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.
Sifa m & f Swahili
Means "Praise"
Sifaw m Ancient Berber, Berber
Means "torch; ray of light" in Amazigh.
Sihawukele m Ndebele
Means "have mercy on us" in Ndebele.
Sihon m Western African
Masculine name often found in Burkina Faso & neighboring regions.
Síilene m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) make (birds) fly" in Bandial.
Sijuola f Yoruba
Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Sikena f English (American, Rare), African
Transferred use of the surname Sikena.
Sikhalele m Tsonga
Means "outcry" in Xitsonga.
Sikhangezile f Ndebele
Means "we're receiving" in Ndebele.
Sikhethiwe f Ndebele
Means "we are chosen" in Ndebele.
Sikhulekile f Ndebele
Means "we prayed" in Ndebele.
Sikhululekile m & f Ndebele
Means "we are free" in Ndebele.
Siku m & f Swahili
Means "day" in Swahili.
Silam f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "peace" in Amharic.
Silibele m Ndebele
Means "we're unaware" in Ndebele.
Silina m Berber
Means "the sunsets " or "charm "
Silina f Berber
Means "sunset" or "charm"
Silindile f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "we are waiting" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Silondile f Zulu
Means "has kept us, has protected us" in Zulu.
Siman f Berber (Rare)
Siman stands for 'two souls', referring to parents, the name in away implies the child is their combination or fruit.
Simangaliso f Ndebele
Means "miracle" in Ndebele.
Simangele f South African, Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.
Simanye f Xhosa
Means "unite us" in Xhosa.
Simbarashe m Shona
Means "power of God" in Shona
Simbiso f Shona
Means "One who strengthens or source of encouragement".
Simbo m Chaga
Means "harvest, divine gift" in Chagga.
Simdingile m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly means "we need this", derived from Xhosa and Zulu dinga meaning "to need, to require".
Simera f Arabic, Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "good listener" in Arabic.
Simi f Yoruba
Short form of Simidele.
Simidele f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba. ... [more]
Simileoluwa f & m Yoruba
I rest on the Lord
Simo f Kaguru
Means "story, legend" in Chikaguru.
Simosihle f South African, Zulu
Means "beautiful feeling" in Zulu.
Simphiwe m & f Zulu
Meaning "we have been given him/her" in Zulu.
Simretab m Ge'ez
Means "service of the Father" in Ge'ez.
Simukai m Shona
Means "rise up" in Shona.
Simuyobewe m & f Rundi
Means "I know him/her" in Kirundi.
Sinazo f Xhosa
Means "we have it" in Xhosa.
Sindisa m & f Southern African (Rare), Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu sindisa meaning "save, redeem, rescue".
Sindisiwe f Zulu
Means "saved" in Zulu.
Sinedu f Eastern African
Ethiopian name.
Sinegugu f Zulu
Means "we have treasures" in Zulu.
Sinenhlanhla f Zulu
Means "we have luck" in Zulu, from sine "we have" and inhlanhla "luck".
Sinethemba f South African, Zulu
Means "we have hope" in Zulu.
Sinmiloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "rest in the lord" in Yoruba.
Sintayehu f Ethiopian
Meaning "what I have been through" or "what I have seen."
Siphamandla m South African, Zulu
Means "give us strength" in Zulu.
Siphelele m Zulu
Means "we are complete" in Zulu.
Siphephelo f Zulu
Means "refuge" in Zulu.
Siphesihle m Zulu
Means "beautiful gift" in Zulu.
Siphilanzima m & f Ndebele
Means "we are surviving hardships" in Ndebele.
Siphokazi f Zulu
Feminine form of Sipho.
Siphosami f Shona
Means "my gift, present" in Shona.
Siphosomzi m Zulu
Means "freedom, joyful, hard worker" in Zulu.
Sípimbore m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) face each other" in Bandial.
Sira f Ogoni
Means "first daughter" in Khana.
Siraad f Somali
Means "lantern" in Somali.
Siri f African
Kenya-Tanzania... [more]
Sirlord m Western African
Probably composed from the English words sir and lord.
Sisaye f Amharic
The feminine form of Sisay.
Sisi f African
Means "born on a Sunday" in Fante.
Sisipho f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "it is a gift" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Sitefanu m Yoruba (Rare)
Yoruba form of Stephen.
Sithabisile f Ndebele
Means "we are very happy" in Ndebele.
Sithandazile f Ndebele
Means "we prayed" in Ndebele.
Sithandilizwe m & f Ndebele
Means "we love our country" in Ndebele.
Sithenjiwe f Ndebele
Means "we are trusted" in Ndebele.
Sitota m Amharic
Means "gift" in Amharic.
Sitshengisiwe f Ndebele
Means "we were shown" in Ndebele.
