African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. 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.
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.
Moyo m & f Shona
Meaning “heart”.
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 & f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "health" or "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
Mqibalo m South African, Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly derived from Mgqibelo, meaning "Saturday" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mrihani f Swahili
Swahili form of Reyhan.
Msamaniso m South African, Xhosa
Possibly related to Masamanisi.
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.
Mthakathi m Zulu, Xhosa
Means "witch," from 'thakatha' meaning "to bewitch" in Xhosa or "to practice witchcraft" in Zulu.
Mthandazo m Ndebele
Means Prayer
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.
Mthuthuzeli m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "comforter, one who comforts" in Xhosa.
Muambiwa m & f Venda
Means "the one who is spoken of/about" in Tshivenda.
Mu'azu m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Muaz.
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, Afrikaans (Rare)
Meaning unknown. A known bearer was Mudene 'Dene' Smuts (1949-2016), 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.
Mugisha m Haya
Means "blessing" in Haya.
Mugoli m Kaguru
Means "rich man" in Chikaguru.
Mugume m Kiga
Means "be strong" in Rukiga.
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.
Mujuni m Haya
Means "helper" in Haya.
Mukabakama f Haya
Means "a wife of kings" in Haya.
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".
Mulokozi m Haya
Means "saviour" in Haya.
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.
Mumuni m Zarma, Western African
A Zarma name of Unknown Meaning.
Munachim f & m Igbo
Means "me and my God". It can be used as a nickname for Munachimso.
Munachimso f Igbo
Means "me and my God".
Munachiso f & m Igbo
Means "God is with me" in Igbo.
Munatas m Berber (Rare)
This name means to ‘gather around a special person’.... [more]
Munatsi m Shona
Means "one who makes perfect" in Shona.
Munesu f & m Shona
Means "God is with us" or "God is within us" in Shona.
Muneyinazvo f & m Shona
Means "what have you to do with it" in Shona.
Mungongege m Nyakyusa
Means "you should follow me" in Nyakyusa.
Mungoni m & f Shona (Rare)
May mean abiding in grace
Munonzwa m & f Shona
Meaning "You hear" or "You are one who hears", Munonzwaishe and Ishemunonzwa are longer and more specific forms of the name.
Munonzwaishe m & f Shona
It means "You Lord are one who hears" or simply, "You hear the Lord".
Munyika m Kaguru
Means "of the bush" in Chikaguru.
Muogboo m Igbo
Means "let the spirits intervene or settle the matter" in Igbo.
Murapi m Shona
Means "healer" in Shona.
Murashani m Haya
Means "fighter" in Haya.
Murhangeli m Tsonga
Means "leader" in Xitsonga.
Murhi m & f Tsonga
Means "medicine, cure" in Xitsonga.
Muringa f Kikuyu
Means "a wire" in Kikuyu.
Murisi m Tsonga
Means "shepherd" in Xitsonga.
Murtala m Nigerian
West African variant of Murtada. This was borne by Murtala Muhammed (1938-1976), a Nigerian Army general who became fourth Head of State of Nigeria.
Muruthi m Kikuyu
Means "lion" in Kikuyu.
Musa f Ndebele
Means "grace" in Ndebele.
Musanete m African, Shona
Means "do not get tired" in Shona.
Muse m Eastern African, Somali
Variant spelling of Muuse. This spelling is used outside of Somalia.
Mushana m & f Shona
It means "sunshine".
Musiwanda m Kaguru
Means "lastborn" in Chikaguru.
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’.
Musonda m & f Bemba
Means "the taster" in Bemba.
Musongwe m Kaguru
Means "fearless man" in Chikaguru.
Mustafe m Somali
Somali form of Mustafa.
Mustaphe m Somali
Somali form of Mustafa.
Mutinta f Southern African
Means “to change” or "different" in Tonga, a language spoken in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The name is traditionally given to a baby girl born after the birth of two or more consecutive sons.
Mutsa f Shona
Means "mercy" in Shona.
Mutsawashe m & f Shona
Meaning "the kindness of the Lord".
Mutshidzi m & f Venda
Means "saviour" in Tshivenda.
Mutunga m African
comes from term tunga which means to return, replace, put back in kamba. Used to name people born after the death of a person in a family. They are taken to be replacements for the departed. the feminine form is mutungwa... [more]
Mutungi m Haya
Means "he who is rich" in Haya.
Muuse m Somali
Somali form of Moses.
Muwaabe m African
East African - Lusoga ... [more]
Muxammad m Somali
Variant of Maxamed.
Muyiwa m Yoruba
Short form of Oluwamuyiwa.
Muzhiyo m Ndebele (Rare)
zulu, ndebele and xhosa name meaning "homesteads of kings"
Muzowa m & f Lunda
Means "rainy day" in Lunda.
