African Submitted Names

Fhulufhelo m & f Venda
Means "hope" in Tshivenda.

Fiba f African
This is name for a woman born on Friday. The name may mean mild and gentle. It's derived from the Akan name Afua with the same meaning and shows contamination from the Christian name Phoebe which has a similiar pronunciation... [more]

Fifi m Akan
variant of Kofi

Fiker f & m Ethiopian

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.

Filbeth m African

Filittene f Bandial
Means "it (the womb) learns" in Bandial.

Filsan f & m Somali (Rare)
The best of her/his age. ... [more]

Finda f African

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.

Fnan m Amharic, Ge'ez

Fɨ̀nkuyn f Central African
A Kom name.

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]

Folake m & f Yoruba

Folaoluwashade f Yoruba
Means "the wealth of god is my crown" in Yoruba.

Folarin m & f Yoruba
Means "walks with wealth" 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"

Folorunsho m & f Yoruba
Means "under God's protection" in Yoruba.

Folorunso m & f Yoruba
Variant of Folorunsho.

Foluke m & f African, Nigerian
means Placed in God's hands

Foosi m Somali
Meaning: The name Foosi generally means "prosperous" or "successful" in Somali.... [more]

Fortunate f African (Rare)
From the English word Fortunate, "favoured by or involving good luck; lucky."

Fortunia f Afrikaans (Rare), Spanish (Mexican, Rare)
Feminine form of Fortunius and Fortunio.

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.

Fracia f African

Francelle f Afrikaans
Variant of Franselle.

Francois m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of François.

Franette f Afrikaans

Frankine f Western African (Rare), American (South, Rare)
Feminine form of Frank.

Frankline m Eastern African (Rare), Nigerian
Variant of Franklin.

Franselle f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Frans.

Fransina f Finnish, Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans
Feminine form of Frans.

Franzelle f Afrikaans
Variant of Franselle.

Franzina f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Francina.

Fredeline f Haitian Creole, South African
Possibly a variant of Fridoline.

Frederich m German (Silesian, Archaic), Afrikaans (Rare), Medieval Baltic
Variant of Friedrich.

Fredrica f Swedish (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English

Fredua m Western African, Akan, Ashanti

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
1) "one who is chosen by GOD to control the destiny of those who are less fortunate" in Lingala... [more]

Fulata f & m Tumbuka
Means "second", 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.

Funanya f Chewa
Means “look for it” in Chichewa.

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

Funye m & f Shona
Deriving from a bird with the same name, known in English as "the go-away bird".

Fuseina f Western African, Dagbani
Feminine form of Fuseini. In Northern Ghana, this name is given to the firstborn of a pair of twin girls, while the second-born twin is named Asana... [more]

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 "to be calm" in Tumbuka.

Fwasani f & m 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"

Gacayte m Somali

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.

Gagasi f Zulu
Means "wave" in Zulu.

Gajere m Hausa
Means "short" in Hausa.

Gakuhĩ f Kikuyu
Means "the short one" in Kikuyu.

Galaletsang f Tswana
Means "glorify" in Setswana.

Galayax m Somali
Means "lighthouse" in Somali.

Galbeyte m Somali
Means "in the west" in Somali.

Galgalu f African
born in the evening in Boran

Gamilah f African
Gamilah is the name of one of the daughters of Activist Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz.

Gamuchirai f Shona
Means "accept or receive" in Shona. It is typically given to a child born out of wedlock.

Ganau m Hausa
From the Hausa ganī meaning "see". This name is traditionally given to boys born on the night of a full moon.

Ganza m Rwandan
Meaning "reign" in Kinyarwanda.

Ganzabee f Ethiopian
Variant of Genzebe.

Gaodithong f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not shy" in Setswana.

Gaofenngwe m Tswana
Means "He (God) cannot be defeated" in Setswana.

Gaolatlhe m & f Tswana
Means "He (God) does not dessert" in Setswana.

