This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and the description contains the keywords whats or dose or this or name or means or carl.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Xirsi m SomaliThis Somali name means "safeguard." The word xirsi also means "safeguard." The x in Somali is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, a throaty sound that is not present in English. Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as HIRSI or HERSI.
Xola m & f XhosaMeans "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Yabaal m SomaliMeaning: Yabaal generally means "one who is ambitious" or "strives for success."... [
more]
Yakasu m BaribaMeans "bush" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born in the bush.
Yande f & m MwangaPossibly means "an expression of joy" or "an unexpected gift from God" in Mwanga.
Yandé f Serer, Western AfricanMeaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name was the Senegalese singer Yandé Codou Sène (1932-2010), who belonged to the Serer ethnic group.
Yeabsira f & m AmharicMeans "The Father's (God's) work" of Amharic origin, the official language of Ethiopia.
Yedder m Berber (Rare)Though this name symbolizes immortality, it indicates a sense of unbroken spirit or uncaptured soul.
Yeddes m TuaregMeans "he will be organised", from the Tuareg verb
ddes meaning "organised".
Yeggul-ngon m & f WolofWolof 'death prevention' name meaning "s/he has not reached the afternoon".
Yemetle f SothoMeans "beautiful (referred to an object)" in Sotho.
Yemi m & f YorubaMeans "I am honourable" in Yoruba.
Yendi f African, Jamaican PatoisThis is the name of a town in northeastern Ghana. A famous bearer is Yendi Phillips, she is a Jamaican TV Host, model and beauty queen who the winner of the Miss Jamaica World 2007 beauty pageant, as well as the Miss Jamaica Universe 2010 pageant.
Yesa f & m PunuMeans "chance, luck" in Punu.
Yeshi f AmharicMeans "for a thousand". This name is often combined with other names (
Yeshimebet is an example).
Yezo m Fula, Western AfricanA name used by the Fula people, who are the largest ethnic group in Western Africa and the Sahel.
Yinlayefa f IjawMeans "nothing can be compared to a mother" in Ijaw.
Yohance m African American (Rare), Hausa (?)Used by American comedian, writer and civil rights activist Dick Gregory for his son born 1973. According to a 1973 issue of
Jet magazine, Gregory and his wife Lillian found the name in a book called
Names from Africa, and Yohance 'means "God's gift" in the Hausa language of Nigeria.'
Yombo f AfricanMeaning unknown. A name originating from Nigeria.
Yoon f BaribaName traditionally given to the first born daughter.
Yọyin m & f YorubaMeans "bring out honey, sweetness" in Yoruba.
Zabibu f SwahiliSwahili name meaning "grapes" which comes originally from Arabic word zabīb meaning 'raisins', given to five girls in the US in 2023
Zaïre m KongoZaïre means the river that never swallows in Kikongo
Zambo m Central African, Eastern AfricanIs a popular given name for boys in many West Central African nations. Also the name of an Italian Safari crime drama film and the duology of jungle themed Bollywood mad scientist films that inspired the Captive Wild Woman series.
Zamzam f & m Arabic, Somali, IndonesianFrom the name of a holy well in Mecca that, according to Islamic tradition, was miraculously created by Allah for
Hajar and and her son
Isma'il while the two were left in the desert without water... [
more]
Zeituni f Eastern AfricanThis name coincides with Swahili
zeituni meaning "olive", a derivative of Arabic زَيْتُون
(zaytūn). This was borne by Zeituni Onyango (1952-2014), a Kenyan-born half-aunt of former American president Barack Obama.
Zenzile f & m Xhosa, SwaziFrom Xhosa
uzenzile meaning "you brought this on yourself". This was the first name of the South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), full name Zenzile Miriam Makeba... [
more]
Zethu f & m Xhosa, ZuluMeans "ours" or "belongs to us" in both Xhosa and Zulu within the Nguni language group. Notable South African name bearers include actor Zethu Dlomo and orchestral musician Zethu Mashika.
Zeudi f TigrinyaMeans "crown" in Tigrinya. It is the name of the famous 1970 Eritrean-Italian actress Zeudi Araya (1951-).
Zié m Western AfricanLikely means "first" in one of the Senufo languages, as the name is traditionally given to the first-born son.... [
more]
Zimba f & m ShonaMeans "to be principled" in Shona.
Zinhle f ZuluMeans "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.
Ziola m & f IjawMeans "the last born" in Ijaw.
Zobuhle f ZuluMeans "of beauty" in Zulu, from the possessive form of
ubuhle.
Zondai f & m Shona"You may hate me." A situational name where a family is telling it's enemies you may hate me all you want.
Zozibini f XhosaXhosa name, said to mean "received with both hands". (In this culture it is considered impolite or unappreciative to accept a worthy gift with one hand; to show appreciation and respect to the giver, you use both hands to accept a gift.)
Zuna f LingalaMeans "to be sweet" in Bangi, the main lexical source of Lingala.
Zuo m & f IjawMeans "protection" in Ijaw.
Zuva f ShonaMeans "day; daylight; sun; sunlight" in Shona.
Zviyo m & f ShonaIt is the plural of
Chiyo. It means "grains". This is a name that symbolizes the smallness of grains which when planted and in their own season and time, grow and are harvested for multitudes and nations... [
more]