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.
Ekuseni f Zulu
Means "in the morning" in Zulu.
Ekwunife m & f Igbo
Means "don't make a secret open" in Igbo.
Ekwutosi m & f Igbo
Means "don't cause slander" in Igbo.
Elayokon f Ijaw
Means "take what reaches you" in Ijaw.
Elbetel f Ethiopian
the house of god
Elfnesh f African
From Ethiopia
Elikya f & m Lingala
A Lingala word meaning "hope".
Elizette f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Elize.
Elizma f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elizabeth Maria.
Elkaissa f Berber (Rare)
Possibly means "the pause" from Kabyle Berber.
Elleni f Amharic
Amharic form of Helen.
Elna f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elisabeth and Helena.
Elo f Esan
Means "face, eye" in Esan.
Elochukwu m & f Igbo
"elo" means plan while "chukwu" means God. "Elochukwu" means the plan of God or God's plan.
Eloghosa m & f Edo
Possibly means "it's not hard for God" in Edo. It could be the older name of Benin City, the capital of Edo State in Nigeria.
Elombe m Lingala
Means "brave one" in Lingala.
Elonga f Lingala
Means "victory" in Lingala.
Elsabe f Afrikaans
Afrikaans variation of Elizabeth.
Elsabet f Amharic
Amharic form of Elizabeth.
El Shaddai m & f African, Indonesian (Rare)
Derived from the Hebrew phrase אֵל שַׁדַּי (ʼĒl Šadạy) meaning "God Almighty".
Elsina f Dutch (Rare), English (American, Rare), Afrikaans
Dutch diminutive of Elisabeth as well as a feminine form of Ale 2.
Elyas m Amharic, Judeo-Anglo-Norman
Amharic form and Judeo-Anglo-Norman variant of Elias.
Elzabé f Afrikaans
Variant of Elsabe.
Elze f Dutch, German (East Prussian), Afrikaans
Dutch variant spelling and East Prussian German and Afrikaans form of Else.
Elzette f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elizette and diminutive of Elze.
Ema m & f Efik
Emaobong f Efik
Means "love of God" in Efik, derived from ema meaning "love" and obong meaning "God".
Ḓembe m & f Venda
Means "miracle" in Tshivenda.
Emebet f Ethiopian, Amharic
Derived from Amharic ’əmäbēt "royal lady", this (former) honorific is nowadays used as a given name.... [more]
Emechebe m & f Igbo
Means "when it’s done then it’s thought about" in Igbo.
Emekan f Efik
Means "endurance supercedes everything" in Efik.
Emekemeabasi m & f Efik
Means "the Lord is able" in Efik.
Emeleakpo f Ijaw
Means "good life" in Ijaw.
Ememabasi m & f Efik
Means "peace of the Lord" in Efik, derived from emem meaning "peace" and abasi meaning "Lord".
Emembong m & f Ibibio
Means "peace of god" in Ibibio.
Ememobong m & f Efik
Means "peace of the God" n Efek, derived from emem meaning "peace" and obong meaning "God".
Eme-obong f Efik
Means "precious one of God" in Efik.
Eminotun m African
Title of High Chief in Ijebu part of OWO in ONDO
Emiya f Amharic
Means "bliss" in Amharic.
Emmarentia f Afrikaans
Variant of Emerentia influenced by Emma.
Emmsdan m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "excellence of God's Salvation" in Igala (a language in the Yoruboid branch, common to Nigeria), from Igala emms "excellence" and dan "God Our Salvation".
Emomu f & m Ijaw
Means "follow me home" in Ijaw.
Enanela f Zulu
Means "rejoice" in Zulu.
Enderline f Nigerian (Modern, Rare)
Of unknown meaning.... [more]
Endlani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga endla meaning "make, create, do".
Ene f Idoma
Means "mother" in Idoma.
Eneikedi f & m Ijaw
Means "look after your own" in Ijaw.
Enelo f Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga enela meaning "enough".
Enemo f & m Ijaw
Means "endurance" in Ijaw.
Eni m & f Yoruba
Short form of Eniola.
Enibraye f & m Ijaw
Means "my own" in Ijaw.
Eniye f Nigerian, Ijaw
Means "my child" in Ijaw.
Enku f Amharic
This feminine name means "pearl" in Amharic.
Eno m & f African
gift, to give, of (Efik and Ibibio) origin
Enoabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "gift of god" in Ibibio.
Enoba f Idoma
Means "mother of my husband" or "mother-in-law" in Idoma.
Eno-obong m & f Efik
Means "gift from God" in Efik.
Enyonyam f Western African
Means "it is good for me" in Ewe.
Enzi f & m Swahili
Means "powerful" in Swahili.
