This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and the description contains the keywords god or of or mercy.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Khamani m SwahiliMeaning “son of king”, “first born”, or “great king” in Swahili.
Kianda f African Mythology, Southern AfricanKianda (or Dandalunda) is a goddess of the sea, of the waters, and a protector of fishermen in traditional Angolan culture. Kianda was traditionally worshipped by throwing offerings such as food and clothing into the sea... [
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Kibafupia f SwahiliThe name originates from the Swahili words Kibali "acceptance" and Fupi "low". The combination of words combine to make the phrase, "to accept being low", referencing the people in Swahili countries who are poor or lack education... [
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Kijana m & f Swahili, African American (Modern)Means "young person" in Swahili. This is the nickname of American football player Kenneth Leonard 'Ki-Jana' Carter (1973-), given to him by his mother, who was inspired by a minor character in the movie
Shaft in Africa (1973).
Kimani m African"Adventurous" or "sailor" Kukiyu tribe in the nation state of Kenya.
Kimpa-vita f KongoThe name of a congolese prophetess and religious leader who lived at the end of the 17th century.
Kimya f SwahiliMeans "silent" in Swahili. This is the name of musician Kimya Dawson.
Kisundi m PareMeans "deep night" in the Athu language of the Pare people.
Kitheko f PareMeans "laughter" in the Athu language of the Pare people.
Kiwanuka m Ganda, African MythologyKiwanuka is the hammer wielding God of Thunder and Lightning in Ganda Mythology. His name means “someone who was born on a Thursday”.
Kizito m AfricanMeans "Gift from God" or "Child who God loves". St. Kizito is the youngest of the 22 Ugandan martyrs. He is the patron saint of children and primary schools.
Koffi m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
fue "Saturday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Saturday".
Kokumo m & f YorubaMeans "he will not die anymore" in Yoruba, typically given to an
Abiku child. Abiku are spirits that are believed to enter a pregnant woman and move in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth... [
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Kola m YorubaMeans "gathers wealth" in Yoruba, derived from
kó meaning "gather" and
ọlá meaning "wealth". It is also used as diminutive of
Kolawole,
Kolade and
Kolapo.
Kolade m YorubaMeans "brings lots of wealth" in Yoruba, derived from
kó meaning "gather" combined with
ọlá meaning "honour, wealth, success, notability" and
dé meaning "arrive, return".
Kolajo m AfricanAn Ancient name of Yoruba Origin, it means 'gather wealty'
Konan m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
mlan "Wednesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Wednesday".
Kossola m YorubaMeans "I do not lose my fruits anymore" or "my children do not die any more" in Yoruba.... [
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Kouadio m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
jɔlɛ "Tuesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Tuesday".
Kouakou m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
we "Thursday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Thursday".
Kouamé m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
mɔnnɛn "Sunday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Sunday".
Kouassi m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
kisie "Monday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Monday".
Kovu m SwahiliIt's Kiswahili for "Scar" and possibly, and is used in the Lion King 2. Kovu was chosen by Scar to become King before Simba returned to Pride Rock. Kovu's Mother Zira almost let Simab kill him when he was just a cub when they were caught in the Pridelands, but Simba told her to take him and leave before departing with his own daughter
Kiara... [
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Kpadia m IjawMeaning unknown. It was the name of an Ijaw king.
Krim m Kabyle, Arabic (Maghrebi)Possibly a variant of
Karim. Krim Belkacem was an Algerian revolutionary and politician who was a notable figure during the Algerian War.
Kucheli f AfricanName used by the people of northern Borno state, and Garkida area in Adamawa state. They are called the burah's and paburs.
Kuchinei m ShonaKuchinei means "What more is left to do, to see or to say"
This name may be given by a parent who is at their wit's end. The Zimbabwean singer of the 1970-80s Kuchinei Chikupo was one well known bearer of this name.
Kulu f IgboShortened form of Kamalu, the name of the traditional Igbo god of thunder and lightning, used for girls.