Gaolebale m Tswana
Means "He (God) does not forget" in Setswana.

Gaolefufa f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not jealous" in Setswana.

Gaone m & f Tswana
Means "of His (God)" in Setswana.

Gaongalelwe f Tswana
Means "you cannot be angry with Him (God)" in Setswana.

Gaopalelwe m & f South African (Rare)

Garang m Dinka, African Mythology
According to the Dinka myths Garang is the First Man, created by Nhialic.

Garba m Western African, Hausa
Hausa variant of Abu Bakr.

Gariba m Dagbani
Corrupted name of Abukari. Name used by the 20th King of Dagbon and the 40th King.

Garikai m Shona
Means "Live well, safe, healthy and prosperous".

Garre m Somali
Garre is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]

Garrol m South African

Gashaw m Amharic
Means "the shield" in Amharic.

Gatamacu m & f Western African

Gate f Ethiopian

Gathua m Kikuyu
Means "the limping one" in Kikuyu.

Gatreth f Ethiopian
Ethiopian name meaning "rich".

Gatsha m Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu igatsha meaning "branch".

Gavaza f Tsonga
Means "one who dresses elegantly" in Xitsonga.

Gazari m Zarma, Western African
Zarma form of Lazarus, Ghazal and Ghazali.

Gazini m Zulu
Means "blood" in Zulu.

Gbadebo m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "returns with the crown" in Yoruba.

Gbambeli m Western African
Masculine name originating from the Banda Traditional Area & from the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Gbayena f & m Ijaw

Gbekelolu m & f Yoruba
Means "it is left to God" in Yoruba.

Gbemi m Yoruba
Derived from the Yoruba gbé "(to) carry" (see: Gbemisola).

Gbeneowei m Ijaw
Means "complete man" in Ijaw.

Gbenga m Nigerian

Gbolahun f Yoruba
Means "show the wealth" in Yoruba.

Gbonjubola m & f Yoruba
mature into wealth.

Gboyega m Yoruba
Means "lifts chieftaincy up" in Yoruba.

Gebire’liwa f Amharic
Alternate transcription of Gebre’elwa.

Gebre m Ethiopian, Ge'ez
Means "servant" in Ge'ez.

Gebre’elwa f Amharic
Amharic feminine form of Gabriel.

Gebregziabher m Ge'ez, Tigrinya
Means "servant of God" in Ge'ez, from Ge'ez ገብረ (gäbrä) "servant" and እግዚአብሔር (ʾəgziʾäbḥer), a Ge'ez translation of God, from Ge'ez እግዚእ (ʾəgziʾ) "lord" and ብሔር (bəḥer) “world, region”

Gebrehiwot m Ge'ez, Amharic
Combination of Gebre and Hiwot.

Gebre-medhin m Ge'ez
Means "servant of the saviour" in Ge'ez.

Gebre-selam m Ge'ez
Means "servant of peace" in Ge'ez.

Gebreselassie m Ge'ez, Amharic
Means "servant of the Trinity" in Ge'ez, from Ge'ez ገብረ (gäbrä) "servant" and ሥላሴ "Trinity", referencing to the Holy Trinity, from selse "threeness".

Gebre-tsadik m Ge'ez
Means "servant of the righteous" in Ge'ez.

Gebru m Tigrinya, Ge'ez
Variant of Gebre often seen in Tigrinya.

Gedamnesh f Ethiopian

Gedleyihlekisa m Southern African, Zulu
In the case of former South African president Jacob Zuma (1942-), the name means "the one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. His middle name was invented by his father, who based it on the phrase ngeke ngithule umuntu engigedla engihlekisa meaning "I won't keep quiet when someone deceives me with a beautiful smile while he is doing damage to me".

Geedi m Somali

Geeldoon m Somali
Geeldoon is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]

Geesi f Somali
Means "a courageous man, brave, hero" in Somali.

Gelagile m Amharic
Means "I have reconciled" in Amharic.

