Browse Submitted Names

Bhekizifundiswa m Zulu
Means "watch the educated ones" in Zulu.

Bibuwa m Swahili
Means “boss” in Swahili.

Bilonda f Southern African

Bineta f Western African

Binta f Hausa
From the Arabic بِنْت‎ (bint) meaning "daughter".

Biria f Shona
Means "gathering" in Shona.

Bishisha f Rwandan
Means “they hide” in Kinyarwanda.

Bisola f & m Yoruba

Bit'a f Amharic

Bitanya f Ethiopian

Bobolayefa f Ijaw
Means "nothing can be compared to my own" in Ijaw.

Bobomiegha f Ijaw
Means "I didn't do it on my own" in Ijaw.

Bodesta f & m Southern African (Rare), Indonesian (Rare)

Boghuma f Western African

Bokidara m & f Ibibio
Means "accept with joy" in Ibibio.

Bola f Yoruba
Short form of Bolanle, meaning "wealth coming". It is composed of bo ("come, coming") plus ǫlà ("riches, wealth").

Bolata f Indian (Rare, ?), Southern African (Rare, ?)

Bolawa m Nigerian

Boma m & f Swahili
Meaning "fort or enclosure". The word actually originates from Swahili and is traditionally known as an enclosure, a stockade or fort used to protect people's livestock (usually sheep and cattle).

Bompaka m & f Kongo
Means "old age" in Kikongo

Bonabana f Tooro

Bonduwa f Lingala, African Mythology
Bonduwa was Lonkundo’s first wife in the Mongo mythology complex.

Bonga m Mbundu
Means "he who is looking" in Mbundu.

Bonna f Bariba
Name traditionally given to the second born daughter.

Bozoma f Western African
From Ghana.

Brahima m Western African
Form of Ibrahim used in parts of western Africa.

Brihita f Luba

Brumilda f Afrikaans

Brunelda f Afrikaans, Italian
Variant of Brunilda.

Buba m African

Bukata m & f Bemba
Means "God's glory" in Bemba.

Bundura f Southern African
unsure

Buronya m & f Akan
Means "Christmas" in Akan. This may be given to children born around this time of year.

Busara f Swahili
Means "wisdom" in Swahili.

Busola m & f Yoruba
Means "added wealth" in Yoruba.

Byamugisha m Kiga
Means "things of luck" in Rukiga.

Byénáama m Kiga
Means "things of secrets" in Rukiga.

Caa'isha f Somali (Rare)
Somali variant of Aisha.

Cabdalla m Somali
Variant of Cabdullaahi.

Cabh'a f Kabyle
Possibly means "beautiful" in Kabyle.

Calphurnia f South African (Rare)
Variant of Calpurnia.

Calvinia f South African
Feminine form of Calvin.

Carelia f Afrikaans, Spanish (Mexican), Spanish (Latin American), Danish (Archaic)
Afrikaans feminine form of Carel and Spanish and Danish variant of Karelia.

Caria f English (Rare), South African
Possibly a variant of Carrie or Cara, or from the ancient place name Caria... [more]

Cebisa f & m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "to suggest, to give advice" in Xhosa.

Čʼena m Sidamo
Means "little" in Sidama.

Ceronia f South African (Rare)

Chaka f & m African American (Rare), South African (Rare)

Chamsia f Eastern African
Possibly a Comorian form of Shams. A notable bearer is Comorian singer Chamsia Sagaf (1955-).

Chaniya f Swahili
Means "wealthy" in Swahili.

Chapanjira f Chewa
Means "of the road, of the journey" in Chewa.

Charlinda f Afrikaans

Chawanangwa m Tumbuka
Means "blessing, gift" in Tumbuka.

Cheikha f Arabic (Maghrebi, Rare), Western African (Rare)
Feminine form of Sheikh (chiefly Algerian and Mauritanian).

Cheja f Kaguru
Means "we came" in Chikaguru.

Chenzira m & f Southern African, Shona
Means "born on a journey" in Shona.

