shona.
Mheho m & f Tsonga
Means "breeze" in Xitsonga.
Mhizha m Shona
Means "Ironsmith" in Shona.
Mhlava m Tsonga
Means "earth" in Xitsonga.
Mhuru m Shona
Means "calf" in Shona.
Mich m & f Luo (Modern)
"blessings"
Miehleketo m & f Tsonga
Means "thoughts" in Xitsonga.
Miempie f Afrikaans
Possibly related to Miem, Miems or Miep.
Miems f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Willemina.
Miesi f Yao
Means "water" in Yao.
Miga m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Micha 1.
Migael m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Michael.
Migiyo f Tsonga
Means "the dancer" in Xitsonga.
Mihret m & f Ge'ez, Amharic
Means "mercy", ultimately from Ge'ez ምህረት
Mijaji f Tsonga
Means "the judge" in Xitsonga.
Mika'ila m Hausa
Hausa form of Michael.
Mikal f Ethiopian (?)
This name means who's like god.
Mikateko f Tsonga
Means "blessings" in Xitsonga.
Mikhenso m & f Tsonga
Means "thanksgiving" in Xitsonga.
Minette f English (Rare), French (Rare, Archaic), Danish (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans, Filipino
Diminutive of Mina 1. This was also a nickname of Henriette, Duchess of Orléans (daughter of the 17th-century English king Charles I)... [more]
Minkah m African
Possibly means "Justice". This is the given name of an NFL player, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Minki f Afrikaans
Short form of Willemien.
Mirach m Amharic
Means "choice" in Amharic.
Mirai f Shona
Means "wait" in Shona.
Miriraishe f Shona
What upon the Lord
Miriro f & m African, Shona
Started in the early 1900's. Name was given to the second born daughter of the family. Name means "to be expected." Basically the one who was waited for.
Miru f African
Swahili
Misgana f Ethiopian, English (American, Modern, Rare)
From Amharic ምስጋና (məsgana) "glory, praise, honour; thanks, gratitude".
Misuli f Swahili
Means "muscle" in Swahili.
Mita f Bamileke
Bagangte, Cameroon
Mitiku m Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "replacement" in Amharic.
Mixo m & f Tsonga
Means "dawn, morning" in Xitsonga.
Miyelani m & f Tsonga
Means "keep quiet" in Xitsonga.
Mizani f African
African,Ghana."Chemistry, Beauty, and Balance"
Mkarkara f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "passion flower".
Mkhuleko m Ndebele
Means "prayer" in Ndebele.
Mkhumbuleni m Zulu
Means "let's remember him" in Zulu.
Mlamuleli m Ndebele
Means "one who intervenes" in Ndebele.
Mlilo f Zulu
Means "fire" in Zulu.
Mlindeli m Ndebele
Means "guardian" in Ndebele.
Mlungisi m Ndebele
Means "the one who brings order".
Mmaabo f Tswana
Means "their mother" in Tswana.
Mmagwulaku f Igbo
Means "beauty that exhausted wealth" in Igbo.
Mmaphefo f Sotho
Means "mother of cold" in Sotho.
Mmathapelo f Sotho
Means "mother of prayer" in Sotho.
Mmayen f Efik
Efik origin, Child's mother, alias for grandmother,
Mmemabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "I do love god" in Ibibio.
Mmenimabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "I do believe god" in Ibibio.
Mmenyenemem m & f Ibibio
Means "I now have peace" in Ibibio.
Mmesomachukwu m & f Igbo
Means "the kindness of God" in Igbo.
Mmini f Sotho
Means "dancer" in Sotho.
Mmoatia f Akan
This is a FAIRY from the stories about Ananse (from Ghana). She was the fairy that "no man sees". This explains why Ananse had to perform a complex trick to lure her to him.
Mmoloki m Tswana
Means "saviour" in Setswana.