Geleta m & f Amharic
Geleta is Amharic in origin & means 'revealed'.

Gelila f Ethiopian
Tempting beauty

Gemara f Jewish, Northern African

Gemechu m Ethiopian, Oromo
Means "joy, happiness" in Oromo.

Genade m & f Afrikaans (Rare)
From the Afrikaans word genade meaning "mercy, grace".

Genat f Amharic
Means "heaven" in Amharic.

Genée f Afrikaans (Rare)

Genet f Ethiopian
Ethiopian name meaning "paradise"

Geneve f English (American), Afrikaans
Variant of Geneva.

Genevé f Afrikaans
Variant of Geneve.

Genieve f English (American), Afrikaans

Genzeb f Ethiopian
Diminutive of Genzebe.

Genzebe f Ethiopian

Gerhardus m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Gerard.

Gerrie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Gerhardus.

Gerschon m Biblical German, German (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
German form of Gershon.

Gertjie m & f Afrikaans
Afrikaans cognate of Gertje.

Gesebo f & m Ijaw
Means "the just" in Ijaw.

Gesekeme m Ijaw
Means "upright man" in Ijaw.

Gesina f Dutch, German, Afrikaans
Variant of Gesine.

Gesiye f & m Ijaw
Means "genuine" in Ijaw.

Getachew m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "their lord", from Amharic ጌታ (géta) "Lord (Jesus), master".

Getaneh m Amharic
Means "you are a lord" in Amharic.

Gete f Amharic
Short form of Getenesh.

Gethera f Swahili
Means "harvest" in Swahili.

Gezahagn f Ethiopian

Gezina f Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans
Variant of Gesina.

Ghakarhi m Zulu
The meaning of this name is fierce warrior. A person not accepting defeat as an option.

Ghanim m Berber
Means "reed" in Amazigh.

Ghebreyesus m Amharic
Means "servant of Jesus" in Amharic. A notable bearer of this name is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Ghilas m Kabyle
Short form of Aghilas.

Gichinga m Rwandan
Means “protection” in Kinyarwanda.

Gidamarird m Datooga
Means "leopard" in Datooga.

Gidang’adid m Datooga
Means "lion" in Datooga.

Gidea f English (Rare), German (Rare, Archaic), Afrikaans, Italian (Rare, Archaic)
Feminine form of Gideon.

Gifti f Oromo
Means "lady" or "queen" in Afaan Oromo.

Giljon m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Chilion.

Giniel m Afrikaans
Giniel de Villiers is a South African rallye driver and winner of Rallye Dakar 2009.

Ginikanwa f & m Igbo
Means "what is greater than a child" in Igbo.

Giorgis m Eastern African, Amharic, Greek (Rare)
Form of George used in Ethiopia, as well as a Greek variant of Georgios.

Girly f Filipino, South African, Malayalam (Rare), Malaysian (Rare), Various
Perhaps from the English word girly which is both an adjective meaning "girl-like, girlish, feminine" and a noun meaning "little girl" (from girl combined with a diminutive suffix). Also compare Girlie.

Girmay m Ge'ez

Gisakteayda m Datooga
Masculine form of Usakteayda.

Gitonga m Meru, Embu, Gikuyu
This name is commonly used in Meru, Embu and Gikuyu regions in Kenya. The name means a rich man. The name has been passed from generation to generation since time in memorial. The cultures which usually name their male children after their grandparents-dead or alive intentionally do this to ensure the character or personality of the grandpa can be carried to the grandchildren.

Given f & m English (Puritan), African
From the English word given, meaning "A condition that is assumed to be true without further evaluation.".... [more]

Giwa m Western African, Hausa
Means "elephant" in Hausa.

Giyorgis m Amharic
Amharic form of George.

Gizelda f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Giselda.

Gladisse f English (African), Afrikaans, Haitian Creole
Variant of Gladys.

