Browse Submitted Names

This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and a substring is a.
gender
usage
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Sangwani m & f Tumbuka
Derived from Tumbuka sangwa, meaning "rejoice".
Sankhani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "choose" in Chewa and Tumbuka.
Sannayt f Ge'ez
Means "beautiful" in Ge'ez.
Santu m & f Lingala
Means "saint" in Lingala.
Sanura f Muslim, Swahili
Meaning, "kitten."
Sanusi m Indonesian, Malay, Nigerian, Fula, Hausa
From Arabic سَنُوسِيّ (sannūsī), the name of a Sufi order and clan that existed in Libya and the Sudan region. The sect was named after its founder, Muslim theologian Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi (1787-1859).
Saone f African
Seems to be predominantly used in Botswana.
Sarabi f Swahili, Popular Culture
Means "mirage" in Swahili. This is the name of the mother of Simba and mate of Mufasa and in the Disney movie The Lion King (1994).
Sarafina f Swahili
Apparently means "bright star" in Swahili. The name might be best known from the South African musical "Sarafina!" Also, the name is often easily confused with the Hebrew name Seraphina, but despite looking similar in appearance, both names clearly have completely different etymologies.
Saran f Western African, Manding, Jula
Means "joy" in Jula.
Saratu f Hausa
Hausa form of Sara.
Saredo f Somali
Etymology uncertain, possibly from the Somali sare meaning "high, advanced".
Sarel m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Charles.
Sariaha f African, English (African)
Name introduced in the early 2010s.
Sarki m Hausa
Means "chief" in Hausa.
Saro m Ogoni
Means "first son" in Khana.
Sarraounia f Hausa
From the name of Sarraounia Mangou, a Nigerian chief or priestess who fought the French colonial troops of the Voulet–Chanoine Mission at the Battle of Lougou in 1899. According to Wikipedia, her name means "queen" or "female chief".
Sarudzai f Shona
Means "Be selective or discriminate". #Depending on circumstances the name may be a call to be selective in what you do or maybe blaming someone for being discriminating"
Sarura f Shona
It means "choose; make a selection".
Sasavona m & f Tsonga
Means "helper" in Xitsonga.
Saseka f Tsonga
Means "pretty" in Xitsonga.
Sasekani f Tsonga
Means "beautiful" in Xitsonga.
Sasekisa f Tsonga
Means "beautiful, decorate" in Xitsonga.
Satou f Western African
Short form of Isatou.... [more]
Sauti f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "voice, noise".
Sayina f Tsonga
Means "sign" in Xitsonga.
Sayo f & m Yoruba
Means "make joy" in Yoruba.
Schalk m German (Archaic), Afrikaans
From Old German scalc meaning "servant".
Schola f African
Latin word used in reference to singing and learning. May be used as a diminutive of Scholastica.
Sebaga m & f Tswana
Means "a bead" in Setswana.
Sebolai m Sotho
Means "assassin" in Sotho.
Sebutlana f Tswana
Means "small rabbit" in Setswana.
Sechaba m Sotho
The meaning is 'nation' as in 'our nation', 'the country we live in'.
Sefanja m & f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch, Dutch (Surinamese)
Swedish, Afrikaans and Dutch form of Zephaniah.
Sefeniya f Kongo
God has hidden
Sega m Wolof, Manding
Unknown meaning, possibly related to the Wolof word ségg ("tiger, leopard").
Segametsi f Tswana
Means "that which draws water" in Setswana.
Segolame f Tswana
Means "my luck" in Setswana.
Segula f Jewish, Northern African
Hebrew word name, it has several meanings.... [more]
Sehma m African
Variant of Sahma.
Seiakumokumo f Ijaw
Means "do not take me in a bad way" in Ijaw.
Seihia f Tiv
The name Originates from Tiv and it means "Peaceful Bird" or "One of a kind"
Seilatsatsi f Sotho
Meaning unknown. Seilatsatsi is a character in some Sotho tales.
