Eastern African Submitted Names
Eastern African
names include those from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. See also
about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ABERA m EthiopianMeans "light" or "he shines". Used as both a given name and a surname.
ABOYO f LuoMeans "one who saunters" in Luo.
ABUTO f LuoMeans "I have hidden" in Luo.
ADANECH f AmharicMeans "she saved" or "she rescued" or "she has rescued them" in Amharic.
ADONGO m & f LuoMeans "second of the twins" in Luo.
AKETCH f LuoMeans "born during a famine" in Luo.
AWINO f LuoMeans "born with the cord around" in Luo.
AWUOR f LuoMeans "the greedy one" in Luo.
AYAAN f SomaliMeans "lucky, fortunate" or possibly "bright" in Somali.
BAKAFFA m Eastern AfricanBakaffa (throne name Asma Sagad, later Masih Sagad Ge'ez መሲህ ሰገድ, "to whom the anointed bows") was nəgusä nägäst (May 18, 1721 – September 19, 1730) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
[more] BARKHAD m SomaliPossibly means "blessings" from Arabic بَرَكَة
(baraka) "blessing, bless".
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".
CAWIL m SomaliA name that means "replacement." A family may give the name to a male whose father or older brother has died.
CAWO f SomaliA name that comes from the Somali word cawo which means "luck." Outside of Somalia, Somalis may spell it as Awo.
CHUKI f & m SwahiliMeans "born during a time of hatred" in Swahili.
CILMI m SomaliA name that derives from the word cilmi which means "knowledge" or "learning."
DANIACHEW m AmharicMeans "arbitrate between them" or "you be the judge" in Amharic.
DIRIC m SomaliA name that comes from the Somali word diric which means "bold; fearless or daring." The name connotes courage or heroism. Outside of Somalia, a Somali person may spell the name as DIRI.
DUNIA m SwahiliNeans "world, earth," ultimately from Arabic
dunyā (دُنْيَا) meaning "world, kingdom, universe."
EJIGAYEHU f Amharic, EthiopianMeans "I have seen a lot good/better" in Amharic. This was the name of a famous singer Ejigayehu Shibabaw, better known as Gigi.
ENKU f AmharicThis feminine name means "pearl" in Amharic.
ESTOMIHI m Eastern African, IndonesianThe name is derived from the name of the sunday 50 days before easter. The Latin words
Esto mihi are the first two words of Psalm 31:3 and mean "Thou art to me".
EYOB m EthiopianIt is used in Ethiopia and means Job (j-obe) (from the Bible)
FAARAX m SomaliAn old Somali name, not to be confused with the Arabic name Farah.
FAHMO f SomaliMeans "understanding" in Somali directly from the Arabic root
f-h-m (see
Fahim).
FWAYA m LuoOriginated 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] GABRA f EthiopianEthiopian girl's name, meaning "The gift of offering"
GEESI f SomaliMeans "a courageous man, brave, hero" in Somali.
GUREY m SomaliA name that comes from the Somali word gurey, meaning "left-handed." This word is usually an adjective, but sometimes a name.
HABON f & m Somali (Rare), SpanishThis name means when everything comes together at the right time and the right place. Beautiful.
HABTE m & f EthiopianAccording to some sources, Habte means "treasure/present/wealth/riches of".
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.
HARAMBEE m SwahiliMeans "all pull together" in Swahili. It is the official motto of Kenya.
HIBAAQ f SomaliDerived from Arabic هِبَة
(hiba) meaning "gift, grant".
HODAN f SomaliA Somali name that means "wealthy, rich." Hodan is the Somali word for "wealth, rich." This is one of the most common traditional Somali names.
HOODO f SomaliThis name comes from the Somali word hoodo which means "luck, fortunate." Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as Hodo.
IBRAAHIN m Somali (Archaic)Somali form of
Abraham, now perhaps archaic. This name was borne by Ibraahin Adeer (ruled late 17th century to mid-18th century), the first sultan of the Sultanate of the Geledi, a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa from the late 17th century to 1910.
IIMAAN f & m SomaliSomali form of
Iman. One notable bearer of this name is Somalian-born American model Iman (born 1955).
JAWAAHIR f SomaliSomali form of
Jawahir. One bearer is Somali-American model Jawaahir Axmed (born 1991), better known by her Americanized name of Jawahir Ahmed.