Browse Submitted Names

This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and the order is random.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Onalenna m & f Tswana
Means "he (god) is with me" in Tswana.
Anansia f African
Feminine form of Anansi.
Ntombokhanyo f Xhosa
Means "girl of light" in Xhosa.
Tiyumba m & f Dagbani
Means "let's love them" in Dagbani.
Achiriko m & f Shona
A unisex name meaning "one who still remains there".
Phethisi m Sotho
Means "completion" in Sesotho.
Kombeho m Pare
Etymology uncertain, this name is traditionally given to babies born during winter.
Tees-ì m & f Sidamo
Means "be wise!" in Sidama.
Bangura m & f Mende
Means "strong" and "child of God" in Mende.
Hlamalani m & f Tsonga
Means "surprised" in Xitsonga.
Tintfsut f Berber
Means "of spring" in Tamazight.
Kano m Sidamo
Means "bright" in Sidama.
Ikolo m Lingala
Means “chief, leader” in Lingala.
Kokumaramara f Haya
Means "the one who consoles" in Haya.
Njeinwei m Central African (Rare)
Rare first name from Cameroon.
Akinfela m Yoruba
Means "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
Musiwanda m Kaguru
Means "lastborn" in Chikaguru.
Folashade f Yoruba, Nigerian
Variant transcription of Folasade.
Suhiyini m & f Dagbani
it literally means one heart, denoting `clean heart`
Nuname m African, Ewe
Means Gift. Used by the Ewe tribe of Ghana, Togo and Benin of West Africa.
Tẹ́níìfẹ́ f & m Yoruba
Means "roll out the carpet for life" in Yoruba.
Albarka f Hausa
Feminine form of Barak 2.
Mthandeni f Zulu
Means "love her" in Zulu.
Sithandilizwe m & f Ndebele
Means "we love our country" in Ndebele.
Thembeka m & f Xhosa
Means "reliable" in Xhosa.
Zeituni f Eastern African
This 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.
Kelebohile m Sotho
Means "I am grateful" in Sesotho.
Caster f South African
Possibly a variant of Castor.
Sicalo m Swazi
A famous bearer is Sicalo Dlamini (1987-) son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Tesfalem m Tigrinya
Means "hope of wise man" in Tigrinya.
Dinkinesh f Amharic
Means "you are a marvel" in Amharic.
Lukhona m & f Zulu (Modern)
Means "it's available" in Zulu.
Mareli f Afrikaans
Short form of Marelise.
Chezelle f Afrikaans, French
South African name, probably derived from the French, it might be from a place name in France, derived from the Occitan, meaning "hill". Or accordingly to another theory it may mean "house of her".
Ushindi m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "victory, triumph".
Sadiki m Swahili
Means "believe" in Swahili.
Joswa m Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Joshua.
Yevedzo f Shona
Meaning "captivation; fascination", deriving from the verb kuyevedza meaning "to captivate; to make one gaze".
Lefa m Sotho
Means "inheritance" in Sotho.
Kwento m Igbo
Means "let me live long" in Igbo.
Suglo m & f Dagbani
Means "patience" in Dagbani.
Ahamefuna m & f Igbo
Means "may my name not be lost" in Igbo.
Mmoatia f Akan
This is a FAIRY from the stories about Ananse (from Ghana). She was the fairy that "no man sees". This explains why Ananse had to perform a complex trick to lure her to him.
Ayamba f & m Jagham, Kenyang
Means "he/she opened the way" in Ejagham, used for the first of twins.
Dzikimai m Shona
Means “slow down” in Shona.
Oluwarantimi m & f Yoruba
Means "God remembers me" in Yoruba.
Ndarama m & f Shona
It means "gold", this name serves as a given name and a surname.
Sakalenge f Nyakyusa
Means "made of flowers" in Nyakyusa.
Locardia f African (Rare), English (Rare)
Locardia Ndandarika (1945-) is a Zimbabwean sculptor, the first woman in her country to take up stone carving professionally.
