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.
Ditebogo f Tswana
Means "gratitudes" in Setswana.
Dithapelo m & f Tswana
Means "prayers" in Setswana.
Dithebe m Tswana
Means "shields" in Setswana.
Ditiro m & f Shona
Meaning "acts" or "actions". Deriving from the verb kuita.
Ditiro m Tswana
Means "acts" in Setswana.
Ditorusin f & m Ijaw
Means "leave it for God" in Ijaw.
Ditshwanelo m & f Tswana
Means "rights" in Setswana.
Diya f African, Mbama
Variant of Dia.
Diyinrin f Ijaw
Means "live life carefully" in Ijaw.
Dizgha m Tumbuka
Means "to be quiet" in Tumbuka.
Djamma m Western African
Region: Burkina Faso
Djenaba f Western African
Western African name derived from Arabic Zeynab (see also Zeinabou).
Djénéba f Western African
A variant form of Zeinebou (chiefly Malian).
Djibril m Western African
Form of Jibril used in western Africa.
Dogo m Western African
Transferred use of the surname Dogo.
Dolapo m & f Yoruba
Means "Double" in Yoruba
Dolinde f French (Archaic), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Archaic French vernacular form of Adelinde found in the Poitou-Charentes region. Today, the name is occasionally found in the Netherlands and in Afrikaans-speaking South Africa... [more]
Dona f Kongo
Princess/ Queen
Donation m South African, English (Puritan)
From the word donation, meaning "an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution."
Dooakpo f & m Ijaw
Means "peaceful world" in Ijaw.
Dookeme m Ijaw
Means "man of peace" in Ijaw.
Dorkas f Biblical German, Biblical Dutch, German, Afrikaans, Dutch, Flemish
German, Afrikaans and Dutch form of Dorcas.
Doubra m & f Ijaw
Means "will" or "desire" in Ijaw.
Douye m Ijaw
Means "desire" in Ijaw.
Dova f Shona
Meaning "dew".
Doyinsola f Yoruba
Means "my wealth is sweet" in Yoruba.
Dramane m Western African
Short form of Abd al-Rahman used in parts of western Africa.
Dricky f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Hendrika.
Drissa m Western African
Form of Idris 1 used in parts of western Africa.
Duah m Akan
Means "tree" in Akan.
Duateme f Ijaw
Means "guardian spirit" in Ijaw.
Duduetsang f Tswana
Means "ululations" in Setswana.
Dujonou f Manding
Liberian Kpelle name meaning "peacemaker".
Dúkũ m & f Akan
Means "eleventh born" in Akan.
Dulani m Yao
Means "cutting" in Yao.
Duma m Swahili
Means "cheetah" in Swahili.... [more]
Dumisa m & f Tumbuka
Means "praise, worship" or "thank you" in Tumbuka.
Dumlesi f & m Ogoni
Khana for "life/ prosperity is ahead" or "bright future"... [more]
Dumo m Ijaw
Dumo means Life Ibi Dumo means good life where Ibi means good .
Dunia m Swahili
Neans "world, earth," ultimately from Arabic dunyā (دُنْيَا) meaning "world, kingdom, universe."
Dur-eessa m Sidamo
Means "rich" in Sidama.
Dur-eette f Sidamo
Feminine form of Dur-eessa.
Duretti f Oromo (Rare)
Meaning 'Luxury"
Duro m & f Yoruba
Means "wait" in Yoruba.
Dusean m Datooga
Means "black" in Datooga.
Dya f African, Mbama
Variant of Dia.
Dyhia f Berber
Variant of Dihya.
Dyondzani m Tsonga
From the Xitsonga dyondza meaning "learn".
Dyshiki f South African
South African meaning One who Likes Candy
Dzidefo m & f Ewe
Origin African Ghana Togo Benin... [more]
Dzikamai m Shona
Dzikamai means "settle down". The name is given to express the idea of settling down and not jumping from one relationship to another or one project to another. The former Zimbabwean Minister and MP, Dzikamai Mavhaire is one well known bearer of this name.
Dzikimai m Shona
Means “slow down” in Shona.
Dzinashe m Shona
Dzinashe means "It's with the Lord". One well known bearer of this name is Dzinashe Machingura.
Dziva f Shona
Means "water" in Shona.