Kumba f AfricanA name given to the second girl child from a tribe in the Lofa county of Liberia by the kissi tribes.
Kwada m BaribaMeans "last son of the throne" in Bariba.
Kwanaya f ShonaMeaning “it has rained”, rain is seen as a symbol of new life as its waters are a source of nourishment for natural life.
Kwoth m African, NuerThe supreme god of the Nuer (South Sudan) who manifests himself in natural phenomena. They believe he is benign god who protects the poor and the unhappy.
Laazis m TivMr laazis is an english name of a gospel singer
Lamessa m OromoIt is spoken by the Oromo people in Ethiopia. The meaning of the name come from Lama; which means two. And Lamessa means "the second." It is a name given to a person that comes next to the first born: male or female in the family.
Landi f AfrikaansShort from of
Yolandi. This name is borne by South African model Landi Swanepoel (b. 1979).
Laurika f Afrikaans, SlovakAfrikaans elaboration and Slovak diminutive of
Laura. Laurika Rauch is a South African singer who performs in both Afrikaans and English.
Leke m YorubaMeans "trimuph" in Yoruba. Often used as a short form of other names ending in
leke, such as
Adeleke.
Lelosa f NigerianMeans "Follow God." in Benin; an ethnic group in Nigeria.
Lemta f BerberEtymology unknown. This is the name of the mythological mother of the Tuaregs.
Lené f AfrikaansI've heard a suggestion that the meaning of the name might be "pool" or another body of water of some kind, but this is difficult to confirm as there is no reference to a language from which it originates, or it could be the short form of
Magdalene or
Helene with an acute on the last e, a popular stylisation among Afrikaans people.
Liban m Arabic, SomaliThe name Liban, meaning persevere in ancient arabic is prodominatley used in the northern region of Somalia (now Somaliland). Usually given to boys who are seen as handsome at birth.
Linda m ZuluMeans "wait!" in Zulu (note that this is the imperative singular form of
-linda).
Liyabona f & m XhosaMeans "it sees" or "you see" in Xhosa, sometimes taken from the phrase
liyabona igama le Nkosi meaning "the name of the eye of God".
Lounès m KabyleMeans "companion" or "to keep company" in Kabyle, possibly of Arabic origin.
Loza f AmharicThe Amharic form of Luz, the name of a place in the Bible where it is believed Jacob saw his ladder.
Luchulumancolwenkosi f XhosaThis name is a scared name. Taken from words the Ancient King of the AmaMpondomise clan King Vukuzumbethe. He used to say “ lulo uchulumanco lwenkosi” which meant “this is God’s happiness”... [
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Lulia f Tigrinya, VariousSaid to mean "Diamond" in Tigrinya. Of Eritrean origin, this name gained some popularity around the world.
Luwi m & f LundaMeans "mercy, kindness" in Lunda.
Lyndall f & m English, South AfricanTransferred use of the surname
Lyndall. This was (first?) used as a given name by the South African author, political activist and feminist Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) for the heroine in her most famous novel,
The Story of an African Farm (1883)... [
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Maaouya m Western AfricanA known bearer is Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (1941-), a Mauritanian military officer who served as the president of Mauritania from 1984-2005.
Maax m SomaliMaax (pronounced "Mah-ah") is a Somali name. It is not one of the most common names but is still recognized within the Somali community. Somali names often have meanings tied to culture, nature, or qualities.
Magwala m PareMeans "money" in the Athu language of the Pare people.
Mahamadi m Western AfricanA West African variant of Muhammad most commonly used by the Mossi people in Burkina Faso.
Mairak f HausaMeans "daughter of a chief" in East Hausa.
Maita f ShonaA Shona (Zimbabwean) name that implies gratitude for something that has been done well. It may be spelt as Mayita or Mazvita depending on the area of origin of the speaker.... [
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Majani f SwahiliSwahili feminine name meaning "leaves (of a plant)".
