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.
Akúá f Akan
Variant of Akua.
Akunna f Igbo
Means "father's wealth" in Igbo, from aku meaning "property, wealth" and nna meaning "father".
Akuwueziuka f & m Igbo
Means "prosperity is a good talk" in Igbo.
Akwa m Efik, Ibibio
Means "elder, senior" in Efik and Ibibio.
Akwaowo m Ibibio
Means "great man" in Ibibio.
Akwasi m Akan
variant of Kwasi
Akwenye m Ovambo
Means "spring (season)" in Ovambo.
Akwete f Western African
Means "eldest of twins" in Ga.
Akwokwo f African
Means "younger of twins" in Ga.
Alabrah m Ijaw
Means "how long" in Ijaw.
Aladeinyefa f & m Ijaw
Means "nothing is superior to royalty" in Ijaw.
Alaere f Ijaw
Means "queen, woman of substance" in Ijaw.
Alafia f & m Yoruba
Means "peace" in Yoruba.
Alame m Amharic
Means "my world" in Amharic.
Alaowei m Ijaw
Means "noble man" in Ijaw.
Alata f Ijaw
Means "royal wife" in Ijaw.
Alatari m & f Ijaw
Means "king's love" or "love of royalty" in Ijaw.
Alawo f & m Yoruba
Alawo means "white, green" in Yoruba.... [more]
Alayingi f Ijaw (Rare)
Means "royal mother" in Ijaw.
Alazar m Ethiopian
Meaning, "God is my help."
Alazidei m Ijaw
Meaning "I have given birth to royalty" in Ijaw.
Alazimo f & m Ijaw
Means "born into royalty" in Ijaw.
Albarka f Hausa
Feminine form of Barak 2.
Aldjya f Kabyle
Means "doll" in Kabyle.
Aleeki m Somali
Means "brave lion" in Somali.
Alejehen m & f Bandial
Means "the one who trivialises things" in Bandial.
Alek f Eastern African, Dinka
Means "black-and-white cow" in Dinka.... [more]
Alemu m Amharic
Means "they dreamt" in Amharic.
Alera f & m Ogoni
Means "enough" or "it is enough" in Khana.
Aletta f Dutch, Swedish (Archaic), Afrikaans, Icelandic (Modern, Rare), Hungarian
Archaic Swedish diminutive of Alhet and Dutch variant of Aleida as well as a Hungarian adoption of the Dutch name... [more]
Alhajiahmad m Western African (Modern)
Combination of Alhaji meaning "the pilgrim" with Ahmad meaning "most commendable, most praiseworthy".
Alheri f & m Dagbani
Means "gift" or "kindness" in Dagbani.
Aliaune m Western African (Rare)
The first of the given names of the musician known as Akon (1973-).
Alika f Nigerian
Means “most beautiful” in Nigerian.
Alile f Yao
Means "she weeps" in Yao.
Alimata f Western African
Form of Alima used in western Africa.
Alimazi f Amharic
Means "diamond" in Amharic.
Alinda f Dutch, Afrikaans, Finnish, Swedish (Rare), Hungarian, Gascon
Dutch, Afrikaans, Finnish, Swedish and Hungarian contracted form of Adelinda and Gascon contracted form of Aidelina.
Aliou m Western African
Form of Ali 1 used in parts of western Africa.
Alioune m Western African
Form of Ali 1 used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Alitash f & m Ethiopian
Means "may I not lose you"
Aliza f Hungarian, Basque, Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans
Basque form of Alice, Hungarian variant of Alíz and Dutch and Afrikaans variant of Alisa.
Allswell m & f Western African (Rare), English (African, Rare, ?)
Presumably from the English phrase all's well.
Almasi f Swahili
Means "diamond" in Swahili.
Almaz m & f Tatar, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Azerbaijani, Eastern African, Amharic
Means "diamond" in various languages, all derived from Persian الماس (almas). It is only used as a masculine name in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan while it is feminine in Azerbaijan and Ethiopia.
Alongi m & f Lingala
Means "victorious" in Lingala.
Alouette f English (Modern, Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Spanish (Mexican, Rare)
Derived from French alouette "lark, skylark". Alouette is a popular Quebecois children's song, commonly thought to be about plucking the feathers from a lark. Although it is in French, it is well known among speakers of other languages as many US Marines and other Allied soldiers learned the song while serving in France during World War I and took it home with them, passing it on to their children and grandchildren.... [more]
Alozie f Nigerian
From the Nigerian, meaning "branch".
Altine f Hausa
From the Hausa word Lī̀tìnîn "Monday". This name is traditionally given to girls born on Monday.
Aluoch f Luo
Means "born on overcast morning" in Luo.