Mvumo m Shona
Meaning "agreement; harmony, accordance".
Mvuseselo m Zulu
Means "revival" in Zulu.
Mwai m & f African, Western African
Chichewa, means "luck".... [more]
Mwaitaishe f & m Shona
Means "Thank you God" in Shona.
Mwakatumbula m Nyakyusa
Means "son of a heart" in Nyakyusa.
Mwamini f Swahili
Means "honest" in Swahili.
Mwara f Kikuyu
Means "the clever one" in Kikuyu.
Mwaura m Kikuyu
To kú aúra means to remove or relieve one of a heavy load.Mostly when a visitor came with a kiondo/load and a person took it off his/her back the remover was the mwauri
Mwaziona m & f Nsenga
This is a Nsenga name given to both boy and girls. It means "Have you seen" or "Have you seen yourselves".
Mweya f Shona
Means "soul" in Shona.
Mwezi m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "moon" or "month".
Mwiza f Rundi
It means someone good heart, appearance, character and personality. Second meaning "Beautiful"
Mwombeki m Haya
Means "the builder" in Haya.
Mwongeli f African
AFRICAN NAME FROM KENYA. USED IN KAMBA TRIBE.THE NAME IS MOSTLY USED IF FOR SOME REASON A MOTHER HAS A GIRL AFTER ANOTHER TO MEAN YOU ARE BLESSED WITH ANOTHER GIRL.ITS A FEMALE NAME.MAY ALSO BE USED TO MEAN A BLESSING
Mxolisi m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "peace maker" or "(one who) asks for forgiveness" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mylokoh m Akan
The name mylokoh stands for strength, wisdom and an alpha mentality.
Mynhardt m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Mijnhard.
Mynie f Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Mijnie.
Mzi m Xhosa
Diminutive of Mzingayi.
Mzingaye m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "there is a home because of him" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mzingayi m Xhosa
Variant spelling of Mzingaye.
Mzwandile m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "the house has expanded" in Xhosa, idiomatically referring to a growing family.
Mzwenhlanhla m Zulu
Means "home for luck" in Zulu.
Naad-o m Sidamo
Means "appreciation" in Sidama.
Naaleeye m Somali
Means "anyway" in Somali.
Naani f & m Dagbani
Means "trust" or "confidence" in Dagbani.
Nabirye f Eastern African
Meaning unknown.
Nabiyat m Ge'ez
Means "prophets" in Ge'ez.
Nadifa f Somali
Feminine form of Nadif.
Nafissatou f Western African
West African form of Nafisa.
Naha m & f Sotho
Means "land" or "world".
Naha m Sotho
land or country
Nahom m Eastern African
East African form of Nahum.
Naishewedu f Shona
Means "with our god" in Shona.
Naito f African
Origin Meru "Rich woman"
Naïvane f Kongo
Naïvane means: the one I gave in Kikongo
Najuma f Swahili
Means "abounding in joy" in Swahili.
Nakaggwa f Ganda
second child (girl) after twins
Nakedi m & f Tswana
Means "striped polecat" in Setswana.
Naki f Swahili
the first born girl in the family
Nakiso f Shona
Meaning “the beautifier; one who makes things beautiful”.
Nala f Sotho
“Prosperity” , a Sesotho name used in the motto of Lesotho
Nalado m Hausa
Means "born on a Sunday" in Hausa.
Nalane f & m Sotho
it means history in sesotho
Naleli f Sotho
Means "star" in Sotho.
Naleli-yameso f Sotho
Meaning, Morning Star in Sesotho
Namale m & f African (?)
Means "Peaceful" or "Positive"
Namari m & f African American (Rare), South African
Combination of the sounds found in names such as Jamari, Amari and Kamari.
Namatai m Shona
Namatai means "Pray or praise and worship God".
Namatembu f Ovambo
Means "moving, departure" in Ovambo.
Namatinbo m & f Ijaw
Means "a hunter" in Ijaw.
Nambi f African
Wife to the first man in Buganda Kingdom in Uganda, who is also believed to be the first living person
Nambitha f Xhosa
Means "to savour, to enjoy" in Xhosa, encouraging the child to savour life.
Nametsegang f Tswana
Means "be of good cheer" in Setswana.
Namibia f Kongo
Shield
Namiri m Kongo
Protector of the village
Namori m Western African
Used in Ivory Coast. A famous bearer is Namori Meite (born 1988) a French-born Côte d'Ivoirean basketball player currently member of the Côte d'Ivoire national basketball team.
Namutenya f Ovambo
Feminine form of Amutenya.
Nandi f Zulu
Means "sweet" in Zulu. This was the name of the mother of Shaka, famed warrior king of the Zulus in colonial South Africa (though her grave is marked Nindi).