Seithati f Tswana
Means "loves herself" in Tswana.
Sekaryaah m Somali
Somali form of Zechariah.
Sekelelani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "be happy, boisterous" or "laugh" in Chewa and Tumbuka.
Sekkura f Kabyle
Possibly means "partridge" in Kabyle.
Selam f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "peace" in Amharic.
Selebaleng f Tswana
Means "don't forget" in Setswana.
Sella f African, Southern African, Eastern African, Indonesian
Meaning unknown. It may be a loan word from Arabic صَلَّى‎ (ṣallā), meaning "to pray, to bless," or Arabic سَلَّى‎ (sallā), meaning "to amuse, entertain, comfort." It may also be a variation of Selah.
Semakaleng m & f Sotho
Means "surprise" in Sotho.
Semhar f & m Tigrinya
Means "Eritrean region" in Tigrinya.
Semira f Amharic, Turkish, Bosnian
Feminine form of Semir.
Semshak m African, Nigerian, Ngas
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Means "stay together".
Sena f & m Ewe
Means "destiny gives" in Ewe.
Senai m Tigrinya, Ethiopian
Means "gift from Above" in Tigrinya.
Senatla f Tswana
Means "hard worker" in Setswana.
Senyagwa m Kaguru
Means "eloquent" in Chikaguru.
Sereba m & f Akan
Means "silver" in Akan.
Serval m Western African
Directly taken from the name of the African cat species.
Sesan m Yoruba
Means "God has avenged me" in Yoruba.
Sethina f Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. This name is predominantly used in Ghana.
Setjhaba m Sotho
Means "nation" in Sesotho.
Setshaba m Tswana
Means "nation" in Setswana.
Setshwano f Tswana
Means "resemblance" in Setswana.
Seynab f Somali
Somali form of Zaynab.
Shaadiyya f Somali
Somali form of Shadya.
Shacbaan m Somali
Somali form of Shaban, the name of the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Shadari m Hausa
Means "born during the cold season" in Hausa.
Shadein f Shona, Chewa
Means "child of God" in Shona and Chewa.
Shadreck m English (African), Southern African
Variant of Shadrach. It is particularly popular in Southern African countries.
Shafawu f African
Am a Ghanaian and from the northern region of Ghana.
Shairi f African
Means "song" in Swahili.
Shameel m Indian (Muslim), Urdu, South African
Variant transcription of Shamil.
Shamiel m South African
Meaning unknown.
Shamiso f Shona
Means "amazing" in Shona.
Shandukani m & f Venda
Means "to change" in Tshivenda.
Shané f African American, Afrikaans
Probably a variant spelling of Shanae.
Shango m Western African
The name of a fire god in the traditional Yoruba religion.
Shani f African American, Swahili (?)
Allegedly means "wonder" in Swahili.
Shankaroon f Somali
Means "better than five" in Somali. It is also used as endearment to express the worth of the one child is better than five.... [more]
Shanono m & f Hausa
Means "drink milk" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to a child born when calves are being delivered.
Shareu m Amharic
Means "God exonerated him" in Amharic.
Sharifiya f Hausa
Means "born during Ramadan" in Hausa.
Sharlto m South African (Rare)
Alternative Anglicization of Sìoltach.
Sharmaarke m Somali
A name that means "see no evil" or "protect from evil." The prefix shar- means "evil."
Sharmarke m Eastern African, Somali
Variant spelling of Sharmaarke, used outside of Somalia.
Shebashi m Amharic
Means "thousand by thousand" in Amharic.
Shekarau m Hausa
From the Hausa shḕkarà meaning “spend the year”.
Shermake m Somali
Means "someone who is really lucky and brings good fortune along with them" in Somali.
Shermarke m Somali
Means "one who brings good fortune" in Somali.
Shevan m Persian, African
From the Persian, meaning "lion".