Aluwani m & f Venda
Means "be prosperous" or "grow up" in Tshivenda.
Alzena f Indonesian (Rare), South African (Rare)
Possibly derived from Arabic النِسَاء‎ (an-nisāʾ) meaning "the woman".
Amadika f African
Is of African-Rhodesia origin and means "to be beloved".
Amahoro m & f Rundi
From Amohoro meaning “Peace” in Rundi.
Amaitari m Ijaw
Means "the town loves me" in Ijaw.
Amakai f & m Western African
Meaning unknown.
Amakama m Ijaw
Means "feast for the town" in Ijaw.
Amakedi m Ijaw
Means "look upon the town" in Ijaw.
Amaku m & f Efik
Of Eniong Origin
Amalu m Berber
Means "shadow" in Tamazight.
Aman m Tigrinya
Means "handsome" in Tigrinya.
Amanar m Berber
Means "Orion (constellation)" in Amazigh.
Amandla f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "power, strength" in Xhosa and Zulu.... [more]
Amani f Swahili
Means "peace" in Swahili.
Amani f Tigrinya
Means "faith" in Tigrinya.
Amankwah m Akan, Western African
Comes from Akan aman meaning ‘nation(s)’ + kwa meaning ‘free’.
Amanuel m Tigrinya
Variant of Emanuel.
Amanyire f & m Eastern African, Nyoro, Tooro, Nkore, Kiga
Means "God knows" in Nyoro, Tooro, Nkore, and Kiga.
Amarachukwu f Nigerian, Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo. (See Amara and Chukwu).
Amari m African, Yoruba, Western African
A noted bearer was a Damel of Cayor, Amari Ngoné Ndella, who ruled from 1790 AD to 1809 AD. The Kingdom of Cayor was one of the largest of most powerful kingdoms in what is now Senegal, existing from 1549 AD to 1879 AD.
Amastane m Northern African, Berber
Variant transcription of Amastan.
Amayas m Berber
Means "cheetah" in Tamazight.
Amaynu m Berber
Means "new" in Amazigh.
Amazie f & m Zulu
Happy and beloved
Amazigh m Northern African, Berber
From Tamazight ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ (Amaziɣ), which is the self-designation of the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa. The name itself is of unknown meaning, though folk etymologies claim the meaning of "free-man", derived from Taznatit (Gurara) aze meaning "to be strong" and Tamasheq jeɣeɣ meaning "to be brave".
Ambelu m & f Amharic
Possibly means "commander" in Amharic.
Ambesa m Ethiopian (Modern)
The meaning of this Ethiopian names is "lion".
Ambesa f Tigrinya
Means "lioness" in Tigrinya.
Ambilike m Nyakyusa
Means "He heard me" in Nyakyusa.
Ambo m & f Efik
Amburo f Somali
Transferred use of the surname Amburo.
Amefia m Ewe
Amefia means 'people's king' in Ewe. Amefia is a surname that has significant transferred usage to a given name.
Amenaghawon f & m Western African, Edo
Literally translated to "the water you shall drink" in Edo, from the proverb Amen na gha won ighi le se omwan rhae, meaning "the water you shall drink will surely come to be", implying that what is destined to be, will be.
Amenzu m Kabyle
Means "the first" in Kabyle.
Amesemi f Eastern African, African Mythology
Amesemi was goddess of the ancient Kingdom of Kush, and wife of the god Apedemak.
Amessan m Berber
Means "wise" in Tamazight.
Ametepee m Ewe
Not available.
Amewusika f Ewe
Means "people are more valuable than material things" in Ewe.
Ameyo f Akan
Means "Saturday" in Akan.
Ameziane m Berber, Northern African
Variant of Meziane (chiefly Algerian and Moroccan).
Amêzyan m Berber
Means "cadet" or "small" in Amazigh.
Amibesa f Amharic
Means "lioness" in Amharic.
Amigaat m & f Bandial
Means "He/she has a skinny leg" in Bandial.
Amile m Zulu
something keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.
Amilna f Southern African
Amilna Estêvão is an Angolan model.
Aminatta f Western African (Rare)
Variant of Aminata. This is borne by Aminatta Forna (1964-), a British writer of Scottish and Sierra Leonean descent.
Amino f Somali, African
Somali variant of Amina.
Amlan f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé mlan "Wednesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Wednesday".
Amleset f Tigrinya
Means "she made it return" in Tigrinya.
Ammenguyyah m Bandial
Means "he has many graves" in Bandial.
Amnay m Berber
Means "knight" in Amazigh.
Amogechukwu f Igbo
Means "no one knows God's timing" in Igbo.