Chéria f Central African, Kongo (?)

Chetanna m & f Igbo
Means "remember the father" in Igbo.

Cheyeza m & f Tsonga
Means "bright" in Xitsonga.

Chidera m Igbo
Means "God is here" in Igbo.

Chiedza f African
Meaning Light/Dawn... [more]

Chiejina m & f Igbo
Means "let the night not come" in Igbo.

Chiemeela m Igbo
This is a name that is given among the Igbos usually it has a celebratory undertone to it. It is formed by joining two words "CHI-EMEELA" - "God thank you" Chi-God and Emeela-thank you/well done Usually it is given to baby boys when the parents are satisfied or do not wish to have more children, especially if the gender of the child was sought after.

Chigbata m Nigerian
Igbo man and he is from Anambra state,Nigeria

Chigenda m Kaguru
Means "let us go" in Chikaguru.

Chikamara m & f Igbo
Means "God knows best" or "God is wisdom" in Igbo.

Chikanma f & m Igbo
Means "God is the best" in Igbo.

Chikira f African

Chikodinaka f African, Igbo
Means "in God's hands" in Igbo.

Chikomera m & f Chewa
Means "goodwill, compassion" in Chewa.

Chilongola m Kaguru
Means "first" in Chikaguru.

Chilufya m & f Bemba
Means "the one who is lost" in Bemba.

Chimamanda f Igbo
Means "my God will not fail me" in Igbo. A famous bearer is Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Chimebuka m & f Igbo

Chimika f & m Tumbuka
After miscarriage(s), family would use traditional medicine (herbs, roots, barks) to prevent a potential next miscarriage. Kumika means "to stop, halt, prevent". Chimika is what you use to stop, prevent, halt... [more]

Chimola m Kaguru
Means "seizer, breaker of things" in Chikaguru.

Chimurenga m Shona
Chimurenga is a Shona word roughly translated to English as, "revolutionary struggle". The Shona language is spoken by the Shona people of Zimbabwe. This word is sometimes used as a given name.

Chinaka m & f Igbo (Rare)

Chinangunga m & f African
Variety of vernacular language among people living along lake Nyasa in Tanzania.

Chinaza m Chewa
Means “what happened” in Chichewa.

Chincia f Igbo
Variant of Chinasa.

Chinoza m African
Zezuru name for one who knows much but says less

Chinua m African, Nigerian, Igbo
meaning: god's own blessing... [more]

Chishimba m & f Bemba
The name Chishimba originates from the Bemba people of Zambia, a Bantu-speaking ethnic group. It holds cultural and linguistic significance in Zambia. The name derives from the Bemba language and carries meanings rooted in positivity and charm.... [more]

Chiwa f Yao
Means "death" in Yao.

Chokomera m & f Chewa
Means "compassion" in Chewa.

Chosaning'oma m Tumbuka
Means "remove bad things" in Tumbuka.

Chriselda f Afrikaans, South African, Filipino
Presumably a variant of Griselda, influenced by names beginning with "Chris-", such as Christine.

Christia f English, Afrikaans
Variant of Kristia.

Chriszelda f Afrikaans
Variant of Chriselda.

Chrizanna f Afrikaans
Variant of Chrizanne.

Chrizelda f Afrikaans
Variant of Chriselda.

Chukwucheta m Igbo
Means "let God remember" in Igbo.

Chukwueneka m Igbo
Means "God has dealt kindly with" in Igbo.

Chukwufumnanya f Igbo
Combination of Chukwu and Fumnanya.

Chuma m & f Bemba
Means "wealth" in Bemba.

Chyà m Central African
A Kom name.

Clarencia f Medieval Spanish, South African (Rare), American (South, Rare)
Variant of Clarentia.

Corla f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

Corlea f Afrikaans

Corlia f Afrikaans
Contracted form of Cornelia.

Coumba f Western African, Fula
Means "the one who has the strength" in Fula.