Ajike f Yoruba
Means "wakes up to be pampered" in Yoruba, from "to wake" and‎ kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Liwoli f Southern African
Malawian name.
Tameqrant f Berber
Means "the elder, senior" in Tamazight.
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)
Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Caweys m Somali
Means "night" in Somali.
Owiti m Luo
"born after a misfortune like a difficult birthing process"
Oku m & f Efik
Means Priest
Simera f Arabic, Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "good listener" in Arabic.
Thuto m Sotho
Means "lesson" in Sesotho.
Kuchinei m Shona
Kuchinei 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.
Arachie m & f Igbo
Possibly means "to have chosen a portion ahead of another; to supplant" in Igbo.
Khosi m Sotho
Means "king" in Sotho.
Tunau m Hausa
Means "remember" in Hausa.
Khalidou m Western African
Form of Khalid used in Senegal.
Xamza m Somali
Somali form of Hamza.
Faatuma f Afar
Afar form of Fatima.
Amenaghawon f & m Western African, Edo
Literally translated to "the water you shall drink" in Edo, from the proverb Amen na gha won ighi le se omwan rhae, meaning "the water you shall drink will surely come to be", implying that what is destined to be, will be.
Oumarrou m Western African
Western African transcription of عمر (see Omar).
Thulaganyo m & f Tswana
It means "program" or "structure".
Rotshidzwa m & f Venda
Means "we have been saved" in Tshivenda.
Anzansi m & f Dagbani
Means "courage" or "persistence" in Dagbani.
Aishafsat f Western African (Modern)
Combination of Aisha meaning "life" with Hafsat meaning "gathering".
Nomasonto f Zulu
Means "mother of Sundays" in Zulu.
Hanja f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "brown".
Omonefue f Western African, Edo
Means "the child is more than weight" in Edo language.
Enibraye f & m Ijaw
Means "my own" in Ijaw.
Witness m English (African), South African
From the English word, witness, "one who has personal knowledge of something".
Chipukizi f Swahili
Means "bud, sprout, shoot" in Swahili.
Tabaro m & f Tooro, Kiga, Nkore
Meaning unknown.
Gbeneowei m Ijaw
Means "complete man" in Ijaw.
Diop m Western African
Senegalese name
Ikuromo f & m Ijaw
Means "encourage me" in Ijaw.
Tebello f & m Sotho
Means "expectation" in Sotho.
Hakizimana m Rwandan, Rundi, African Mythology (Modern)
A name which means "God saves everything," imana being the name of the original Rwandan/Burundian deity and now the modern word for God in all monotheistic usages within Rwanda and Burundi.
Jiho m & f Shona
Meaning “ultisol” in Shona.
Alitash f & m Ethiopian
Means "may I not lose you"
Malith m Dinka
Refers to a specific kind of ox in Dinka.
Aguta m African
Allegedly a Lugbara name from Uganda.
Tawananyasha m & f Southern African, Shona
Means "we have found mercy" in Shona.
Foyinsola f Yoruba
Means "add honey to its wealth" in Yoruba.
Neguse m Amharic
Means "my king" in Amharic.
Anietie m Efik
Means "who could you compare to God?" in Efik.
Akwa m Efik, Ibibio
Means "elder, senior" in Efik and Ibibio.
Umaler f Berber
Means "star of the peace" in Tamasheq, language of Tuareg people.
Bukunmi m & f Yoruba
Means "add to me" in Yoruba.
Mama f Western African, Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Beke m & f Ijaw, Ogoni
Means "America" or "American" in Khana and "English" in Ijaw.
Werunako f Shona
Meaning "of beauty; a girl or woman of beauty".
Vutomi m & f Tsonga
Means "life" in Xitsonga.
Jalusiga m Alur
Meaning uncertain. A famous bearer was one of Amula’s sons, who replaced him as a chief of the Ukuru when he passed away.
Damilare m Yoruba
Yoruba... [more]
Sanura f Muslim, Swahili
Meaning, "kitten."
