This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and the number of syllables is 2.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aber f & m AlurMeans "I'm better" or "I'm good" in Alur language.
Abra f EweMeans "Tuesday-born girl" in Ewe.
Abyan m SomaliFrom the Somali word Abyee which translates to "to complete or to perfect"
Acan f & m AlurMeans "I suffer" in Alur language. The name may be given to a child born when the parents were experiencing poverty or suffering.
Ado m & f YorubaPossibly derived from Yoruba
ádò meaning "medicine gourd". This is also the name of two cities in Nigeria, both with different etymology.
Akeer f DinkaThe name Akeer is often associated with
strength,
leadership, and
resilience in Dinka culture, native to South Sudan.
Andi m & f DagbaniMeans "you will win" or "victor" in Dagbani.
Ashe f YorubaFrom Yoruba
àṣẹ meaning "power, authority, command". In Yoruba religion, àṣẹ is the natural power that makes things happen and produces change.
Banga m ShonaMeans "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.
Barre m SomaliA name that comes from the Somali word bare which means "teacher." Barre was the last name (meaning the first name of the grandfather of) Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali spelling: Maxamed Siyaad Barre). Siad Barre was the military ruler and president of Somali from 1969 until 1991.
Beydaan f SomaliSomali feminine name taken directly from the ordinary vocabulary word for "almond", which is perhaps ultimately from Persian
بادام (
bâdâm) "almond".
Bimpẹ f YorubaMeans "one who is gorgeous and beautiful" in Yoruba.
Bola f YorubaShort form of
Bolanle, meaning "wealth coming". It is composed of
bo ("come, coming") plus
ǫlà ("riches, wealth").
Boma m & f SwahiliMeaning "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).
Busine f PunuMeans "wealth, richness, well-being" in Punu.
Caydiid m SomaliDerived from the Somali words
cay, meaning "insult," and
diid, meaning "to reject," interpreted as "rejects insults".
Cézanne f & m English, AfrikaansFrom the French artist, Paul Cézanne. This name is sometimes used as a feminine name by Afrikaners in South Africa due to its similarity to
Suzanne.
Cilmi m SomaliA name that derives from the word cilmi which means "knowledge" or "learning."
Danat m Ge'ezCoptic Christian (Ge'ez) word for the piercing on Jesus' left palm.
Deka f & m AfricanAn 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.
Dele m NigerianAn uncommonly used name from the West African country of Nigeria. This name is commonly pronounced as 'Deli' but this is not the real way on how to pronounce this name.
Ekow m Akan"Born on a Thursday" or "Thursday-born".
Fadha f SomaliPossibly from Arabic
فِضَّة (fiḍḍa), meaning "silver" or
فَضَاء (faḍāʔ), meaning "empty space".
Fana f EthiopianMeans “light” or “jungle” in various African languages.
Fedens f AfricanMeaning unknown. This was the name of Tatiana Rusesabagina's sister-in-law, portrayed by Leleti Khumalo in 'Hotel Rwanda' (2004).
Geesi f SomaliMeans "a courageous man, brave, hero" in Somali.
Gifti f OromoMeans "lady" or "queen" in Afaan Oromo.
Haile m Ge'ez, Amharic, EthiopianMeans "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.
Hibaaq f SomaliDerived from Arabic هِبَة
(hiba) meaning "gift, grant".
Hoodo f SomaliThis name comes from the Somali word hoodo which means "luck, fortunate." Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as Hodo.
Igmar m AfrikaansAfrikaans. Combination of his mother and fathers name. Siegfried and Marieta. Ig and Mar. Combined Igmar
Jabai m AfricanNamed after a african serial killer in the 5th century.
Jebet f AfricanKalenjin name from the Rift Valley area of Kenya. Means born 'during the day'.
Jhené f EthiopianDerived from the Ethiopian word
Ghenet, meaning "paradise" or "garden of Eden."
Kaci m & f BerberCan be derived from the Amazigh root qas or kass, which may mean "to share" or "to divide." Can be feminine in the form of Moroccan
Kassi.
Kande f HausaUnknown etymology. This name is usually given to a girl born after two or more successive boys.
Keza f RwandanIn Kinyarwanda, the given name "Keza" means "beautiful," "good," or "graceful." and can also be used as an adjective to describe something or someone who is pleasing, attractive, or excellent in character or appearance.
Kimya f SwahiliMeans "silent" in Swahili. This is the name of musician Kimya Dawson.
Komla m AfricanUsed in Ghana, West Africa. Means Tuesday born boy in Ewe
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... [
more]
Kwena m & f SothoMeans "crocodile" in the Sotho and Tswana languages. This name is chiefly used by Northern Sotho people.
Lamrot f AmharicMeans beautiful or knowledgable. Also common as a surname in Ethiopia.
Langa m ZuluFrom Zulu
ilanga "sun, sunshine, day".