Mmusi m Tswana, South African
Means "the ruler" in Tswana.... [more]
Mnotho m & f Zulu (Anglicized, Modern, Rare, ?)
Treasure or economy also see Gugu
Moagi m Tswana
Means "builder" in Tswana.
Mobiisola f Yoruba
meaning- literal translation "i gave birth to her in wealth" basically this child was born into a wealthy family,one highly esteemed in society. though the name is not gender selective, it is almost always used for females
Mobolaji f & m Yoruba
Means "born of wealth" in Yoruba.
Mobutu m Central African
Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za BangaA (/məˈbuːtuː ˈsɛseɪ ˈsɛkoʊ/; born Joseph-Desiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997) was the military dictator and President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which Mobutu renamed Zaire in 1971) from 1965 to 1997... [more]
Moctar m Western African
Form of Mukhtar used in western Africa.
Modadeola m Yoruba
Means "man wearing a crown of wealth or affluence" in Yoruba.
Modiri f Tswana
Means "the doer" in Setswana.
Modise m Southern African
Botswana name meaning, "shepherd."
Modupe f & m Yoruba
Means "I thank (God)"... [more]
Modupe-oluwa m & f Yoruba, African
Combination of Yoruba Modupe "I thank" or "thank you" and Oluwa meaning "God, lord".
Modurolọrilerioluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "one who stands on the promise of god" in Yoruba.
Moegammad m Afrikaans (Rare)
Form of Muhammad used in Afrikaans translations of the Qur'an.
Moeketsi m Sotho
It means "Multiplier/increase" in Sotho
Moeletsi m Sotho
Means "advisor" in Sesotho.
Moeng m Tswana
Means "guest, visitor" in Setswana.
Mofenyi m Tswana
Means "the conquerer" in Setswana.
Mofolorunsọ m & f Yoruba
Means "one who is placed in god's care" in Yoruba.
Mofoluwakemi f Yoruba
Means "given for the lord's blessing" in Yoruba.
Mogad m Amharic
Means "wave" in Amharic.
Mogakolodi m Tswana
Means "one who advises" in Setswana.
Mogapi m Tswana
Means "conqueror" in Tswana.
Mogas m Amharic
Means "dignity" in Amharic.
Moges m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "charm, elegance, grace" in Amharic.
Mogotsi m Tswana
Means "fire builder" in Setswana.
Mohamadou m Western African
Form of Muhammad used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Mohand m Arabic (Maghrebi), Berber
Alternate transcription of Muhannad chiefly used in Northern Africa. It is also used as a Berber form of Muhammad.
Mohapi m Sotho
Means "victor" in Sotho.
Mohato m Sotho
Means "step" in Sesotho.
Mohau m Sotho
Means "pity" or "mercy" in Sesotho.
Mohombi m Central African
From Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo, known professionally as Mohombi, a Swedish-Congolese singer-songwriter and dancer.
Moipone f Sotho
Means "self-admirer" in Sotho.
Mojalefa m Sotho
Means "heir" in Sesotho.
Mojerisolaoluwa f & m Yoruba
I am a witness of God's goodness
Moji f Yoruba
Means "I rise" or "I wake" in Yoruba. It is often used as a short form of names beginning with moji, such as Mojisola.
Mojoyinade m & f Yoruba
Means "I enjoyed the splendor of being royalty" in Yoruba.
Mokgadi f Sotho, South African
Means "a girl among boys" in Sotho, often given to a daughter born after several sons.... [more]
Mokgethi m Sotho
Variant form of Mokhethi.
Mokhethi m Sotho
Means "chooser" in Lesotho.
Molapo m Sotho
Means "stream" or "river" in Sotho.
Molara f Yoruba
Diminutive of Omolara.
Molatadi m Sotho
Means "one who denies all" in Sotho.
Molayoninuoluwa f & m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "I have joy in the Lord" in Yoruba.
Molefi m Sotho
means "payer" in Sesotho.