Izdârasen m Berber
Means "the mighty, the strong" in Tamazight.
Jekesai f Shona
"Make it clear". Meant to speak to neighbor or family to make clear their position or purpose.
Meshindi m Zulu
Means "victor" in Zulu.
Chérif m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Form of Sharif used in North Africa and parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Aminatta f Western African (Rare)
Variant of Aminata. This is borne by Aminatta Forna (1964-), a British writer of Scottish and Sierra Leonean descent.
Zié m Western African
Likely means "first" in one of the Senufo languages, as the name is traditionally given to the first-born son.... [more]
Natota m & f Southern African
Means "thank you" in Lamba, a Zambian language.
Ntfombi f Swazi
Swazi form of Ntombi.
Nkosnathi m African
South African Zulu name translated into Emmanuel meaning gift of god.
Negese m Amharic
Means "he ruled" in Amharic.
Jua m & f Swahili
Means "sun" in Swahili.
Gebregziabher m Ge'ez, Tigrinya
Means "servant of God" in Ge'ez, from Ge'ez ገብረ (gäbrä) "servant" and እግዚአብሔር (ʾəgziʾäbḥer), a Ge'ez translation of God, from Ge'ez እግዚእ (ʾəgziʾ) "lord" and ብሔር (bəḥer) “world, region”
Dovéné m Ewe
Name of Togo origin, meaning "given by God", "God's gift".
Xandulle m Somali
Xandulle is a Somali name
Nehemia m Hawaiian, Biblical Hawaiian, Afrikaans, Biblical Finnish, German
German, Hawaiian, Finnish and Afrikaans form of Nehemiah.
Simuyobewe m & f Rundi
Means "I know him/her" in Kirundi.
Oluwadurotimi f Yoruba
Means "God will stand by me" in Yoruba.
Sefanja m & f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch, Dutch (Surinamese)
Swedish, Afrikaans and Dutch form of Zephaniah.
Liel m Kongo
Liel means intelligence in Kikongo
Dayot m Western African
Diminutive of Dayotchanculle, notably borne by the French soccer player Dayot Upamecano (1998-).
Siraad f Somali
Means "lantern" in Somali.
Caynaanshe m Somali
Means "cotton" in Somali.
Mogad m Amharic
Means "wave" in Amharic.
Selam f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "peace" in Amharic.
Ketugay m & f Jola
Means "Die till you get tired of it" in Jola. This name is given to an infant who is believed to be a spirit child who has been coming and going between life and death.
Ntsumi f Tsonga
Means "angel" in Xitsonga.
Zahina f Kongo
Knowing
Gebre’elwa f Amharic
Amharic feminine form of Gabriel.
Edubamo f Ijaw
Means "honour me" in Ijaw.
Danat m Ge'ez
Coptic Christian (Ge'ez) word for the piercing on Jesus' left palm.
Akin m Yoruba
Means "the brave one" in Yoruba.
Mosela f Sotho
Means "tail" in Sotho, idiomatically meaning "the last one" or "last child".
Woldeab m Eastern African, Tigrinya
Eritrean given name, of which the meaning is as of yet unknown.... [more]
Bhumi m & f Shona
It means "wolf".
Miempie f Afrikaans
Possibly related to Miem, Miems or Miep.
Jesubori f Yoruba
Meaning "Jesus is the winner" or "Jesus overcomes" in Yoruba
Pereagbe m & f Ijaw
Means "wealth suits me" in Ijaw.
Manthia m Western African
Manthia Diawara (born December 19, 1953) is a Malian writer, filmmaker, scholar, cultural theorist, and art historian. Meaning unknown.
Achike m Igbo
Means "take the things of the world easy" in Igbo.
Tarana f Hausa
Given for females who are born during the day.
Seledebo m & f Ijaw
Means "the chosen one" in Ijaw.
Minata f African
'mother of joy'
Mountaga m African
Meaning unknown.