Enzokuhle m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "expected to do great things" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Eperulo m & f Bandial
Means "to scream at the top of one's voice" in Bandial.
Epie m African
Bakossi Cameroonian Coastal Bantu
Erco m West Frisian (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant spelling of Erko, which is most likely a diminutive of Erk. Also compare Ercken and Herko, which is a variant of Herke.
Erebi f Ijaw
Means "the beauty of womanhood" in Ijaw.
Eremiemi f & m Ijaw
Means "my name shall survive" in Ijaw.
Erhuanga m Nigerian (Rare)
It is from Ozalla village
Eriayomi f Yoruba
My testimony of joy, "Ayomi" being "my joy."... [more]
Erin m & f Yoruba
Means "smile" in Yoruba.
Erinayo m & f Western African, Yoruba
Notable bearer is Erinayo Wilson Oryema, Uganda's first African Inspector General of Police.
Eriya m Shona
Shona form of Elijah.
Eromosele m Esan
Means "prayer has been answered" in Esan.
Esasa f Zulu
Means "be happy" in Zulu.
ʿEsato f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "fire" in Amharic.... [more]
Ese f Esan
Means "gift" in Esan.
Esegiël m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Ezekiel.
Eseimokumo m Ijaw
Don't talk bad of me
Esengo m & f Lingala
Means "joy" in Lingala.
Eseoheose f Esan
Meaning: Free Gift of God
Eseose f Esan
Means: Gift of God
Eseose f Esan
Means "gift of God".
Eshu m African, Yoruba
A god of the Yoruba of West Africa.
Esias m Medieval Romansh, Afrikaans
Medieval Romansh and Afrikaans form of Isaiah via Esaias.
Esihle m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Southern African
Means "beautiful, good" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Esikumo f & m Ijaw
Means "don't be afraid" in Ijaw.
Esitala f Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Esther.
Esosa m & f Western African, Edo
Means "God's gift" in Edo language.
Esra m Biblical German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian (Rare), Icelandic, Faroese, Afrikaans
German, Afrikaans and Scandinavian form of Ezra.
Esset-ab f Amharic
means gift of god or persetion of God.
Essien f Akan
Variant of Nsia.
Essien m Efik
Means "outside" in Efik.
Estia f Greek Mythology (Italianized), Greek (Rare), Afrikaans
Modern Greek and Italian form of Hestia.
Estifanos m Amharic
Amharic form of Stephen.
Estomihi m Eastern African, Indonesian
The name is derived from the name of the sunday 50 days before easter. The Latin words Esto mihi are the first two words of Psalm 31:3 and mean "Thou art to me".
Esu m & f Efik
Esulu m & f Ndebele
Means "clouds" in Ndebele.
Eta m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from ɛ́tá meaning "father" in Kenyang.
Etana f Eastern African
Means "Strong One" in Swahili.
Eteakamba m Efik
Efik origin, meaning, Great grand father,
Eteimowei m Ijaw
A man who saves
Ethmane m Western African
Variant of Uthman (chiefly Mauritanian).
Ethuka f Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.
Ethulo f Zulu
Means "gift" in Zulu.
Ethwasa f Zulu
Means "start anew" in Zulu.
Etido f Efik
Means "good character" in Efik.
Etienne m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Étienne.
Etim m Efik, Ibibio
Means "to care for; to prepare for" in Ibibio and Efik.
Etok m Efik
Means "small" in Efik.
Etom m & f Nigerian
Etom means "life" it is from the people of cross river state in Nigeria
Eton m & f Efik
Etoro f Efik
Means "praise" in Efik.
Eucabeth f African
Kenyan name for Jochebed
Eucharis f & m Ancient Greek, Literature, Nigerian (Rare)
Derived from the Greek adjective εὔχαρις (eucharis) meaning "charming, gracious". It consists of Greek εὖ (eu) meaning "good, well" combined with the Greek noun χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness" (see Chares).... [more]
Evangelique f Afrikaans (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Cognate of Évangélique, which is usually used in non-francophone regions and countries.
Evangelise f & m African American, African
Possibly an invented name, a combination Evangeline and Elise. Another possibility is that it's taken from the British spelling of 'evangelize', which is the English word meaning "to preach the gospel".
Everhard m Dutch, Afrikaans, German
Dutch, Afrikaans and German form of Everard.
Evioghene f & m Isoko, Urhobo, Nigerian
It is a name beared by the isoko uhrobo language speaking people in Delta state, Nigeria.... [more]
Ewnetu m African
The meaning of the name is The truth.
Eyasu m Amharic
Amharic form of Joshua.
Eyerusalem f Amharic
Amharic, meaning Jerusalem
Eyitemi m & f Western African (Rare)
An Itsekiri name, Meaning " this is my own ".