Glodi m African

Glodie m & f African

Glovanna f Eastern African

Gnégnéri m Western African (Gallicized)
Borne by Ivorian footballer Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (1983-), known simply as Yaya Touré.

Gnet f Ethiopian (Modern), Amharic
Variant of Genet.

Godslove m & f Nigerian (Modern), English
The combination of God is love, God's love. Meaning "God's kind of love" or "God is love"

Godstime m & f Nigerian
From the English phrase God's time.

Godswill m Nigerian, English (African)

Godwinson m African (Rare)
Transferred use of the surname Godwinson.

Gofaone m & f Tswana
Means "He (God) gives" in Setswana.

Gogontlejang f Tswana
Means "she is beautiful" in Setswana.

Goitsemang f Tswana
Means "who knows?" in Setswana.

Goitsemodimo m Tswana
Means "only God knows" in Setswana.

Goitseone m & f Tswana
Means "it is he (god) who knows" in Tswana.

Goli f Kaguru
Means "wealth" in Chikaguru.

Golibe f Igbo
Short form of Golibenachukwu.

Golibenachukwu f Igbo
Means "rejoice the Lord" in Igbo.

Goma f Swahili

Gombe m & f Luo (Archaic)
One of the progenies of the Ugenya clans.

Gondai m Shona
Means "to trust or place hope in" in Shona.

Goodluck m African
A famous bearer is the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Goodness f & m English (African), Nigerian

Goodwill m Literature, English (African), Southern African
From the English word goodwill, derived from Middle English gode meaning "good" and will "wish, will, volition", which was originally a nickname applied to an amiable person with a favourable disposition towards others... [more]

Gor m & f Luo (Archaic)
traditional Luo name. origin: ancient Luo warrior

Gor m Wolof
Meaning "man".

Gorfu m Amharic
Means "flood" in Amharic.

Gorgui m Wolof

Goriola m Yoruba
Means "climbed to the top of wealth" in Yoruba.

Goshu m Amharic
Means "buffalo" in Amharic.

Gosiame f South African

Gotaatamang m Tswana
Means "who is coming?" in Setswana.

Gothusang f Tswana
Means "who is helping?" in Setswana.

Gotonyal m Amharic
Amharic form of Othniel.

Gowan m African
Means "Rainmaker" and originates from Africa, notably Nigeria.

Gowon m African, Ngas, Nigerian
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria.

Goyi m Nigerian (Rare)

Goyit m Ngas
Foresight, seer, one who sees the future. The name is used in reference to a visionary.

Gozzi m New World Mythology, African
Son Of a God

Grany f South African

Grizelda f American (South, Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Kashubian
Hungarian and Kashubian form and English and Afrikaans variant of Griselda. The English usage may have been influenced by Grizel.

Grmay m Tigrinya

Gubajuti m & f Bandial
Means "they do not have you" in Bandial.

Gudeta m Amharic
Means "obligation" in Amharic.

Gudit f Eastern African, Ge'ez
Ge'ez form of Judith.... [more]

Guenet m & f Amharic
Means "paradise" or "garden" in Amharic.

Gugu f Zulu, Xhosa
From Zulu igugu meaning "precious, valuable" or "treasure".

Guidado m African

Guileine f Central African

Guled m & f Somali
It means victory after a long struggle

Gulema f Amharic
Means “he who helps, helper” in Amharic.

Gumi m & f Shona
Meaning “ten”.

Guondibo m & f Bandial
Means "they inter you there" in Bandial. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.

Guor m Eastern African, Dinka
Meaning unknown. ... [more]

Gurey m Somali
A name that comes from the Somali word gurey, meaning "left-handed." This word is usually an adjective, but sometimes a name.

Guuleed m Somali
Means "victor" in Somali.

Guyyah m Bandial
Means "graves" in Bandial, originally a short form of Ammenguyyah. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.

Gwaggo f Hausa
Means "aunt" in Hausa.