Tutondele m Kongo
Means "we thank you" in Kongo.
Emnet f Amharic
Means “faith, belief” in Amharic.
Lisebo f Sotho
Means "whispers" in Sotho.
Sevuri m Pare
Etymology uncertain, this name is traditionally given to babies born during the rainy season.
Nua f Ogoni
Means "second daughter" in Khana,... [more]
Matthys m Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, West Frisian
Medieval Dutch form of Matthijs as well as the modern Afrikaans and West Frisian form of Matthijs. In the Netherlands, the name has survived to modern times, but it is highly rare there currently, especially when compared to its modern counterpart.... [more]
Yinka m & f African
Nigerian unisex name.
Yetbarak m Amharic
Means "may he be blessed" in Amharic.
Ibianga f Nigerian
Perhaps a form of Ibiang
Kaskazi f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "north wind" or "hot season, summer".
Pini m & f Dagbani
Means "gift" in Dagbani.
Eminotun m African
Title of High Chief in Ijebu part of OWO in ONDO
Bol m & f Dinka
Means "twin" in Dinka.
Mulweri m Tsonga
Means "defender, advocate" in Xitsonga.
Makambo m Lingala
Means "things" in Lingala.
Tamazzalt f Berber
Means "devoted" in Tamazight.
Tsemru m Ge'ez
Means "his wool" in Ge'ez.
Ndanatsei f Shona
Means "Am I good?" in Shona.
Theonie f Afrikaans (Rare)
Afrikaans form of Théonie.
Chiratidzo f Shona
Meaning "a sign" or "a symbol.
Ekpe m Ibibio, Western African
Possibly a shortened variant of Ekpedeme.
Ulunji f & m Tumbuka
Means "righteousness, justice" in Tumbuka.
Wámirì m Yoruba
Means "(God) sought me out, found me out, found me" in Yoruba.
Adim m & f Efik
Yeddes m Tuareg
Means "he will be organised", from the Tuareg verb ddes meaning "organised".
Isaya m Swahili
Swahili form of Isaiah.
Lerothodi m & f Tswana
Means "drop" in Setswana.
Mwai m & f African, Western African
Chichewa, means "luck".... [more]
Ataïs m Kongo (Gallicized), Vili
Means ‘Papa Comes’ in Vili.
Nolwandle f Zulu
Means "mother of oceans" in Zulu.
Lololi f Western African, Ewe
Means "there is always love" in Ewe.
Adejoke f African
Variant of Ajoke.
Tungibwaga m Nyakyusa
Means "we should not forget" in Nyakyusa.
Nesuha f Ethiopian
Possible from an Arabic root nasuh which means something like sincerity, often found in the religious context taubat-an-nasuha meaning sincere return or repentance.
Nambi f Ganda, Bantu, African Mythology
Wife to the first man in Buganda Kingdom in Uganda, who is also believed to be the first living person
Agalembo m & f Bandial
Means "s/he ruins it" in Bandial.
Halas m Somali
Meaning: Halas generally means "good" or "positive" in Somali.... [more]
Sudaysi m Somali (Arabized, Modern)
Based on the name of sheikh Abdul Rahmane Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais, Imam of the great mosque of Mekka. Arab al-sudais means "the sixth".
Mika'ila m Hausa
Hausa form of Michael.
Tererai m & f Shona
Means "listen, pay attention" in Shona.
Bilen f Amharic
Means "iris" in Amharic.
Makini m & f Swahili
Means "of good character" or "strength of character" in Swahili.
Matipa m & f Shona
Means "you have given us" in Shona.
Namatinbo m & f Ijaw
Means "a hunter" in Ijaw.
Nobhalela f Zulu
Means "the one who writes" in Zulu.
Nhoro m Shona
Means "antelope" in Shona.
Kenyangi m Swahili
Means “in the countryside” in Swahili.
Athumani m Swahili
Means "third one" in Swahili.
Chimdindu m Igbo
Means "my God is alive" in Igbo.