Dzunani m Tsonga
From the Xitsonga dzuna meaning "praise".
Dzunisani m & f Tsonga
Means "praise, praise together" in Xitsonga.
Dzuwa m & f Chewa
Means "sunshine" in Chewa.
Ëakumbu m Swahili (Dutchified, Rare)
First used in Basali,DRC And Means "King Of Africa" May Be A Variant Of Xhoel
Ebeggi m Berber
Means "jackal" in Tamazight.
Ebeleakpo f Ijaw
Means "sweet life" in Ijaw.
Ebelechukwu f Igbo
Means "God's mercy" in Igbo.
Ebelembo f Bandial
Means "throwing there" in Bandial.
Ebeleuzoma f Western African (Modern)
Combination of Ebele meaning "mercy, kindness" with Uzoma meaning "good way".
Eberechi f & m Igbo
The mercy of God
Ebi m & f Ijaw
Means "good" in Ijaw.
Ebiakpo m & f Ijaw
Means "good life" in Ijaw.
Ebiarede m & f Ijaw
meaning i have seen good
Ebibaratimi f & m Ijaw
Means "live life well" in Ijaw.
Ebidese f & m Ijaw
Means "love good things" in Ijaw.
Ebidisebofa m & f Ijaw
Means "there is no one that doesn't like good things" in Ijaw.
Ebidowei m Ijaw
A man who seeks good
Ebiegberi m & f Western African, Ijaw
Means "good news" in Ijaw.
Ebiere f Western African, Ijaw
Means "fine lady" in Ijaw.
Ebifinidei f & m Ijaw
Means "good things have been opened to me" in Ijaw.
Ebigba m Ijaw
Means "talk good" in Ijaw.
Ebikake f Ijaw
Means "accept good things" in Ijaw.
Ebimie m & f Ijaw
Means "do good" in Ijaw.
Ebimoboere f Ijaw
Means "woman who has brought good" in Ijaw.
Ebimobowei m Ijaw
means "a man who has brought good"
Ebinimi f & m Ijaw
Means "recognise good" in Ijaw.
Ebiowei m Ijaw
Means "good man", "handsome man" or "kind-hearted man" in Ijaw.
Ebiundu m Ijaw
Means "good life" in Ijaw.
Ebiye m & f Ijaw
Means "a good thing" in Ijaw.
Ebizimor m & f Ijaw
Means "born in a good season" in Ijaw.
Ebong m Luo
Uganda/Luo... [more]
Ebrakumo f Ijaw
Means "don't forget me" in Ijaw.
Ebun f Yoruba, African
Meaning "gift" in Yoruba.
Eccatti f Bandial
Means "he (God) has not rewarded you" in Bandial.
Echichinwo m & f African
Ikwerre name. Used in Rebisi Kingdom,Port Harcourt,(Nigeria). Meaning 'a baby delivered at the appropriate time'
Edebe f African
The name originates from Sudan, in the concrete tribe of Gurfan meaning the first, princess.
Edem m & f Efik
Means "last" or "God has delivered me" in Efik.
Edet m & f Efik
Means "market" in Efik and is given to babies born on market day.
Edetobo m Efik
Means "market day" in Efik.
Edidem m Efik
Means "chief" in Efik.
Edidiong f & m Efik
Means “blessing” in Efik.
Edikan m Efik
Means "victory" in Efik.
Ediwakima f & m Efik, Ibibio
Means "abundance; love" in Ibibio and Efik.
Edji m Central African
"What I wanted"
Edoghogho m & f African, Isoko, Edo
This name which means "Day of Joy," originates from the Isoko and Edo ethnolinguistic groups of Southern Nigeria which is located on the West Coast of Africa. Broken down, it means: "Ede - Day" and "Oghogho - joy" (Which is also very common as a name in both these cultures) When combined however, it morphs into the spelling: "Edoghogho" meaning "Day of Joy" or "The Day of Joy." Phonetically, it can be pronounced "Ed-o-ghor-ghor" with the "r" silent.
Edubamo f Ijaw
Means "honour me" in Ijaw.
Eebbisee f Oromo
Meaning "blessing from God" in Oromoo.
Efem f Efik
Means "troubled" in Efik.
Effia f Akan, Literature
Meaning, “girl born on Friday.”
Effiom m Efik
Means "crocodile" in Efik.