Sivuyile m South African, Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Siya f & m English (American, Modern, Rare), South African
As an English feminine name, it is likely a modern respelling of Sia.... [more]
Siyamthanda f & m Xhosa
Means "we love him/her" in Xhosa.
Siyanda m Zulu
Means "we are increasing" in Zulu.
Siyavuya m Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Sizakele f & m Zulu
Means "be helped, be assisted" in Zulu.
Sizani f Zulu
Means "you all help" in Zulu.
Skhumbuzo m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "reminder, remembrance" in Zulu and Xhosa.
S'kulekile m Zulu
Means “it’s good” in Zulu.
Smiso m South African
Means "rule".
Sogo m & f Yoruba
Means "makes glory", a short form of Oluwasogo.
Solomoni m Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Solomon.
Solomzi m Xhosa
Means "eye of the home" in Xhosa, figuratively "guardian of the family".
Solonzi m Xhosa (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Solomzi.
Somayina f & m Igbo
The name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."
Somto m Igbo
The name Somto is a name with Igbo origin. In Igbo, Somto is a shortened form of Somtochukwu, which translates to "Join me in praising God" or "Rejoice with me in the Lord."
Somtochukwu f & m Western African, Igbo
Means "praise God with me" in Igbo.
Sona f Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
Songa'nzila f Kongo
Means “the guide” in Kongo.
Sonnika f Afrikaans
Either an elaboration of Sonya or derived from the German word Sonne "sun".
Sonomo f & m Ijaw
Means "seven" in Ijaw. It is typically given to a seventh child, or a child born prematurely in the seventh month.
Sonwabile m Xhosa
Means "we are content" or "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Sooyaan m Somali
Means "make up" in Somali.
Sope m & f Yoruba
Means "be grateful" in Yoruba.
Sordum f & m Ogoni
Means "time of life" in Khana.
Sorelle f Central African
Unknown, possibly an invented name with the suffix -elle. It is specially popular in Cameroon.
Sorle f & m Ogoni
Khana for "there's time" (as in, you have time to do something)... [more]
Sorniabari f & m Ogoni
Means "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [more]
Sotonte m Ijaw
Means "Heaven/God has decided"
Souiri m Arabic (Maghrebi), Northern African
From the surname Souiri, meaning from the Moroccan city of Essaouira
Souleymanou m Western African
Form of Sulayman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Soumaïla m Western African
Form of Isma'il used in parts of French-influenced western Africa (particularly Mali).
Sowunmi m Yoruba, African
Means "the sorcerer is attractive to me" in Yoruba.
Soyaphi m Tsonga
Means "where will we go?" in Xitsonga.
Sroda f Western African
Means "respect".
Stanilde f Medieval English, Central African (Rare), English (Rare)
Means "Stone battle". It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon elements stan 1 meaning "Stone", and hild meaning "Battle".
Stephanetta f Afrikaans (Rare)
Feminine form of Stephan. Stephanetta Johanna Paulina (Nettie) Bredell (1877-1920) was a granddaughter of Paul Kruger (Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger), President of the South African Republic (or Transvaal) from 1883 to 1900.
Steyn m Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Afrikaans
Dutch variant and Afrikaans form of Steijn. In the case of the Afrikaans name, it can also be a transferred use of the Afrikaans surname.
Sthandekile f Ndebele
Means "we are loved" in Ndebele.
Stiaan m Afrikaans
Short form of Christiaan.
Suanu f & m Ogoni
Means "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.
Suara m Yoruba
Derived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.
Suban m Somali
Suban is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Subilaga f Nyakyusa
Means "to have patience" in Nyakyusa.
Sudaysi m Somali (Arabized, Modern)
Based on the name of sheikh Abdul Rahmane Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais, Imam of the great mosque of Mekka. Arab al-sudais means "the sixth".
Sufyaan m Somali
Somali form of Sufian.
Sugaal m Somali
Means "wait" in Somali.
Suglo m & f Dagbani
Means "patience" in Dagbani.
Sugrinongma m & f Mossi
Means "patience is sweet" in Mossi, spoken in Burkina Faso.
Suhidoo m & f Dagbani
Means "peace" in Dagbani.
Suhipelli m & f Dagbani
Means "happiness" in Dagbani.
Suhiyini m & f Dagbani
it literally means one heart, denoting `clean heart`
Sulaimanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Suleekha f Somali
Somali form of Zuleikha.
Suleman m Arabic, Urdu, Amharic, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic سليمان (see Sulayman), as well as the Urdu, Amharic and Indonesian form.
Sulemanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Sulemon m African (Rare)
Likely a rare variant of Sulaiman and Salomon that appears to be used in Nigeria.
Suleymaan m Somali
Somali form of Solomon.