Credonia f Eastern African
Ugandan name

Criselda f Filipino (Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of Chriselda.

Crizelda f Filipino (Rare), South African (Rare), American (Hispanic, Rare, ?)
Variant of Chriselda.

Dadiya f Ethiopian

Dahama m & f Dagbani
Means "riches" in Dagbani.

Dalanda f Western African, African American
Means "creative" in Fulani.

Dambisa f Southern African
A Zambian feminine name borne by the economist Dambisa Felicia Moyo.

Damilola m & f Yoruba
Means "God makes me wealthy" in Yoruba.

Damya f Berber, Northern African, History
Tamazight feminine given name, an alternative possible given name of the Berber warrior-queen and leader Kahina.

Danata f Ge'ez
Feminine form of Danat.

Dandauda m Hausa
Is the name given to Sulaiman

Dangana m & f Dagbani
Means "confidence" or "trust in the goodness of God" in Dagbani.

Daniwa f Shona
Meaning "be called".

Ɗantala m Hausa
From the Hausa ɗa meaning “son” and Tàlātā̀ meaning “Tuesday”.

Daraima m Efik
Means "celebrate love" in Efik.

Darra f & m Nigerian

Dasta m Ethiopian

Dativa f Late Roman, History (Ecclesiastical), Eastern African, Portuguese (Rare), Spanish (Rare), Filipino (Rare)
Feminine form of Dativus. This was the name of a 5th-century Christian martyr from North Africa. It is mostly used in Eastern Africa (mainly in Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda).

Dauda m Hausa
Hausa form of David.

Daulayefa m Ijaw
Means "nothing can be compared to a father" in Ijaw.

Davenia f African American, Jamaican Patois, South African

Davincia f Southern African
Peace and love

Deeqa f Somali

Degawayna m Somali

Deka f & m African
An African name of unknown origin, this unisex baby name means "pleasing".

Dela f Zulu (Rare)
Dela. in Zulu it means to become whole, to feel complete and satisfied.

Delista f Eastern African

Demeteriya f Eastern African
Of unknown origin and meaning. ... [more]

Deobia m Nigerian
Short form of Oladeobia.

Deressa m Eastern African, Amharic
Variant of Deresse.

Derifagha f & m Ijaw
Means "laughter can never end" in Ijaw.

Desagana m Western African

Desita f Amharic
Means "joy, happiness" in Amharic.

Dia f African, Mbama
Means "love" in Lembaama.

Dialika f Western African
Of unknown origin and meaning.... [more]

Diarra m African
sawhili

Diata f Mande (?)

Diba f Luba
Means "sun" in Tshiluba language spoken in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Didiza f Zulu
Means "flutter" in Zulu.

Diekololaoluwa f Yoruba
Means "god's blessing is not small" in Yoruba.

Dieynaba f Wolof

Dikaya m & f Manjak
Means "is going nowhere" in Manjak. This name is given to protect the child from an early death.

Diksa m & f African
MEANING "PLAY", USED BY THE YUNGUR PEOPLE OF THE ADAMAWA HIGHLANDS IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA.NIGERIA.

Dimena f Lingala
Means “to be close, to be nearby” in Lingala.

Dipesalema m Tswana
Means "psalms" in Tswana.

Disaaka m & f Akan
Means "you deserve saying it" in Akan.

Diya f African, Mbama
Variant of Dia.

Dizgha m Tumbuka
Means "to be quiet" in Tumbuka.

Djama m Manding
Means “the crowd” in Bambara.

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).

Dona f Kongo
Princess/ Queen

Dorah f English (Rare), South African (Rare), African, Haitian Creole (Rare)
Variant of Dora.

Dorathea f English, Afrikaans, Dutch, Romansh
Variant of Dorothea.

Doubra m & f Ijaw
Means "will" or "desire" in Ijaw.

Dova f Shona
Meaning "dew".

Doyinsola f Yoruba
Means "my wealth is sweet" in Yoruba.

Drissa m Western African
Form of Idris 1 used in parts of western Africa.