Moluleloa m Sotho
Means "we have awaited your arrival" in Lesotho.
Momodou m African
Momodou means Mohammad it is an african name coming from an arabic name.... [more]
Momulu m Western African
Of unknown meaning.... [more]
Mongameli m Ndebele
Means "leader" in Ndebele.
Monja f German, Norwegian (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Croatian (Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch
Variant transcription of Russian Моня (see Monya).
Monkgomotsi m Tswana
Means "my comforter" in Setswana.
Montlenyane f Tswana
Means "beautiful one" in Setswana.
Monubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Monday" in Ijaw.
Monyyak m Dinka
Means "man of the drought" in Dinka.
Moomba f Bemba (?)
Variant of Mumba.
Mor m & f Luo (Modern)
"happiness"
Moradeke f Yoruba
Means "I have gotten something precious to pamper" in Yoruba.
Morena m Sotho
Means "chief" in Sotho.
Morenike f Yoruba
Means "I have found someone to pamper" in Yoruba.
Moriba m African
The name Moriba originates from the Mali empire(Mandingo). The name means "a big and powerful man" in the region.
Morolaoluwa f Yoruba
Means "I have seen the slender of the lord God" in Yoruba.
Morowa f Akan
Means "queen" in Akan.
Mosa m & f Sotho
Means "grace" in Sotho.
Mosantu m & f Lingala
Variant of Santu.
Mosela f Sotho
Means "tail" in Sotho, idiomatically meaning "the last one" or "last child".
Mosetsanagape f Tswana
Means "a girl again" in Setswana.
Mosidi f Tswana, Sotho
Means "soot" in Sotho and Tswana.
Mosimanegape m Tswana
Means "a boy again" in Setswana.
Mote m Eastern African
Means "blessing; blessed" in Hehe, spoken in Tanzania.
Motema m & f Lingala
Means "heart" in Lingala.
Motheo m South African
Allegedly means "foundation" in Tswana. It is said to normally be given to a child who is viewed as the foundation of the family. Normally a first born. It signifies a new life or re-birth.
Mothusi m Tswana
Means "helper" in Setswana.
Motimifagha f & m Ijaw
Means "I will not end like this" in Ijaw.
Motlagomang f & m Southern African, Tswana, Sotho
Means "who are you going to?" in Tswana.
Motlalepula f Tswana
Means "she came with rain" in Setswana.
Motlalepule m Sotho
Means "rain bringer" in Sesotho.
Motsamai m Sotho
Means "traveller" in Sesotho.
Motshegetsi m Tswana
Means "supporter" in Setswana.
Motsi m & f Shona
Means "first one" or "one who has matted hair" in Shona.
Motsumi m Sotho
Means "seeker" in Sesotho.
Mouhamadou m Western African
Form of Muhammad used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Mouhamed m Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Arabic alternate transcription of Muhammad chiefly used in northern Africa as well as the form used in parts of western Africa.
Moulay m Northern African
From an honorific title used by descendants of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty of Morocco.
Mountaga m African
Meaning unknown.
Moustaphe m Western African
West African variant of Mustafa.
Mozisi m Shona
Shona form of Moses.
Mpahlela f Tsonga
Means "pray for" in Xitsonga.
Mpanko f & m Dagbani
Means "am not alone" in Dagbani.
Mpawenimana f Rundi
Means "I was awarded by God" in Kirundi.
Mpelegang f Tswana
Means "put me on your back" in Setswana.
Mpendulo f Zulu
Means "reply" in Zulu.
Mpfareleli m & f Venda
Means "forgive me" in Tshivenda.
Mphikeleli m Zulu
Means "he who perseveres" in Zulu.
Mphoetsile f Tswana
Means "the gift was brought" in Setswana.
Mphonyana m & f Tswana
Means "small gift" in Setswana.
Mphoyame m & f Tswana
Means "my gift" in Setswana.
Mpilo m Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "life" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mpoki m Nyakyusa
Means "savior" in Nyakyusa.