Gwalajori m Kassena
Means "the slave raider has returned" in Kasem.

Gwasila m Kabyle
Means "son of the plains" in Kabyle.

Gwendolene f South African, Afrikaans, Flemish (Rare)
Variant of Gwendolyn.

Gweth m & f Luo (Modern)
"blessings"

Gwhd f Western African, Anaang
Means “disgraceful; unworthy being” in Anaang.

Gwinyai m Shona
Gwinyai means "be strong". The Zimbabwean tennis player Gwinyai Tongoona is a famous bearer of this name.

Gyasi m Akan

Gyrano m African

Haaruun m Somali
Somali form of Harun.

Haawá f Afar
Afar form of Eve.

Haawo f Ewe
Means “the snow” in Ewe.

Haben f Tigrinya
Means "pride" in Tigrinya.

Habibou f & m Western African
Western African variant of Habiba or Habib.

Habibu m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Habib.

Habido f Somali

Habon f & m Somali (Rare), Spanish
This name means when everything comes together at the right time and the right place. Beautiful.

Habraham m African (Rare), Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Variant of Abraham, occasionally found in Latin America and French-speaking African countries.

Habsade m Eastern African, Somali
Variant of Xaabsade, which is used outside of Somalia.

Habtamu m Amharic, Ethiopian
Basically means "my wealth" in Amharic and is therefore etymologically related to Habtom.

Habte m & f Ethiopian
According to some sources, Habte means "treasure/present/wealth/riches of".

Habtewold m Ge'ez
Means "gift of the Son" in Ge'ez.

Habteyes m Ge'ez
Means "gift of Jesus" in Ge'ez.

Habtom m Tigrinya (Modern)
Means "wealthy" in Tigrinya.

Habu m Western African, Hausa
Short form of Abu Bakr.

Hachalu f Oromo, Ethiopian

Hadadangi m & f Western African, Hausa
Means "joining of clans" in Hausa.

Hadiatou f Western African
Western African elaboration of Hadia.

Hadidja f Central African, Comorian
Form of Khadija used in Central Africa and the Comoros.

Hadithi m Swahili

Hadnet f Tigrinya

Hafidh m Arabic, Swahili, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic حافظ or حفيظ (see Hafiz), as well as a Swahili and Indonesian variant.

Hafisa f African

Hafzah f Somali
It means lioness.

Hagiir-s-o m Sidamo
Means "one who brings joy" in Sidama.

Hagos m Tigrinya
Means "joy" in Tigrinya.

Haiba f Swahili
It means charm, grace, beauty in Kiswahili

Hail m Eastern African, English (Rare)

Haile m Ge'ez, Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "power, force, strength" in Ge'ez and Amharic. This was the Ge'ez (baptismal) name of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie (1892-1975), who was born as Tafari Makonnen.

Hailemariam m Amharic

Hailemichael m Ethiopian
" power of arch angel Saint Michael "

Hailom m Amharic

Haïssatou f Western African
Variant of Aïssatou.

Hakiem m Ethiopian, Amharic
Means "doctor" in Amharic.

Hakizimana m Rwandan, Rundi, African Mythology (Modern)
A name which means "God saves everything," imana being the name of the original Rwandan/Burundian deity and now the modern word for God in all monotheistic usages within Rwanda and Burundi.

Hakunei m & f Shona
This is a name that implies and asks, meaning "What is not there?". This is a name given by or to someone who is assumed to be falling short or without, so they name the child "What could be missing?" in a sense of affirmation, so to say there is perfection even if you (all) do not see it or doubt it... [more]

Haƙurau m Hausa
From the Hausa hàƙurà meaning “be patient”.

Halas m Somali
Meaning: Halas generally means "good" or "positive" in Somali.... [more]

Haleluya m & f Indonesian, Amharic, Eastern African, Southern African, Western African
Indonesian and African form of Hallelujah

Halimnye m Xhosa
Means “not one” in Xhosa.