Nangamso f & m Xhosa
Means "future" or "even tomorrow" in Xhosa, figuratively "thank you". Often intended as being part of a phrase such as ungadinwa nangomso meaning "don’t be tired tomorrow". Meant to convey gratitude, and the hope for more of the same in the future.
Nṱanganedzeni m & f Venda
Means "accept me" in Tshivenda.
Nangula f Ovambo
Feminine form of Angula.
Nantwi m & f Akan
Means "bull" or "cow" in Akan.
Napaga f Dagbani
It's a name popular with royals of the Dagbani tribe of Northern Ghana. It means the queen's mother.
Napari f & m Dagbani
it means someone born after twins
Narai f Hausa
Means "born on a Wednesday" in Sokoto Hausa.
Naravas m Berber
Personal name of Naravas, a Berber Numidian king and Hannibal's brother in law.
Nardos f Ethiopian, Biblical, Spanish
"An amazing scent. Appears in the bible as a perfume used on Jesus."... [more]
Nasara f & m Dagbani
It means ''victory'' or ''success'' in Dagbani.
Naserian f Eastern African
Means “one born during peaceful times” in Maasai.
Naserian f Eastern African
Means “the lucky one" in Samburu, a variant of Maasai language.
Nashaad f Somali
Means "vibrant" in Somali.
Nashipie f Swahili
This is a Maasai name given to young girls, meaning "joy"
Nasi f & m Amharic
Means "brass" in Amharic.
Nasicha f Western African
Name given to female children during the locust season
Nasra f Arabic, Somali, Swahili
Means 'helper, support" in Arabic.
Nassool-a m Sidamo
Means "soulmate" in Sidama.
Nassoole f Sidamo
Feminine form of Nassool-a.
Nasteexo f Somali
A name from the word meaning "advice, counsel."
Nasteho f Somali
Means "advice" or "counsel" in Somali.
Natasha f Bemba
Means “I am thankful” or "thank you" in Bemba, a Zambian language.
Nathari f Swahili
Means "prose" in Swahili.
Nathinge f Ovambo
Means "summer" in Ovambo.
Nato m South African
Diminutive of Ignatius.
Natota m & f Southern African
Means "thank you" in Lamba, a Zambian language.
Natsai f Shona
Means "make good" in Shona.
Natukunda m & f Kiga, Tooro, Nkore
Meaning unknown.
Nauwara f Nigerian
Derived from Arabic نَيِّر (nayyir) meaning "luminous, brilliant".
Navil m Berber
Berber form of Nabil.
Nayfa f Swahili
Means "benefit" in Swahili.
Nbangzaa m & f Dagbani
It means "I have known them"
Ncuti m Rwandan, English (African)
From the Kinyarwanda word incuti meaning "friend".
Ndabezinhle f Zulu
Means "good news" in Zulu.
Ndabicacile m Ndebele
Means "the story's clear" in Ndebele.
Ndabiti m Nyamwezi
Nyakyusa form of David.
Ndafadzwa f Shona
Means "I am happy" in Shona.
Ndaheni f Tsonga
Means "instruct me" in Xitsonga.
Ndakaitei f Shona
Means "What did I do?" This name is an expression of regret by a parent. Usually given by a single mother whose partner does not take responsibility of the child born.
Ndakakuda m Shona
Means "I have loved you" in Shona.
Ndakasharwa f Shona
Means "I have been chosen" in Shona.
Ndale f & m African, Western African
The younger one... [more]
Ndamukong m African
Means "House of Spears" in the Ngema tribe of Cameroon. A famous bearer is Ndamukong Suh, the defensive tackle for the college football team Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Ndanatsei f Shona
Means "Am I good?" in Shona.
Ndanshau m Chaga
Means "bull" in Chagga.
Ndarama m & f Shona
It means "gold", this name serves as a given name and a surname.
Ndewangisio m Chaga
Means "get confirmation" in Chagga.
Ndhe'neza m Tsonga
Means "the thing", implying "the secret", in Xitsonga.
Ndiane m Kaguru
Means "I have eaten with them" in Chikaguru.
Ndidiamaka f Igbo
Means "patience is very good" in Igbo.
Ndigwako f Nyakyusa
Means "I am yours" in Nyakyusa.
Ndikubwayo m Rundi
Means "I am alive thanks to God" in Kirundi.
Ndimbuni f Nyakyusa
Means "I am saved" in Nyakyusa.
Ndini m & f Dagbani
”My own”
Ndiyafhi m & f Venda
Means "where do I go?" in Tshivenda.
Ndleleni m Zulu
Means "on the road" in Zulu.
Ndochii f Shona
Means "What is this?" in Shona.
Ndodana m Ndebele
Means "son" in Ndebele.
Ndomba m Luba
Means "ask me" in Luba-Kasai.
Ndombolo f Kongo
It is the name of a Congolese music genre and dance style derived from the Congolese Rumba and Kwassa Kwassa during 1990s.