Effiong m & f Efik
Means "born on effiong" in Efik. Effiong is one of the traditional week days.
Efosa m Yoruba
meaning "God's Well" and is of Beninese origin
Efrem m Amharic
Amharic form of Ephraim.
Efunroye f Yoruba
Meaning unknown. Notable bearer of the name is Efunroye Tinubu (c. 1810–1887), a Nigerian merchant and slave trader. Her name could be an anglicization of her birth name, Ẹfúnpọ̀róyè Ọ̀ṣuntinúbú.
Efuru f Igbo
Means "daughter of heaven" in Igbo.
Egal m Eastern African, Somali
Variant spelling of Cigaal, used outside of Somalia.
Eghard m Germanic, Afrikaans
The first element of this name is derived from ag, an uncertain element for which several etymologies have been proposed. The most widely accepted explanation is that it comes from Proto-Germanic *agjo meaning "sharp, pointed"... [more]
Eghonghon f Esan
Means "joy" in Esan.
Ego f Nigerian
Diminutive of Egobunma.
Eheder m Berber
Means "eagle" in Amazigh.
Ehi f Idoma
Means "gift" in Idoma.
Ehigoco m & f Agatu
Means "gift of God" in Agatu.
Ehioze m African
means "above the envy of others" and is of Benin origin
Ehiremen m Esan
My Destiny (It can also mean the Lord) has given me
Ehizefua m Esan
Means: my (Ehi) Destiny (ze) chooses (Efua) Light or what is white
Ejatu f Western African, Fula
Sierra Leonean name, allegedly derived from Arabic eja ati meaning "movement", or perhaps a form of Aïchatou.
Ejiga m African
Ejiga is an igala name from kogi state of in the central region of nigeria
Ejigayehu f Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "I have seen a lot good/better" in Amharic. This was the name of a famous singer Ejigayehu Shibabaw, better known as Gigi.
Ejikeme m Igbo
Used mostly by the Igbos of West Africa. ... [more]
Ejimmadu m & f Igbo
I am with human being
Ejjegayyahu f Amharic
Means "I have seen much" in Amharic.
Ejovwokoghene m & f African
African(Nigerian)
Ekade m Berber
Means "stone" in Amazigh. It may have been used as a Berber equivalent of Pedro.
Ekaete f Western African, Ibibio, Efik
Means "father's mother". It is given in honor of one's paternal grandmother.
Ekei m & f Efik
Ekejiuba m Nigerian
Chineke ji uba... [more]
Ekhoe m & f Western African, Edo
Means "mind" in Edo language.
Ekio m Western African, Ijaw
Means "wisdom" in Ijaw.
Ekiye m Ijaw
Means "remember me" in Ijaw.
Ekong m Efik
Means "war" in Efik.
Ekow m Akan
"Born on a Thursday" or "Thursday-born".
Ekpa f & m Efik
Ekpe m Ibibio, Western African
Possibly a shortened variant of Ekpedeme.
Ekpedeme m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means "who should share?" in Ibibio.
Ekpolayun m Ijaw
Means "it will reach you too" in Ijaw.
Ekundu m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "red".
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
Eliella f Eastern African
Eliella is a feminine name used mainly in the Kirundi language throughout Burundi likely due to the linguistic influences of German & Belgian colonization from the 1890's-1960's.
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.
Emmanuela f Greek (Modern, Rare), Italian (Rare), Provençal, Western African
Provençal feminine form of Emmanuèl and Italian variant of Emanuela, as well as an alternate transcription of Greek Εμμανουέλα (see Emmanouela).
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.
Endai m Shona
Meaning "go, depart" or "proceed, progress"; it is the plural of enda.
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.
Engai m Eastern African, African Mythology
Engai is a deity from Maasai Mythology. His name means “god” in the Maasai language.
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 "to do good" 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 f & m 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.
Eskedar f Ethiopian
Means "until the night" in Amharic.
Eskinder m Amharic
Amharic form of Alexander. This name is borne by Ethiopian journalist and dissident Eskinder Nega (1969-).
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.
Essien m Nigerian
Name of Nigerian origin, meaning "favorite one", "beloved".
Estia f Greek Mythology (Italianized), Greek (Rare), Afrikaans
Modern Greek and Italian form of Hestia.