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.
Kossola m YorubaMeans "I do not lose my fruits anymore" or "my children do not die any more" in Yoruba.... [
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Kpadia m IjawMeaning unknown. It was the name of an Ijaw king.
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.
Kuma f EfikMeans "I'm still in love with you" in Efik.
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.
Kwena m & f SothoMeans "crocodile" in the Sotho and Tswana languages. This name is chiefly used by Northern Sotho people.
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.
Lamrot f AmharicMeans beautiful or knowledgable. Also common as a surname in Ethiopia.
Landi f AfrikaansShort from of
Yolandi. This name is borne by South African model Landi Swanepoel (b. 1979).
Laraba f HausaDerived from the Arabic
رَابِعَة (rābiʿa) meaning "fourth". This name is traditionally given to girls born on Wednesdays.
Leago m & f TswanaMeans "His (God's) alter" in Setswana.
Lebia f OgoniMeans "pretty girl/ lady" or "good girl/lady" in Khana,... [
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Leboo m SothoMeans, "Be thankful" from the Sesotho "Lebohang" – meaning “Be thankful” or “Give thanks”.
Leemmo m SidamoMeans "bamboo" in Sidama, figuratively meaning "slender".
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.
Lemi m & f OromoFrom the Oromo verb “leemuu” which means to be sweet, pleasant, or soft. Prevailing masculine usage in Ethiopia.
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.
Liel m KongoLiel means intelligence in Kikongo
Linda m ZuluMeans "wait!" in Zulu (note that this is the imperative singular form of
-linda).
Lineo f SothoMeans "gifts, grants, talents" in Lesotho.
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".
Liyema f & m XhosaMeans "to stop" or "to stand, to be standing" in Xhosa, often taken from the phrase
liyema ikhaya "the home is standing" to indicate stability in the family.
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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Luchumo m & f XhosaPossibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.
Lulia f Tigrinya, VariousSaid to mean "Diamond" in Tigrinya. Of Eritrean origin, this name gained some popularity around the world.
Lunga m ZuluMeans "be good, be kind" in Zulu.
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Luwi m & f LundaMeans "mercy, kindness" in Lunda.
Luyando m & f TongaMeans “To Love” in Tonga. Related to the Tongan name Yandwa.
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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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.
Mabasen m & f KhoekhoeName mainly used by damara speaking people in Namibia.The name means "stand for yourself" used to encourage and teach an individual independance.
Mabior m Dinka, African MythologyMeans "white bull" in Dinka. The white bull is the most prized and is sought after for sacrifices in celebration.
Mabvuto m & f NsengaName given to a child born when there was trouble/problem in the family or community. For instance war, drought, pestilence
Machar m DinkaMeans "black bull" in Dinka. Black bulls are the second most important for sacrifices.
Machiveyi f Shona"What do you seek or covert?" Situational name given in circumstance where family has covetous neighbours or kin.
Madaya f Guanche, Berber (Archaic)From Guanche
*madăyya, meaning "beautiful thing to see". Besides the Canary Islands, this name was also used in Northern Africa.
Madhil m DinkaMeans "born on the way" in Dinka. This name is given to a male that’s born on the way, for example while the mother is traveling and gives birth on the way to her destination.
Madodonke m XhosaMeans "all men" in Xhosa. In traditional Xhosa culture, parents wanted both sons and daughters, and a household with only sons would bestow such names wishing for a daughter.
Mafamadi m & f AkanMeans "I have taken it for free" in Akan.
Magajiya f HausaMeans "heiress" in Hausa. In some dialects this means "madam" and is avoided.
Magan m SomaliMeans "protection" or "refuge" in Somali.
Magot m DinkaMeans "a very long-horned bull" in Dinka.
Magwala m PareMeans "money" in the Athu language of the Pare people.
Mahari m & f YorubaMeans "one who forgives" or "forgiver" in Yoruba.
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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Maitaishe m & f ShonaIt means "You have done it Lord" or simply, "Thank you Lord."
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.
Majok m DinkaMeans "black-and-white bull" in Dinka.
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".
Maker m DinkaMeans "white-and-black bull" in Dinka.
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.
Makuu m SwahiliThis name means Great in Swahili. Known for the crocodile leader in The Lion Guard, also a name for the Swahili people. It is a male name.
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.
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
Mansa m & f Manding, AkanTitle for "king" or "ruler", now also used as a name. Can also mean "third daughter" in Twi, which is in the Akan language family.