Duah m Akan
Means "tree" in Akan.

Duma m Swahili
Means "cheetah" in Swahili.... [more]

Dumisa m & f Tumbuka
Means "praise, worship" or "thank you" in Tumbuka.

Dunia f & m Arabic, Swahili, Spanish, Galician
Derived from Arabic دُنْيَا (dunyā) "world (the Earth, or any this-worldly habitat, excluding the next world)".

Dur-eessa m Sidamo
Means "rich" in Sidama.

Dya f African, Mbama
Variant of Dia.

Dyhia f Berber
Variant of Dihya.

Dziva f Shona
Means "water" in Shona.

Dzuwa m & f Chewa
Means "sunshine" in Chewa.

Ebanehita f Nigerian

Ebbaba f Northern African

Ebeleuzoma f Western African (Modern)
Combination of Ebele meaning "mercy, kindness" with Uzoma meaning "good way".

Ebidisebofa m & f Ijaw
Means "there is no one that doesn't like good things" in Ijaw.

Ebigba m Ijaw
Means "talk good" in Ijaw.

Ediwakima f & m Efik, Ibibio
Means "abundance; love" in Ibibio and Efik.

Eduardina f Flemish (Rare), Dutch (Archaic), Dutch (Surinamese), Afrikaans (Archaic)
Feminine form of Eduard.

Eethaba m Zulu
Means “happy” in Zulu.

Effia f Akan, Literature
Meaning, “girl born on Friday.”

Efosa m Yoruba
meaning "God's Well" and is of Beninese origin

Egberta f African (Rare), Antillean Creole (Rare), Hungarian
Feminine form of Egbert.

Egobunma f Nigerian

Ehizefua m Esan
Means: my (Ehi) Destiny (ze) chooses (Efua) Light or what is white

Ejiga m African
Ejiga is an igala name from kogi state of in the central region of nigeria

Ekalia f Yoruba

Ekejiuba m Nigerian
Chineke ji uba... [more]

Ekirah f African

Ekpa f & m Efik

Elanza f South African

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".

Elizma f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elizabeth Maria.

Elizna f Afrikaans

Elkaissa f Berber (Rare)
Possibly means "the pause" from Kabyle Berber.

Ellouisa f English (British, Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of Elouisa.

Elna f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elisabeth and Helena.

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.

Elonga f Lingala
Means "victory" in Lingala.

Elreza f Afrikaans

Elsina f Dutch (Rare), English (American, Rare), Afrikaans
Dutch diminutive of Elisabeth as well as a feminine form of Ale 2.

Elzina f English (American, Archaic), Afrikaans
Variant of Elsina.

Ema m & f Efik

Emelda f Dutch (Rare), English (Rare), Spanish (Philippines), South African, Nigerian
Variant of Imelda.

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).

Emmanuelina f English (African), Eastern African
Feminine form of Emmanuel, particularly used in Tanzania and Uganda.

Emmarentia f Afrikaans
Variant of Emerentia influenced by Emma.

Emmerentia f German (Bessarabian), Afrikaans
Variant of Emerentia.

Enanela f Zulu
Means "rejoice" in Zulu.

Eniara f & m Yoruba, Nigeria

Enoba f Idoma
Means "mother of my husband" or "mother-in-law" in Idoma.

Erhuanga m Nigerian (Rare)
It is from Ozalla village

Erima f Nigerian (Rare), Papuan

Eriya m Shona
Shona form of Elijah.

Esabella f English (Rare), South African
Variant of Isabella.

Esasa f Zulu
Means "be happy" in Zulu.

Esca f Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Eska.

Esitala f Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Esther.

Esna f Afrikaans

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.

Estha f English (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

Estia f Greek Mythology (Italianized), Greek (Rare), Afrikaans
Modern Greek and Italian form of Hestia.

Eta m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from ɛ́tá meaning "father" in Kenyang.

Etana m Ethiopian, Oromo

Eteakamba m Efik
Efik origin, meaning, Great grand father,

Ethuka f Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.