Majaya m ShonaGiven to the last male born of the the family born in the same year. If families have male children in a given year the last to be born normally carries the name. The year of boys.
Makana m KongoThe first given name of the German football player Makana Baku.
Makanaka f ShonaMakanaka means "You are good". #This name is usually given in praise of God".
Makida f AfricanIn Ethiopia, Makida was another name for the Queen of Sheba.
Makini m & f SwahiliMeans "of good character" or "strength of character" in Swahili.
Malidoma m Western AfricanAccording to the Burkinabé writer Malidoma Patrice Somé (1956-2021), his name means "he who befriends the enemy" or "friend of the stranger" in the Dagaare language.
Malith m DinkaRefers to a specific kind of ox in Dinka.
Malkat f Northern African, MuslimPossibly means "queen of the house", deriving from the Arabic element
malaka ("queen"). Name borne by a prominent Sudanese author known for her realist novel The Wide Void.
Mamo m EthiopianThis name is often used when the name of the person is unknown. (Compared
Buddy).
Mamphaki f SothoThe name Mamphaki originates from the Northern Region of South Africa within the Bapedi people. The name was originally given to the first wife of Ntsetse Mailula - Mamphaki 'aMasekela. It was passed down within the Mailula family down to this day.
Mangeni f & m Africanmeans "baby who was born when there is plenty of fish" and is of Bantu origin
Marial m DinkaThis is a historical name of "Dinka" people in South Sudan in Africa. The meaning refers to a mixture of beautiful colors of black and white type of a bull. Is a name given to a male child after his mother's bride price was inform of such colored bull... [
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Marieta f Spanish (Rare), Romanian (Rare), Bulgarian, Armenian, Afrikaans, Polish (Rare), Latvian (Rare), Slovene, Croatian, Lengadocian, Provençal, Gascon, Portuguese, Greek, AlbanianCognate of
Marietta.
Mashudu m & f AfricanMashudu is a name used the Vha-Venda tribe in the far north of South Africa (Limpopo Province). The name means Luck
Masnsen m BerberFrom the Amazigh
mas meaning "master" and
nsen meaning "of them".
Massa f BerberA term of respect meaning "Mistress" and a name usually given to high born.
Massen m BerberA Term of respect meaning "Master" and a name given to high born.
Massiva m & f Kabyle, BerberName of the grandson of Numidian king Massinissa, used today as a female name.
Matamela m & f Southern African, VendaPossibly means "the one who does not hold grudges" in Venda. It is the first name of the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (1952-).
Mateo m ShonaIt is the Shona version of the name Matthew.
Maurisha f AfricanIt's a female version of Maurice, which means "from Mauritania", current Morocco.
Maveletiveni m SwaziA famous bearer is Maveletiveni Dlamini, son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Mayen m DinkaMeans a specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Mayom m DinkaA specific kind of ox in Dinka language.
Maÿroumfa m Songhai, Western AfricanMeaning unknown. It was the name of an Askia dynasty member of the Dendi Kingdom straddling what are now Benin and Niger.
Mbalienhle f Ndebele, ZuluMeans "beautiful flower" in Zulu and Ndebele, from
mbali "flower, flowers" and
enhle "something that is beautiful of nice".
Mbarka f Arabic (Maghrebi), BerberFeminine form of
Mubarak used in Northern Africa. This was the name of a possibly legendary Berber princess who ruled the ksar or oasis town of El Menia in Algeria.
Mbuyi m LubaDerived from the Luba word
mbùùyì meaning "the firstborn of twins".
Meghighda f BerberEtymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
Mehretab m Tigrinya, AmharicFrom Tigrinya መሓሪ (
mehari) meaning “mercy, compassion”, combined with ጣብ (
ṭab) meaning “good, pleasant”.
Meissa f Western African, AstronomyVariant of
Maïssa; from Arabic
maḥīṣ meaning "shining, glittering". This is also the traditional name of Lambda Orionis, a star in the Orion constellation.