Mpule f Southern African
This is the name of Mpule Kwelagobe, she is a Botswana politician, businesswoman, model, and beauty pageant title holder, who was crowned Miss Universe 1999 in Trinidad & Tobago.
Mpumelelo m Zulu
Means "success" in Zulu.
Mpumi f & m African
Means 'survivor' in Zulu
Mrihani f Swahili
Swahili form of Reyhan.
Msengi m African
Tsonga and Shangaan origins
Msimuko m & f Tumbuka
Means "crossing over" in Tumbuka.
Msizi m Zulu
From Zulu umsizi "helper, aide".
Mswati m Swazi
Two famous bearers of this name are Mswati II (1825-1868) and Mswati III (1968 -), Kings of Swaziland. Mswati is not their birth name but their name as monarchs.
Mtambo m & f Chewa
Means "clouds" in Chewa.
Mthandeni f Zulu
Means "love her" in Zulu.
Mthobeli m Xhosa
Means "the obedient one" in Xhosa.
Mthulisi m Ndebele
Means "one who consoles" in Ndebele.
Mthunzi f Zulu
Means "shade" in Zulu.
Muambiwa m & f Venda
Means "the one who is spoken of/about" in Tshivenda.
Muchazvireva m Shona
Means "you will say it" in Shona.
Muchena m Shona
One who is white or light skin tone. Or Blessing in Ndau dialect of Shona
Mudan f Somali
Means "merit, deserve" in Somali.
Mudene f South African, English (African, Rare, ?), Afrikaans (Rare)
Of unknown meaning. Famous bearer is Mudene "Dene" Smuts: a South African politician.
Mudiso m Kongo
Kongo form of Maurice and Morris.
Mufaro f Shona
Means "happiness" in Shona.
Mugeni m & f Kaguru
Means "stranger" in Chikaguru.
Mugoli m Kaguru
Means "rich man" in Chikaguru.
Mugwe m African
The name Mugwe is common among the Kikuyu and Ameru of Kenya on the East coast of Africa.... [more]
Muḥand m Kabyle
Variant of Muḥend.
Muḥemmed m Kabyle
Kabyle form of Muhammad.
Muḥend m Kabyle
Kabyle form of Mohand.
Muhluri m & f Tsonga
Means "conqueror, victor" in Xitsonga.
Muhtari m Hausa
Hausa form of Mukhtar.
Muh'uc m Berber
Amazigh diminutive form of Mohammed.
Múkabi m Kikuyu
In Kikuyu maasai intermarriage this name was given to a boy born of that relationship in that referred to the maasai as ukabi
Mukai f Shona
Means "be alert; wise-up" in Shona.
Mukejuwa f Kaguru
Means "sun's wife" in Chikaguru.
Mukhethwa m & f Venda
Means "the chosen one" in Tshivenda.
Mulalo m Venda
Means "peace" in Tshivenda.
Mulatu m Amharic
Means "the abundance" in Amharic.
Mulele m African, Swahili
"Flying man," "man who flies," or "man of flight." The prefix "mu-" expresses "man of" or "man from" in the Swahili language. One interpretation would be that this is approximately equal to "angel," but because there are numerous parts of Africa where there are lots of devout Christians, I would lean towards the interpretation "man who runs quickly."
Mulogo m Eastern African
Means "a wizard".
Mulu m Amharic
Means "complete, perfect" in Amharic.
Mulugeta m Amharic
Means "he is all Lord" in Amharic.
Mulweri m Tsonga
Means "defender, advocate" in Xitsonga.
Mumba m & f Bemba
Means "inside the house" in Bemba.
Mumbe f African
From term 'umba' which means create. Means beautiful one. Used among the Kamba community in kenya. Related to mumbi from the kikuyu which means creator. both derived from 'umba' to create.
Munachim f & m Igbo
Means "me and my God". It can be used as a nickname for Munachimso.