Ethwasa f Zulu
Means "start anew" in Zulu.

Eunica f English (African), South African
Latinate variant of Eunice.

Evera f Dutch (Rare), English (Rare), African (Rare)

Excelia f South African

Ezana m Ethiopian
Ezana or Ezanas (c.303– c.350 CE/AD) was king of Aksum, now Ethiopia. Ezana was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity. Ezana is a Geʽez (an ancient Ethiopian Semitic language) name of unknown meaning... [more]

Ezelda f Afrikaans (Rare)

Ezenwa m Igbo (Rare)
The name Ezenwa is an Igbo name meaning King, Prince, or Son of King

Faaduma f Somali
Strickly Somali form of Faduma.

Faaiezah f South African (Rare)

Faatuma f Afar
Afar form of Fatima.

Faayy-a m Sidamo
Means "beautiful" in Sidama.

Faderera f African
Meaning"God's Crown"

Fadha f Somali
Possibly from Arabic فِضَّة (fiḍḍa), meaning "silver" or فَضَاء (faḍāʔ), meaning "empty space".

Fadhma f Kabyle
Kabyle form of Fatima.

Fadimata f Western African
Variant of Fatimata, especially used in Mali.

Fadma f Berber
Variant of Fadhma used in Morocco.

Faduma f Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Fatimah.

Fa'idah f Hausa
Means "benefit, advantage" in Hausa.

Fa'iqah f Hausa
Means "surpassing, excellent" in Hausa.

Faisa f Swahili
Swahili/Arabic, meaning successful/victorious

Fa'izah f Hausa
Means "victorious" in Hausa.

Fakaba m African (?)

Fakulera f Haya
Means "just raise her" in Haya.

Falala f Western African, Fula
Means "born into abundance" in Fula.

Famandha m Tsonga
Means "give power" in Xitsonga.

Famara m Manding, Wolof, Western African
From the name of the Manding ruler Famara Mané (or Nfamara Mané), who lead a revolt in the kingdom of Kaabu in 1865. It is mostly used throughout Senegal and The Gambia.

Fana f Ethiopian
Means “light” or “jungle” in various African languages.

Fanaka f & m Swahili
Means “nice” in Swahili.

Fanta f Manding, Eastern African
Mande form of Fatima.

Fanyana m Zulu
From Zulu umfanyana, abafanyana meaning "little boy".

Fara m & f Shona
Meaning "happy" or "joyous".

Faraja f & m Swahili
Means "consolation, comfort" in Swahili.

Fardowsa f Somali
Somali form of Firdaus.

Farhia f Somali, Arabic
Fariha "happiness" From the Arabic word for happy

Farhiya f Swahili, Somali
Variant transcription of Fariha.

Farijika f Swahili
Means “be relieved” in Swahili.

Fasika m Amharic
Means "Easter" in Amharic.

Fasina f Nigerian

Fasingha m & f Ijaw
Means "a name never dies" in Ijaw.

Fatouma f Western African
Form of Fatimah used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.

Fatoumia f Comorian
Comorian form of Fatima.

Fayola f African
Good fortune walks with honor.

Fayola f Yoruba

Fela m Yoruba, Nigerian
Diminutive of Olufela

Felagha f & m Ijaw
Means "death has not reached me" in Ijaw.

Fetera f Amharic
Means "creative" in Amharic.

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]

Finda f African

Fisseha m Ge'ez
Means "joy" in Ge'ez.

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

Foyinsola f Yoruba
Means "add honey to its wealth" in Yoruba.

Fracia f African

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

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

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

Fredua m Western African, Akan, Ashanti

Fulata f & m Tumbuka
Means "second", given to the second-born of twins.

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

Funmilola m & f Yoruba
Means "give me wealth" in Yoruba.

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]

Fwasa 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"

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

Ganza m Rwandan
Meaning "reign" in Kinyarwanda.

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

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.

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

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

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

Gbayena f & m Ijaw