Sulola f Yoruba
Of Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.
Sulwe m & f Luo (Modern)
"shining star"
Sunebari m & f Ogoni
Means "give to God" in Khana.
Sunette f English (American, Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch (Rare)
Meaning uncertain. In the English-speaking world, the name might perhaps be a combination of the English word sun with the French feminine diminutive suffix -ette, which would essentially give the name the meaning of "little sun"... [more]
Sungani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "custodian, keeper" in Chewa and Tumbuka.
Sungara f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "rabbit, hare".
Sunnybooi m Southern African
Namibian name.
Suntwe m & f Tonga
Means "hyena" in Tonga.
Sunubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Sunday" in Ijaw.
Suoton f Ijaw
Means "as planned" in Ijaw.
Suoyo f & m Ijaw
Means "profit or gain" in Ijaw.
Sura f Muslim, Berber
Means "highness of status, highness of rank, glory" in Arabic.
Susara f Afrikaans
Contraction of Susanna and Sara.
Susarah f Afrikaans
Variant of Susara.
Suubban f Somali
Means “goodbye” in Somali.
Suubban f Somali
Means "modest" in Somali.
Suubi f & m Eastern African
Means "Hope" in Luganda.
Suwilanji m & f African
From the namwaanga tribe of Northern Zambia and the adjuscent part of Tanzania.... [more]
Svikire m & f Shona
Meaning "to arrive upon".
Swaa m Bariba
Means "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.
Swala f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "antelope".
Swelia f African
African variation of Swela, from Arabic name Suela, meaning "beautiful and even".
Sylidio m Eastern African
The given name of the Rwandian politician Sylidio Dusabumuremyi who was stabbed to death in September 2019.
Symphoria f Late Roman, African (Rare), German (Archaic)
Feminine form of Symphorius. It should also be noted that like Symphorina, this name is sometimes encountered as a corruption (or perhaps short form in this case) of Symphoriana.
Syokimau f Eastern African
The Kamba Spiritual Predictor Syokimau was a famous bearer of the name.
Taali-mbo f & m Dagbani
Means "thank you so much" in Dagbani.
Tabaro m & f Tooro, Kiga, Nkore
Meaning unknown.
Tabi m Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tabia f African
From the Swahili word for “talented.”
Tadairaishe m & f Shona (Anglicized, Rare)
Those who answered God's call/agreed or believed in God's word
Tadalesh m Somali
Means "person who possesses a lot of good luck" in Somali.
Tadêfi f Berber
Means "sweetness" in Berber.
Taderfit f Berber (Rare)
Means "liberation" in Berber.
Tádése m & f Yoruba
Means "repair the crown" in Yoruba.
Tadisa f & m Shona
It means "we have loved profusely/a great deal", from the verb 'kudisa' meaning "to love a lot/profusely". A longer form of the name may be Tadisisa.
Tadisisa f & m Shona
It means "we have loved profusely/a great deal and with much abundance", from the verb 'kudisisa' meaning "to love a lot/profusely and with great abundance". A shorter form of the name may be Tadisa.
Tadiswanashe f Shona
Means "We've been loved by God" in Shona.
Tadiwanashe m & f Shona
Zimbabwean name....it mean God is proud of us
Tadiwanashe m Shona
Means "God loves us" in Shona.
Tadiwanashe m Shona
It isa Zimbabwean based name meaning God loves us
Tadjidine m Comorian
Comorian form of Taj ad-Din.
Tadla f Berber (Rare)
Means "branches" in Berber.
Tafa m & f Yoruba
Means "belonging to the white oracle" in Yoruba, derived from ti meaning "belonging to", àlà meaning "white cloth; banner" and ifá meaning "divination; oracle". It is possibly used as diminutive of a longer name as well.
Tafachi f Amharic
Means "sweet" in Amharic.
Tafalkayt f Berber
Means "beauty" in Tamazight.
Tafara m Shona
We are happy
Tafarri m Amharic
Means "one who is respected" in Amharic.
Tafat f & m Ancient Berber, Berber
Means "light" in Amazigh.
Tafeta m Sotho
Sotho form of David.
Tafna f Ancient Berber, Berber (Rare)
Possibly derived from the name of a river in northwestern Algeria.
Tafrara f Kabyle
Means "aurora, dawn, daybreak" in Kabyle.
Tafsut f Kabyle
Means "spring, springtime" in Kabyle.
Tafuma m Shona
We are now rich, we are enriched
Tagala f & m Southern African (Rare)
We are now settled
Tagutswa m Shona
Means "we are pleased" in Shona.
Tagwerramt f Berber
It stands for ‘pious or holy’
Tagwilalt f Berber
Means "stork" in Tamazight.