Shibkan m Hausa
Means "beans in the sowing season" in Hausa.
Shida m & f Swahili, Persian
The name is originated from Arabic language meaning horrible, suffering, hardness or struggles
Shiluva m & f Tsonga
Means "flower" in Xitsonga.
Shima m & f Tiv
Shima means heart in Tiv language
Shingirayi f & m Shona
Means "be strong" in Shona.
Shingirirai f Shona
Means "perseverance" in Shona.
Shola m & f Yoruba, African
Short form of names that end with "sola", such as Olusola or Adesola. R&B singer Shola Ama is a well-known bearer.
Shorai m & f African
it delive from shona tribe name in Zimbabwe and it means criticise
Shotah f & m South African
Meaning as of yet unknown.
Shumba m Shona
It means "lion".
Shumirai f Shona
Meaning “praise” or “express admiration, adoration or reverence.”
Siaka m Western African
Siaka, meaning ''chief'', was the one who made the tribes in primarily West Africa. In old culture every family had to name at least one son Siaka.
Sias m Afrikaans, Dutch (Rare), German (Archaic)
Short form of Josias. Known bearers of this name include the Dutch sculptor Sias Fanoembi (1949-2013) and the South African statesman Sias Hoffman (1807-1879).
Sibagege f Nyakyusa
Means "let matters face you" in Nyakyusa.
Sibakhulule m & f Ndebele
Means "we have liberated them" in Ndebele.
Sibhakabhaka f Zulu
Means "sky" in Zulu.
Sicalo m Swazi
A famous bearer is Sicalo Dlamini (1987-) son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Sifa m & f Swahili
Means "Praise"
Sifaw m Ancient Berber, Berber
Means "torch; ray of light" in Amazigh.
Sihawukele m Ndebele
Means "have mercy on us" in Ndebele.
Sijuola f Yoruba
Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Sikena f English (American, Rare), African
Transferred use of the surname Sikena.
Sikhalele m Tsonga
Means "outcry" in Xitsonga.
Sikhangezile f Ndebele
Means "we're receiving" in Ndebele.
Silam f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "peace" in Amharic.
Silina m Berber
Means "the sunsets " or "charm "
Silina f Berber
Means "sunset" or "charm"
Siman f Berber (Rare)
Siman stands for 'two souls', referring to parents, the name in away implies the child is their combination or fruit.
Simangaliso f Ndebele
Means "miracle" in Ndebele.
Simangele f South African, Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.
Simbarashe m Shona
Means "power of God" in Shona
Simera f Arabic, Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "good listener" in Arabic.
Simileoluwa f & m Yoruba
I rest on the Lord
Simretab m Ge'ez
Means "service of the Father" in Ge'ez.
Simukai m Shona
Means "rise up" in Shona.
Sinazo f Xhosa
Means "we have it" in Xhosa.
Sindisa m & f Southern African (Rare), Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu sindisa meaning "save, redeem, rescue".
Sindiswa f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi
Means "saved" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Sinenhlanhla f Zulu
Means "we have luck" in Zulu, from sine "we have" and inhlanhla "luck".
Sinethemba f South African, Zulu
Means "we have hope" in Zulu.
Sinmiloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "rest in the lord" in Yoruba.
Sintayehu f Ethiopian
Meaning "what I have been through" or "what I have seen."
Siphamandla m South African, Zulu
Means "give us strength" in Zulu.
Siphilanzima m & f Ndebele
Means "we are surviving hardships" in Ndebele.
Siphokazi f Zulu
Feminine form of Sipho.
Siphosami f Shona
Means "my gift, present" in Shona.
Sira f Ogoni
Means "first daughter" in Khana.
Siraad f Somali
Means "lantern" in Somali.
Sisaye f Amharic
The feminine form of Sisay.
Sitefanu m Yoruba (Rare)
Yoruba form of Stephen.
Sithabisile f Ndebele
Means "we are very happy" in Ndebele.