Leboo m SothoMeans, "Be thankful" from the Sesotho "Lebohang" – meaning “Be thankful” or “Give thanks”.
Lemi m & f OromoFrom the Oromo verb “leemuu” which means to be sweet, pleasant, or soft. Prevailing masculine usage in Ethiopia.
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).
Loza f AmharicThe Amharic form of Luz, the name of a place in the Bible where it is believed Jacob saw his ladder.
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.
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.
Nandi f ZuluMeans "sweet" in Zulu. This was the name of the mother of
Shaka, famed warrior king of the Zulus in colonial South Africa (though her grave is marked
Nindi).
Neneh f Western AfricanMeaning unknown, possibly a variant of
Nana 4 or
Nnenne. It is borne by Swedish singer Neneh Cherry (1964-), who inherited the name from her Sierra Leonean paternal grandmother.
Nhamo f & m AfricanMeans "Disaster" in Shona. It is the title character in A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer.
Nzero m ShonaMeaning “wisdom; insight; sagacity”, it corresponds with the name
Njere.
Obax f SomaliIt means “as delicate and beautiful as a flower” in Somali.
Ofu m IdomaMeans "power, strength" in Idoma.
Ojo m YorubaThis name is given when a child is born with the umbilical cord around their neck.
Praisthel f South African (Rare)The name comes from the the phrase Praise the Lord. Some of the letters from the pharse are removed to turn it into a name.
Qassi m & f Berber (Arabized, Rare), Persian (Modern, Rare)Arabized form of
Kaci. In Arabic, Qassi (قاسي) means "hard", "tough", or "stern". For example, قاسي الملامح (qāsī al-malāmiḥ) is a phrase meaning "stern features" (used to describe someone with a tough or serious expression)... [
more]
Reydan f AfricanThe name Reydan means "Gift of God, Handsome King". The most time this name was used was in 2017 when only 5 boys were named Reydan
Roeh m African (Modern, Rare)Bassa African pronunciation of the hebrew word "Rapha," meaning "heals." Native to Ghana and Monrovia Liberia.
Rungo m SwahiliThe name Rungo has different meaning but they all mean the same thing. It mewns a “”weapon of war”” mostly a “”war club””... [
more]
Sade f Yoruba, English (Modern)Short form of
Folasade. It was popularized in the mid-80s due to the Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu (born Helen Folasade Adu, 1959-) and her eponymous smooth jazz band Sade.
Shima m & f TivShima means heart in Tiv language
Somto m IgboThe name Somto is a name with Igbo origin. In Igbo, Somto is a shortened form of
Somtochukwu, which translates to "Join me in praising God" or "Rejoice with me in the Lord."
Sorelle f Central AfricanUnknown, possibly an invented name with the suffix
-elle. It is specially popular in Cameroon.
Tahiil m SomaliMeans "someone who is well balanced" in Somali.
Taio m Yoruba, PapuanVariant of
Tayo. A famous bearer is British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz (1985-), born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, the son of a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother.
Tasa f BerberMeans "love" when used as a name. Literally means "liver," the organ thought to be the seat of emotions, much like the heart's role in Western cultures.
Tena f & m EthiopianPossibly from Ethiopian ጠና (
t'ena) meaning "become strong" or "older".
Tharja m Berber (Rare)Derived from the Berber word
ⵜⵓⵔⵣⴰ or
ⵜⴰⵔⵊⴰ for the "Apple of Sodom", (scientific name: Calotropis procera), a plant native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region.
Tidiane m Western AfricanFrom a French word used to refer to a follower of Tijaniyyah, a Sufi order that originated in Northern Africa.
Tisa m & f SwahiliMeans "nine" in Swahili. It is often given to the ninth-born child.
Titi f YorubaMeans "forever" in Yoruba and is typically a short form for names starting with
Titi such as
Titilayo.
Totit f AmharicMeans "monkey" in Amharic. It is used as a nickname in Ethiopia.
Tyjah m & f African, African American (Modern)Apparently means "smart" in one of the languages on the African continent. However, the name can also be derived from the name abbreviation (or initials)
T.J., which is typically pronounced as "tee-jay" and its pronunciation henceforth developed into a first name of its own right (
Teejay).
Ubax f SomaliMeans "flower" or "blossom" in Somali.
Ugbad f SomaliThe meaning is a "Bouquet of Roses". It is a new name, people used it as a very advanced language term of the meaning.
Ugo m & f IgboMeans "eagle" in Igbo. It is also a short form of names containing the element
ùgó.
Ulu f IgboGiven for the second-born female.
Wada f OromoEast african (Kushitic, Oromo) meaning "Promise".
Xola m & f XhosaMeans "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
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.
Yeshi f AmharicMeans "for a thousand". This name is often combined with other names (
Yeshimebet is an example).
Zinhle f ZuluMeans "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.
Zuva f ShonaMeans "day; daylight; sun; sunlight" in Shona.