Amogelang m & f South African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "welcome, receive or accept the child or situation".
Amohelang m Sotho
Means "receive" in Sotho.
Amoin f Baoulé
Derived from Baoulé mɔnnɛn "Sunday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Sunday".
Amoke f & m Yoruba
Means "loving stroke" in Yoruba.
Amondi f Swahili
Swahili form of Amani.
Amoré f Afrikaans (Modern)
Afrikaans form of Amore.
Ampie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Abraham.
Amri m Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Swahili
Means "my command" from Arabic أمر ('amr) meaning "order, command, decree".
Amron m Amharic
Meaning you wanted a certain masculine thing. Calling a baby boy Amron could mean that you wanted that baby.
Amukelani m & f African, Tsonga
Means "acceptance" in Tsonga.
Amukelo m & f Tsonga
Means "acceptance" in Xitsonga.
Amukudzaishe m Shona
It is a name that means, "He has put the Lord in a high place" or "He has exalted the Lord", a shorter version of the name is Amukudza.
Amul-yaakaar m & f Wolof
Means "she/he has no hope" in Wolof. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
Amunime m Ovambo
Means "big lion" in Ovambo.
Amusa f Southern African
It is a Silozi or Lozi Name. Silozi or Lozi is a Zambian language.
Amutenya m Ovambo
Means "midday" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born during the afternoon.
Amyoli f South African
Name of South African origin, meaning "sweet and calm".
Anaishe f & m Shona
Derived from Shona anashe, meaning "who is with God".
Anaiya f African
Similar to Anaya meaning "look up to god".
Anamzooya m Dagbani
Means "your power is great" in Dagbani.
Anané m Akan
Means "fourth born" in Akan.
Ananeya m Ethiopian (Modern, Archaic)
Originates from the name 'Hananiah'
Ananse m Akan
Variant of Anansi.
Anansia f African
Feminine form of Anansi.
Anarouz m Berber, Northern African
Variant transcription of Anaruz.
Anaruz m Berber, Northern African
Means "hope" in Tamazight.
Anasa f Swahili
Means "joy" in Swahili.
Anazia f African American (Modern), Nigerian
Transferred use of the surname Anazia.
Anbesa m Amharic (Modern)
Means "Lion" in Amharic.
Anbessa m Tigrinya
Means "lion" in Tigrinya.
Andani m Dagbani
Family name of one of the royal gates of Dagbong. Inherited traditional name".
Andereya m & f Nyoro, Ganda, Kiga, Tooro
Nyoro, Ganda, Tooro and Kiga variant of Andrew and Andrea 2.
Andi m & f Dagbani
Means "you will win" or "victor" in Dagbani.
Andino m & f Efik, Ibibio
Means "God the giver" in Ibibio and Efik.
Andisiwe f & m Xhosa
Means "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.
Andricia f Afrikaans (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Andriesia.
Andrietta f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Romansh
Swedish and Afrikaans variant of Andriette and Romansh feminine form of Andriu.
Andronica f South African, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Feminine form of Andronicus. This is also the Latinized form of Andronika.
Andronika f Ancient Greek, Greek (Rare), Greek (Cypriot, Rare), Bulgarian (Rare), Albanian (Rare), South African
Feminine form of Greek Andronikos and Bulgarian Andronik. This name was borne by Andronika 'Donika' Arianiti (1428-1506), also known as Donika Kastrioti, the wife of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, leader of a revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
Andulile m Nyakyusa
Means "He helped me" in Nyakyusa.
Andwele m Swahili
Means "God brings me" in Swahili.
Andzani m & f Tsonga
Means "multiply, grow" in Xitsonga.
Andzile m & f Tsonga
Means "multiplied and increased" in Xitsonga.
Anebdad m Berber
Means "support" in Amazigh.
Aneke f Afrikaans
Variant of Anneke.
Anekwe m Igbo
Means "let the gods not agree to bad things" in Igbo.
Anele m & f Zulu
Means "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.
Anemi f Shona
It means "He (the Lord) is with you", or "one who is with you".
Anenjere m & f Shona
Meaning "one who has wisdom", this name can be shortened to Njere.
Anesu f Shona
A Shona name for girls. It means "God is with us".
Anesuishe f & m Shona
Meaning "the Lord is with us", also a longer form of the name Anesu.
Anfani m & f Dagbani
Means "benefit" in Dagbani.
Angabiirwe m & f Kiga
Means "he/she was given to me" in Rukiga.
Angari f Eastern African, Kikuyu
Variant of Wangari. Also a surname.
Angavu m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "clear, lucid".
Angula m Ovambo
Means "morning" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born in the morning.