Sithandazile f Ndebele
Means "we prayed" in Ndebele.
Sithandilizwe m & f Ndebele
Means "we love our country" in Ndebele.
Sitota m Amharic
Means "gift" in Amharic.
Siya f & m English (American, Modern, Rare), South African
As an English feminine name, it is likely a modern respelling of Sia.... [more]
Siyamthanda f & m Xhosa
Means "we love him/her" in Xhosa.
Siyanda m Zulu
Means "we are increasing" in Zulu.
Siyavuya m Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Sizakele f & m Zulu
Means "be helped, be assisted" in Zulu.
Sizani f Zulu
Means "you all help" in Zulu.
Somayina f & m Igbo
The name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."
Sona f Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
Songa'nzila f Kongo
Means “the guide” in Kongo.
Sonnika f Afrikaans
Either an elaboration of Sonya or derived from the German word Sonne "sun".
Sonwabile m Xhosa
Means "we are content" or "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Sooyaan m Somali
Means "make up" in Somali.
Sorniabari f & m Ogoni
Means "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [more]
Souleymanou m Western African
Form of Sulayman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Soumaïla m Western African
Form of Isma'il used in parts of French-influenced western Africa (particularly Mali).
Soyaphi m Tsonga
Means "where will we go?" in Xitsonga.
Sroda f Western African
Means "respect".
Stanilde f Medieval English, Central African (Rare), English (Rare)
Means "Stone battle". It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon elements stan 1 meaning "Stone", and hild meaning "Battle".
Stephanetta f Afrikaans (Rare)
Feminine form of Stephan. Stephanetta Johanna Paulina (Nettie) Bredell (1877-1920) was a granddaughter of Paul Kruger (Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger), President of the South African Republic (or Transvaal) from 1883 to 1900.
Sthandekile f Ndebele
Means "we are loved" in Ndebele.
Stiaan m Afrikaans
Short form of Christiaan.
Suanu f & m Ogoni
Means "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.
Suara m Yoruba
Derived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.
Suban m Somali
Suban is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Subilaga f Nyakyusa
Means "to have patience" in Nyakyusa.
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".
Sufyaan m Somali
Somali form of Sufian.
Sugaal m Somali
Means "wait" in Somali.
Sugrinongma m & f Mossi
Means "patience is sweet" in Mossi, spoken in Burkina Faso.
Sulaimanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Suleekha f Somali
Somali form of Zuleikha.
Suleman m Arabic, Urdu, Amharic, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic سليمان (see Sulayman), as well as the Urdu, Amharic and Indonesian form.
Sulemanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Suleymaan m Somali
Somali form of Solomon.
Sulola f Yoruba
Of Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.
Sunebari m & f Ogoni
Means "give to God" in Khana.
Sungani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "custodian, keeper" in Chewa and Tumbuka.
Sungara f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "rabbit, hare".
Sunubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Sunday" in Ijaw.
Sura f Muslim, Berber
Means "highness of status, highness of rank, glory" in Arabic.
Susara f Afrikaans
Contraction of Susanna and Sara.
Susarah f Afrikaans
Variant of Susara.
Suubban f Somali
Means “goodbye” in Somali.
Suubban f Somali
Means "modest" in Somali.
Suwilanji m & f African
From the namwaanga tribe of Northern Zambia and the adjuscent part of Tanzania.... [more]
Swaa m Bariba
Means "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.
Swala f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "antelope".
Swelia f African
African variation of Swela, from Arabic name Suela, meaning "beautiful and even".
Symphoria f Late Roman, African (Rare), German (Archaic)
Feminine form of Symphorius. It should also be noted that like Symphorina, this name is sometimes encountered as a corruption (or perhaps short form in this case) of Symphoriana.
Syokimau f Eastern African
The Kamba Spiritual Predictor Syokimau was a famous bearer of the name.
Taali-mbo f & m Dagbani
Means "thank you so much" in Dagbani.