Tagwizult f Berber
Means "brave" in Berber.
Tahama m & f Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Taheyyâtt f Berber
Means "wanderer" in Tamazight.
Tahiil m Somali
Means "someone who is well balanced" in Somali.
Tahirou m Western African
Western African elaboration of Tahir.
Taio m Yoruba, Papuan
Variant of Tayo. A famous bearer is British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz (1985-), born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, the son of a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother.
Taitu f Ethiopian
Name of a 19th century Ethiopian empress known for founding the now-capital city of Addis Ababa and fending off Italian invasion of Ethiopia
Takalani m & f Venda
Means "be happy" in Tshivenda.
Takama f Berber
Means "warmth" in Berber.
Takashinga m Shona
Meaning "we are resilient"; it derives from the verb kushinga.
Takatifu m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "sacred, holy".
Takawira m Shona
Means "we have fallen" in Shona.
Takle-haimanot m Ge'ez
Means "plant of the faith" in Ge'ez.
Takola m Amharic
Means "wolf" in Amharic.
Takudzwa m Shona
Means "we have been honoured" in Shona.
Takunda f & m African
Means "we have conquered" in Shona.
Takura m African
Shona language in Zimbabwe (Southern Africa)derived from the verb to grow up or mature. It can also mean "to carry" but is seldom used for this meaning in a name.
Talana f South African, English
Use of this name in South Africa probably owes something to the Battle of Talana Hill in 1899.
Tamaha f & m Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Tamalut f Berber
Berber feminine name meaning "shadow".
Tamanart f Berber
Berber name for the constallation Orion.
Tamanda f Chewa
Means "to praise" in Chewa.
Tamani f & m Chewa
Means "praise" or "to God be the glory" in Chewa.
Tamanyachi f Tumbuka
Means "how can we know the future?" in Tumbuka.
Tamaralaifa f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "there's none like God" in Ijaw.
Tamasgan m Amharic
Means "praise" in Amharic.
Tamayi m & f Shona
Means "move from here" in Shona.
Tamayyurt f Berber
Means "full moon" in Tamazight.
Tamazzalt f Berber
Means "devoted" in Tamazight.
Tambika f Swahili
Means "offering" in Swahili.
Tambwe m Luba
Means "tiger" in Luba-Kasai.
Tamemt f Berber
Means "honey" in Berber.
Tamenzut f Berber
the name itself means ‘first born’.... [more]
Tameqrant f Berber
Means "the elder, senior" in Tamazight.
Tamezyant f Berber
Means "the middle child" in Tamazight.
Tamghara f Berber
Feminine form of Amghar.
Tamila f Kabyle, Berber
Means "turtledove" in Kabyle.
Tamimt f Berber
Means "delight" in Tamazight.
Tamirat m Amharic
Variant of Tamrat.
Tamment f Berber
Berber feminine name meaning "honey".
Tamre m Amharic
Means "my miracle" in Amharic.
Tamu f Swahili
Means "sweet" in Swahili.
Tamuda m Shona
Means "we love him" in Shona.
Tamuno-imim m Ijaw
Means "there is God" in Ijaw.
Tamunonemi m Nigerian
Means "wisdom of God" in Kalabari, spoken in Nigeria.
Tamunotonye m & f Western African, Ijaw
Means "God's will" or "God's favour" in Ijaw.
Tanaka m & f Shona
Means "we are good, we are blessed" in Shona.
Tanakiswa m & f Shona
Means "we have been blessed" in Shona.
Tanamart f Berber
Means "happy" in Berber.
Tanaruz f Berber, African
Feminine form of Anaruz.
Tanatswa m & f Shona
Means "we have been perfected" in Shona.
Tanazârt f Berber
Means "defiant, daring" in Tamazight.
Tandeko m Zulu
Always lovable. From Bantu root tande
Tandokazi f African
Originate from Xhosa, Bantu.
Tandzile f Swazi
Means "a female addition to the family" in Swazi.
Tanebdatt f Berber
Means "support" in Tamazight.
Tangeni m & f Southern African
loose translation "praise god"
Tangu f & m Tumbuka
Means "first", usually given to the firstborn of twins.
Tanko m Hausa
Name given to a boy born after many girls.
Tanyaradzwa f Shona
Means "we have been consoled", "we have found comfort" in Shona, often bestowed upon a girl born after a tragedy or difficulty, she being the source of consolation or comfort; the implied meaning is "blessing, godsend".
Taous f Kabyle
A feminine name used in the kabyle berber region Tizi Ouzou Bejaya and Bouira of Algeria. Cones from the Arab word Tawoos طاووس meaning peacock.
Tapfumaneyi m Shona
Means "what has made us rich?" in Shona.
Tarana f Hausa
Given for females who are born during the day.