Angweng f Luo
"birthed during the season of white ants (termites, i.e. rainy season)"
Aniamaowo f Efik
Means "who likes you" in Efik.
Aniebietabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "Who is like god?" in Ibibio.
Aniefiok m & f Nigerian, Ibibio
Means "who knows tomorrow?" in Ibibio.
Aniekan m & f Efik
Diminutive of Aniekanabasi.
Aniekanabasi m & f Western African, Ibibio, Efik
Means "who is greater than God?" in Ibibio and Efik.
Aniekpeno m & f Ibibio
Means "Who would have given me?" in Ibibio.
Anietie m Efik
Means "who could you compare to God?" in Efik.
Anindo f Luo
means that the mother slept a lot during pregnancy
Anir m Berber, Northern African
Means "angel" in Tamazight.
Anisung f & m Dagbani
Means "good intention" in Dagbani.
Aniyom m & f Efik
Anje f Dutch, Afrikaans, Flemish
Diminutive of An.
Anjolaoluwa f Yoruba
Enjoying the blessings/wealth of God
Ankia f Afrikaans
Variant of Ankie.
Ankoma m Western African, Akan
Means "last born of parents" in Akan.
Annaleen f Afrikaans
Contraction of Anna and names ending in -leen, such as Heleen and Magdaleen.
Annan m Akan
Variant of Anan 1.
Anneline f Afrikaans, Dutch, Dutch (Antillean), French (Archaic), Danish, Norwegian
Dutch and Afrikaans variant of Annelien as well as a Danish and Norwegian combination of Anne 1 and Line (and thus a cognate of Annelien) as well as a Danish, Norwegian and archaic French diminutive of Anne 1 found up to the 1700s in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
Annobea f Western African
W. African, mainly Ghana.
Anoeschka f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Anuschka. This is borne by Namibian author Anoeschka von Meck (1967-).
Anofara m & f Shona
Meaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Anoni m Swahili
Variation of Anno.
Antobam f Akan
Means "posthumous child" in Fante. It is typically given to a child whose father died before they were born.
Anuarite f Central African (Rare)
Of uncertain origin, allegedly meaning "one who laughs at war". This is best known as the name of the Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta (1939-1964), a Congolese nun who was killed at the age of 24 during the Congo Crisis; she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Añuget m & f Bandial
Means "the black one" in Bandial.
Anuoluwapo m & f Yoruba
Means "God's mercy is plenty" in Yoruba.
Anwilika f Igbo
Means "joy is greater" in Igbo.
Anya-kati m & f Afizere
Means "favour" in Afizere.
Anyang f Luo
Means "crocodile" in Luo.
Anyango f Luo
Meaning born in the mid morning
Anyim m Nigerian
A notable bearer is Anyim Pius Anyim, a Nigerian politician.
Anzansi m & f Dagbani
Means "courage" or "persistence" in Dagbani.
Anzar m Berber
Means "god of rain" in Amazigh.
Anzél f Afrikaans
Variant of Anzelle.
Anzelle f Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Ancelle.
Aondongu m Tiv
Means there is a God
Aoro f Luo
"born during a very dry season"
Aoua f Western African
Variant of Awa. A notable bearer was Malian independence activist Aoua Kéita (1912-1980).
Apaadi m Yoruba
Means "hell" in Yoruba.
Apapa m Ijaw
Means "groundnut" in Ijaw.
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Aphiwe m & f African
Means "given" in Zulu.
Apiyo f Luo
"firstborn of twins"
Apolot f Eastern African
Origin- Iteso people of eastern Uganda and Western Kenya, from the Ateso language, a derivative of the Teso-Turkana language and eastern Nilotic culture. ... [more]
Apputi m & f Bandial
Means "the tiny one" in Bandial.
Araba f African
Girl born on a Tuesday, in Akan. (Same as Abena)
Arabang f Sotho
Means "reply" in Sotho.
Arachie m & f Igbo
Possibly means "to have chosen a portion ahead of another; to supplant" in Igbo.
Aragsan f Somali
Means "see" in Somali.
Aralola f Yoruba
Means "family is wealth" in Yoruba.
Aranchi f Tigrinya
Means "orange (fruit)" in Tigrinya.
Araya m Tigrinya
Means "leader by example" in Tigrinya.
Archibong m Efik
Anglicised version of the Name Asibong.... [more]
Ardo m Fula
Meaning "chief" or "ruler".
Areksim m Berber
Means "caracal" in Amazigh.
Arenaya f Sotho
Means “He (God) gave us” in Sesotho.
Areneha f Sotho (Rare)
Means "he gave us".
Areneha f Sotho (Modern)
He gave us, God being the ‘He’
Aret f Efik
Means "born on a market day" in Efik.