Eyob m Amharic, Ge'ez, Tigrinya
Ethiopian and Eritrean form of Job.
Eyong m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from ɛyɔŋ meaning "word, voice" in Jagham and Kenyang.
Eyram m African
Ghanian name.
Ezenwa m Igbo (Rare)
The name Ezenwa is an Igbo name meaning King, Prince, or Son of King
Ezeuzo m Igbo
Means "king of the road" in Igbo.
Ezikiel m Southern African
Malawi variant of Ezekiel.
Ezinwanne m Igbo
nwanne, nwanneka"good companion or relative" igbo, african
Ezrom m South African
Likely a variant of Hezron.
Faaduma f Somali
Strickly Somali form of Faduma.
Faadumo f Somali
Somali form of Fatima.
Faako m & f Dagbani
Means "mercy" in Dagbani.
Faatuma f Afar
Afar form of Fatima.
Faderera f African
Meaning"God's Crown"
Fadhma f Kabyle
Kabyle form of Fatima.
Fadma f Berber
Variant of Fadhma used in Morocco.
Fadziso f Shona
Means "one who brings happiness" in Shona.
Fahari m & f Swahili
Means "fame, honour, splendour" in Swahili.
Fahmo f Somali
Means "understanding" in Somali directly from the Arabic root f-h-m (see Fahim).
Fa'idah f Hausa
Means "benefit, advantage" in Hausa.
Fa'iqah f Hausa
Means "surpassing, excellent" in Hausa.
Faisa f Swahili
Swahili/Arabic, meaning successful/victorious
Faithful m & f English (Archaic), English (Puritan), Literature, Nigerian
Virtue name meaning "loyal" or "having faith (in God)" that has been in use since the 16th century, initally mostly for boys, later also for girls.... [more]
Fa'izah f Hausa
Means "victorious" in Hausa.
Falala f Western African, Fula
Means "born into abundance" in Fula.
Fallou m Western African, French (African)
This name is of Senegalese origin.
Fally f English, African
Diminutive of Eliphal.
Famandha m Tsonga
Means "give power" in Xitsonga.
Fana f Ethiopian
Means “light” or “jungle” in various African languages.
Fanendo m Nigerian, African American (Rare)
Famous bearer of this name is Fanendo Adi, who is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for American club, Portland Timbers.
Fanie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Stephan and Stephanus.
Fanus m Afrikaans
Short form of Stefanus.
Fanyana m Zulu
From Zulu umfanyana, abafanyana meaning "little boy".
Faraja f & m Swahili
Means "consolation, comfort" in Swahili.
Fardowsa f Somali
Somali form of Firdaus.
Farhiya f Swahili, Somali
Variant transcription of Fariha.
Farisai f Shona
Means "be very happy" in Shona.
Fasika m Amharic
Means "Easter" in Amharic.
Fasingha m & f Ijaw
Means "a name never dies" in Ijaw.
Fassil m Amharic
Means "Ethiopian king" in Amharic.
Fatimoh f Thai (Muslim), Nigerian
Form of Fatimah used in Thailand and Nigeria.
Febechi f Nigerian
It's of African origin. It means, "worshipper of God"
Fechukwu m & f Igbo
Worship God
Fedens f African
Meaning unknown. This was the name of Tatiana Rusesabagina's sister-in-law, portrayed by Leleti Khumalo in 'Hotel Rwanda' (2004).
Fedude m & f Ijaw
Means "death has ended" in Ijaw. ... [more]
Feker f Amharic
Means "love, affection" in Amharic.
Fela m Yoruba, Nigerian
Diminutive of Olufela
Felagha f & m Ijaw
Means "death has not reached me" in Ijaw.
Felleke m Amharic
Means "he glittered" in Amharic.
Felleng f Sotho
Means "beyond the end" in Sotho.
Fenuku m & f Ewe
Means "year seed" in Ewe.
Fenure m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means "we have riches" in Urhobo.
Fenyang m Tswana
Means "conqueror" in Tswana.
Ferede m Amharic
Means "he judged" in Amharic.
Fessehaye m Tigrinya
Means "eternal happiness" in Tigrinya.
Fetene m Amharic
Means "he is swift" in Amharic.
Fetera f Amharic
Means "creative" in Amharic.
Fetle-work f Ge'ez
Means "thread of gold" in Amharic.
Fewesi f & m Amharic
Means "to heal" in Amharic.
Feyi f Ewe
Means "a year has passed" in Ewe.
Fhaṱuwani m & f Venda
Means "be careful, aware" in Tshivenda.
Fhulufhedzani m & f Venda
Means "be hopeful" in Tshivenda.
Fhulufhelo m & f Venda
Means "hope" in Tshivenda.
Fifi m Akan
variant of Kofi
Fikile f Tsonga
Means "arrived" in Tsonga.