Yufitran m Berber
Means "more handsome than the stars" in Tamazight.
Achan f Dinka
Means "female child in the first pair of twins" in Dinka.
Oluwamayowa m Yoruba
Means "the lord brought joy" in Yoruba.
Foday m Western African
Unknown meaning, possibly from the Temne or Loko languages, spoken in Sierra Leone.... [more]
Oluwatobiloba f & m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the lord is great as king" in Yoruba.
Menzi m Southern African, Zulu
Means "creator" in Zulu.... [more]
Akissi f Baoulé
Derived 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".
Kariara f Ijaw
Means "I prayed for her" in Ijaw.
Kambeu m Shona
Kambeu means "little seed". This name may be given to a child who was very small at birth
Polelo f Tswana
Means "story" in Setswana.
Donation m South African, English (Puritan)
From the word donation, meaning "an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution."
Khumoetsile m & f Tswana
Means "wealth has come" in Setswana.
Shafawu f African
Am a Ghanaian and from the northern region of Ghana.
Sithabisile f Ndebele
Means "we are very happy" in Ndebele.
Kirui m & f Kalenjin
Diminutive of Chepkirui and Kipkirui.
Henrico m Dutch (Modern), Afrikaans
Variant of Hendrik influenced by Enrico.
Eghonghon f Esan
Means "joy" in Esan.
Fanyana m Zulu
From Zulu umfanyana, abafanyana meaning "little boy".
Kusayla m Berber (Anglicized)
Kusayla or koceïla or kasîla was a berber chief from the end of the 7th century.
Mufaro f Shona
Means "happiness" in Shona.
Kebe m Mabaan, Nigerian
Meaning, "Strong man with no fear."
Akon m African American, Western African
One of the given names of the musician known as Akon.
Daraar-tu f Sidamo
Means "she blossomed" in Sidama.
Malek m Dinka
Means "brown bull" in Dinka.
Waridi f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "rose", ultimately from the Arabic Warda.
Muse m Eastern African, Somali
Variant spelling of Muuse. This spelling is used outside of Somalia.
Badinabi f Central African, Luba
Means "they have riches" in Luba-Kasai.
Raaxo f Somali
Means "enjoyment, comfort" in Somali.
Shelini f South African (Rare), Fijian (Rare), Indian (Rare)
Possibly related to the Indian name Shalini.
Amakai f & m Western African
Meaning unknown.
Bakome m Lingala
Means “they are written” in Lingala.
Mogakolodi m Tswana
Means "one who advises" in Setswana.
Mpanko f & m Dagbani
Means "am not alone" in Dagbani.
Faako m & f Dagbani
Means "mercy" in Dagbani.
Reatshwana f Tswana
Means "we look alike" in Setswana.
Murhangeli m Tsonga
Means "leader" in Xitsonga.
Akani m Tsonga
Means "build, build together" in Xitsonga.
Eskedar f Ethiopian
Means "until the night" in Amharic.
Chyà m Central African
A Kom name.
Esmarie f Afrikaans
Possibly a combination of Esme and Marie.
Nenritdung f African, Ngas, Nigerian
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning "God is good"
Shekarau m Hausa
From the Hausa shḕkarà meaning “spend the year”.
Irawo m & f Yoruba
Means "star" in Yoruba.
Mukabakama f Haya
Means "a wife of kings" in Haya.
Ladan f Somali
A name that means "healthy."
Azumi f Hausa
Means "month of fasting" in Hausa, traditionally given to girls born during Ramadan.
Rahama f Hausa
Means "mercy" in Hausa.
Yabets m Amharic
Means “sorrowful, born in pain” in Amharic.
Itsub m Ge'ez
Means "miracle" in Ge'ez.
Njelama f Nsenga
Crystal clear waters
Zobuhle f Zulu
Means "of beauty" in Zulu, from the possessive form of ubuhle.
Sasavona m & f Tsonga
Means "helper" in Xitsonga.