Tabaro m & f Tooro, Kiga, Nkore
Meaning unknown.
Tabi m Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tabia f African
From the Swahili word for “talented.”
Tadairaishe m & f Shona (Anglicized, Rare)
Those who answered God's call/agreed or believed in God's word
Tadalesh m Somali
Means "person who possesses a lot of good luck" in Somali.
Tadêfi f Berber
Means "sweetness" in Berber.
Taderfit f Berber (Rare)
Means "liberation" in Berber.
Tadisa f & m Shona
It means "we have loved profusely/a great deal", from the verb 'kudisa' meaning "to love a lot/profusely". A longer form of the name may be Tadisisa.
Tadisisa f & m Shona
It means "we have loved profusely/a great deal and with much abundance", from the verb 'kudisisa' meaning "to love a lot/profusely and with great abundance". A shorter form of the name may be Tadisa.
Tadiswanashe f Shona
Means "We've been loved by God" in Shona.
Tadiwanashe m & f Shona
Zimbabwean name....it mean God is proud of us
Tadiwanashe m Shona
Means "God loves us" in Shona.
Tadiwanashe m Shona
It isa Zimbabwean based name meaning God loves us
Tadjidine m Comorian
Comorian form of Taj ad-Din.
Tadla f Berber (Rare)
Means "branches" in Berber.
Tafa m & f Yoruba
Means "belonging to the white oracle" in Yoruba, derived from ti meaning "belonging to", àlà meaning "white cloth; banner" and ifá meaning "divination; oracle". It is possibly used as diminutive of a longer name as well.
Tafachi f Amharic
Means "sweet" in Amharic.
Tafalkayt f Berber
Means "beauty" in Tamazight.
Tafara m Shona
We are happy
Tafarri m Amharic
Means "one who is respected" in Amharic.
Tafat f & m Ancient Berber, Berber
Means "light" in Amazigh.
Tafeta m Sotho
Sotho form of David.
Tafna f Ancient Berber, Berber (Rare)
Possibly derived from the name of a river in northwestern Algeria.
Tafrara f Kabyle
Means "aurora, dawn, daybreak" in Kabyle.
Tafsut f Kabyle
Means "spring, springtime" in Kabyle.
Tafuma m Shona
We are now rich, we are enriched
Tagala f & m Southern African (Rare)
We are now settled
Tagutswa m Shona
Means "we are pleased" in Shona.
Tagwerramt f Berber
It stands for ‘pious or holy’
Tagwilalt f Berber
Means "stork" in Tamazight.
Tagwizult f Berber
Means "brave" in Berber.
Tahama m & f Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Taheyyâtt f Berber
Means "wanderer" in Tamazight.
Tahiil m Somali
Means "someone who is well balanced" in Somali.
Tahirou m Western African
Western African elaboration of Tahir.
Taio m Yoruba, Papuan
Variant 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.
Taitu f Ethiopian
Name of a 19th century Ethiopian empress known for founding the now-capital city of Addis Ababa and fending off Italian invasion of Ethiopia
Takalani m & f Venda
Means "be happy" in Tshivenda.
Takama f Berber
Means "warmth" in Berber.
Takashinga m Shona
Meaning "we are resilient"; it derives from the verb kushinga.
Takatifu m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "sacred, holy".
Takawira m Shona
Means "we have fallen" in Shona.
Takle-haimanot m Ge'ez
Means "plant of the faith" in Ge'ez.
Takola m Amharic
Means "wolf" in Amharic.
Takudzwa m Shona
Means "we have been honoured" in Shona.
Takunda f & m African
Means "we have conquered" in Shona.
Takura m African
Shona language in Zimbabwe (Southern Africa)derived from the verb to grow up or mature. It can also mean "to carry" but is seldom used for this meaning in a name.
Talana f South African, English
Use of this name in South Africa probably owes something to the Battle of Talana Hill in 1899.