Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Antobam f AkanMeans "posthumous child" in Fante. It is typically given to a child whose father died before they were born.
Anuarite f Central African, Bantu (Gallicized), History (Ecclesiastical)Borne by the Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta (1939-1964), a beatified Congolese nun who was killed at age 24 during the Congo Crisis. According to the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, she belonged to the Wabudu tribe and her name means "one who laughs at war".
Anyim m NigerianA notable bearer is Anyim Pius Anyim, a Nigerian politician.
Anza f VendaMeaning "to increase, to add more".
Aoro f Luo"born during a very dry season"
Aoua f Western AfricanVariant of
Awa. A notable bearer was Malian independence activist Aoua Kéita (1912-1980).
Apeke f YorubaMeans "called to be pampered" in Yoruba, from
pè "to call, summon, invoke" and
kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Apolot f Eastern AfricanOrigin- Iteso people of eastern Uganda and Western Kenya, from the Ateso language, a derivative of the Teso-Turkana language and eastern Nilotic culture. ... [
more]
Araba f AfricanGirl born on a Tuesday, in Akan. (Same as Abena)
Arachie m & f IgboPossibly means "to have chosen a portion ahead of another; to supplant" in Igbo.
Aret f EfikMeans "born on a market day" in Efik.
Arezki m KabyleProbably derived from Arabic رِزْق
(rizq) meaning "wealth, fortune" or "nourishment, sustenance".
Arinola f & m YorubaMeans "one amongst honour" or "in the midst of wealth" in Yoruba, from
àárín "centre, middle" combined with either
ọlá "honour, respect" or
ọlà "wealth"... [
more]
Ariyo m YorubaMeans "one who is seen and rejoiced" in Yoruba, from
rí "to see" and
yọ̀ "to rejoice".
Arukubu f & m IjawMeans "a child born in a canoe" in Ijaw.
Arumirirarudo f ShonaIt means "she has waited for love", or "one who has waited on love", a shorter form of the name can be
Arumi or
Rudo.
Arziki f HausaMeans "wealth, riches; prosperity" in Hausa.
Asaaseasa m & f AkanMeans "the land is finished" in Akan. The implication of this name is that there is no more land for the dead to be buried - so the child is encouraged to live as there will be no more space for his/her burial.
Asabi f YorubaMeans "one selected for birth" in Yoruba.
Asamoah m & f Western African, AkanMeans "apostles" in Akan. It is also a surname. A famous bearer is Ghanaian soccer player Asamoah Gyan (1985-).
Asari f EfikThe name Asari, which is originally an Efik name, means "choosy","selective".
Asavela f & m XhosaMeans "they still appear" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is South African actress Asavela Mngqithi.
Aseka m ShonaMeaning “he laughs; he who has laughed”.
Asekei m ShonaIt is a name which asks a question, meaning “what does he laugh at?” or “what has made him laugh?”
Ashe f YorubaFrom Yoruba
àṣẹ meaning "power, authority, command". In Yoruba religion, àṣẹ is the natural power that makes things happen and produces change.
Ashira m & f ShonaMeaning “receive; accept; welcome”, the fuller version of the name is
Gashira.
Ashon m AkanMeans "seventh born son" in Akan.
Ashu m & f Kenyang, JaghamFrom Kenyang
sǒ meaning "wash, clean, clear." Alternatively it could stem from the verb
sǔ in Ejagham which has the same meaning.
Asipa m YorubaMeans "pathfinder, one who leads the way" in Yoruba, from
ṣí "to open up" and
ipa "path".
Asisat f NigerianThe name of the professional woman football player Asisat Oshoala, playing for FC Barcelona.
Assata f AfricanUnknown Country- West African- adopted by Revolutionary Black activist Assata Shakur. Assata means "she who struggles", Shakur means "thankful one"
Ássuma m & f BandialMeans "the nice one" or "the unselfish one" in Bandial.
Atanda m YorubaMeans "created to shine" in Yoruba, from
tàn "to shine, brighten" and
dá "to create".
Atem f & m Jagham, KenyangMeans "friends" in Jagham and Kenyang as it's the plural of
ǹ-tèm meaning "friend".
Athiambo f Luo"born late in the evening". Thought to be an intelligent person.
Atimango f AlurMeans "What do I do?" in Alur language and may be given to someone who is born to parents who are facing an issue or problem.
Atsen m AfizereAtsen which means"Visitor" is a male given name among the Afizere people of Nigeria. who are predominantly in Jos Plateau and Bauchi State Nigeria.
Atta m AkanMeans "twin" in Fante, an Akan language.
Auma f Luo"someone delivered with the face down or through the caesarean process"
Auwal m Western African, HausaDerived from Arabic أول
('awwal) meaning "first". This name is commonly given to the first of multiple children with the same name.
Awaran m & f IjawMeans "a child born during the august break in the rainy season" in Ijaw.
Awino f LuoMeans "born with the cord around" in Luo.
Awiti f Luo"someone birthed after a misfortune, such as a difficult birth process"
Awolaye m & f YorubaMeans "the oracle cannot explain this" or "the oracle cannot lie" in Yoruba, from
ao "oracle, occult, Ifa", the negation prefix
ò, and
ní "to have" combined with either
àyè "explanation, understanding" or
ayè "lie, falsehood"
Awonke m & f XhosaMeans "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.
Aya f BaouléDerived from Baoulé
ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".
Ayakpo f & m IjawMeaning "new world or life" in Ijaw.
Ayamba f & m Jagham, KenyangMeans "he/she opened the way" in Ejagham, used for the first of twins.
Ayani m Kongo"helpers, protectors, those who support, support or protect" comes from the verb kuyana
Ayanleh m Eastern AfricanMeans "lucky". This name spelling is most commonly used in Djibouti and is also used as a surname.
Ayanti m & f EfikMeans "will you remember me?" in Efik.
Ayebatonye m & f IjawMeans "what God has destined" or "destiny" in Ijaw.
Ayelè f Ewe, AfricanName of Ewa origin, meaning "happiness has come", "happiness is here".
Ayen f DinkaRelated with a specific kind of cow in Dinka language.
Ayinde m & f YorubaMeans "we gave praises and he came" in Yoruba.
Aylintá f Western AfricanThe name Aylintá comes from the West African nation of Senegal and means Bearer of Light or Bringer of Light.
Ayoka f YorubaMeans "one we rejoice to pluck" in Yoruba.
Ayuk m & f Jagham, KenyangMeans "they have heard" in Jagham and Kenyang, from the pronoun and root
á meaning "they" and
yúk meaning "to hear".
Azibo m NigerianAzibo means “youth” in Nigerian. It also means “Earth” in Egyptian.
Azizi f & m African American (Rare), SwahiliMeans "treasure, rarity, something valuable; lover" in Swahili, derived from Arabic عَزِيز
(ʕazīz); compare
Aziz. A known (female) bearer is American model Azizi Johari (1948-), in whose case it is a pseudonym.
Azuka m IgboMeans "the past is greater" or "my back is greater" in Igbo.
Azumi f HausaMeans "month of fasting" in Hausa, traditionally given to girls born during Ramadan.
Azwianewi m & f VendaMeans "something that cannot be told" in Tshivenda.