Fikiri f Amharic
Means "love" in Amharic.
Fikre f Ethiopian, African
Meaning "my love" or "love."
Fikru m Amharic
Means "his love" in Amharic.
Filittene f Bandial
Means "it (the womb) learns" in Bandial.
Filsan f & m Somali (Rare)
The best of her/his age. ... [more]
Firesembet m Ge'ez
Means "seed of the Sabbath" in Ge'ez.
Firew m African
Amharic name originated in Ethiopia. meaning 'the seed'.
Firipi m Shona
Shona form of Philip.
Fisayo m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "add to my joy" in Yoruba.
Fisseha m Ge'ez
Means "joy" in Ge'ez.
Fitsum m & f Amharic
Means "absolute" in Amharic.
Fɨnyuyn f Central African
Means "bird" in Kom.
Foday m Western African
Unknown meaning, possibly from the Temne or Loko languages, spoken in Sierra Leone.... [more]
Folaoluwashade f Yoruba
Means "the wealth of god is my crown" in Yoruba.
Folasade f Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "honour confers a crown" or "rule with nobility" in Yoruba.
Folashade f Yoruba, Nigerian
Variant transcription of Folasade.
Folayan f Yoruba, African
means "to walk in dignity"
Foluke m & f African, Nigerian
means Placed in God's hands
Fortunate f African (Rare)
From the English word Fortunate, "favoured by or involving good luck; lucky."
Fourou m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Fowoke f Yoruba
Means "girl who is pampered with money" in Yoruba.
Foyinsola f Yoruba
Means "add honey to its wealth" in Yoruba.
Francois m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of François.
Franselle f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Frans.
Freyhiwot f Ethiopian, Amharic
Means "the seed that gave life" or "the fruit of life" in Amharic.
Frezer f Amharic
Means "fertile" in Amharic.
Frikkie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Frederik.
Fuani f Kongo
Kongo form of Fanny.
Fula-ngenge m Kongo
The meaning: ... [more]
Fulata m & f Tumbuka
Means "second", this is given to the second-born of twins.
Fumu m Kongo
Means "king" in Kikongo.
Funani f & m Zulu (Rare)
Means "want!" or "search!" in Zulu.
Funebi m & f Ijaw
Means "education is good" in Ijaw.
Funere f Ijaw
Means "A Learned Woman"
Funfun m & f Yoruba
Yoruba name that means "Pure"
Funganayi m Shona
Means "remember each other" in Shona.
Funkuro m Ijaw
Means "knowledge is power" in Ijaw.
Funmi m & f Yoruba
Means "give to me" in Yoruba. It can be used as a short form of names containing funmi, such as Funmilola and Olufunmilayo.
Funmike f Yoruba
Means "given to me to cherish" in Yoruba.
Funmilola m & f Yoruba
Means "give me wealth" in Yoruba.
Funsileniko m Chewa
Means "Will you go and ask for me?" in Chewa.
Funware m Ijaw
meaning library or house of book
Fuseina f African, Dagbani
In Northern Ghana, it is the name given to the second born of a pair of twin girls. The first born twin is named Fuseina According to superstition, the second twin is considered to be the older twin because it is said that during the trauma of birth, the older twin send the younger twin ahead to make sure the world is safe.
Fuseini m African, Dagbani
In Northern Ghana, it is the name given to the second born of a pair of twin girls. The first born twin is named Fuseini According to superstition, the second twin is considered to be the older twin because it is said that during the trauma of birth, the older twin send the younger twin ahead to make sure the world is safe.
Future m & f English (Rare), Western African, Southern African
This name is from the English word derived from Old French futur meaning "future, to come," which is then derived from Latin futurus meaning "going to be, yet to be, the future (as a noun)." The Latin word is an irregular suppletive future participle of esse meaning "to be," which comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *bheue- meaning "to be, exist, grow, come into being."... [more]
Fwasa m Tumbuka
Means "be calm" in Tumbuka.
Fwasani f Tumbuka
Means "to be calm" in Tumbuka.
Fwaya m Luo
Originated amongst the LUO tribe in Kenya, East Africa. It is said to mean "Not serious" or "Taking things for Granted". It is also used by the Luhyas in Western province Kenya. But is common in the Nyaurang' Clan of Ugenya in Siaya County... [more]
Fyiynfoluwa f Yoruba
Means "give praise to god, a person who never forgets to praise god for everything" in Yoruba.
Gabra f Ethiopian
Ethiopian girl's name, meaning "The gift of offering"
Gadifele f Tswana
Means "things don't end" in Setswana.
Gadiid m Somali (Rare)
Its an old Somali name.
Gado m Hausa
Means "bed" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to the child born after twins.
Gagare m Hausa
Means "unconquerable" in Hausa.