Northern African
names include those from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. See also
about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ABIBA f Northern AfricanHas its origins in the Moroccan language and means "first child born after the grandmother has died."
AKLI m KabyleMeans "slave, prisoner, captive" in Kabyle. It was historically used to refer to Tuareg slaves and servants, who are typically dark-skinned in colour.
AMASTAN m TuaregMeans "protector, defender" in Tuareg, derived from the Tamazight root
esten meaning "to protect, to defend".
AMAZIGH m Berber, Northern AfricanDerived from the Central Atlas Tamazight word ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ
(Amaziɣ), which is the self-designation of the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa. The name itself is of unknown meaning, though folk etymologies claim the meaning of "free-man", deriving from Taznatit (Gurara)
aze meaning "to be strong" and Tamasheq (a variety of Turareg)
jeɣeɣ meaning "to be brave"...
[more] AREZKI m KabyleProbably derived from Arabic رِزْق
(rizq) meaning "wealth, fortune" or "nourishment, sustenance".
BABIKER m Northern African, ArabicSudanese name possibly derived from the given name
Bakr or from Arabic بَكَرَ
(bakara) meaning "first born" or "to be early, to rise early".
DANAT m Ge'ezCoptic Christian (Ge'ez) word for the piercing on Jesus' left palm.
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.
HERRU f BerberEtymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
IGIDER m Berber (Rare)Mighty and strong, this name stands for ‘eagle’ in one of the Berber languages.
JUBA m BerberJuba I was a King of Numidia. He was the son and successor to King of Numidia Hiempsal II. Juba was the father of King of Numidia and later Mauretania Juba II
LEMTA f BerberEtymology unknown. This is the name of the mythological mother of the Tuaregs.
LOUNÈS m KabyleMeans "companion" or "to keep company" in Kabyle, possibly of Arabic origin.
MASSA f BerberA term of respect meaning "Mistress" and a name usually given to high born.
MASSEN m BerberA Term of respect meaning "Master" and a name given to high born.
MASSINISSA m Berber, Northern African, HistoryMeans "their lord" from the consonants
MSNSN, in turn derived from Tamazight
mas meaning "lord" and
n sen meaning "to them". This was the name of a Berber ruler and the first King of Numidia.
MEGHIGHDA f BerberEtymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
MOULAY m Northern AfricanFrom an honorific title used by descendants of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty of Morocco.
NARAVAS m BerberPersonal name of Naravas, a Berber Numidian king and Hannibal's brother in law.
SIDRA f Jewish, Northern AfricanMeans "order, sequence" in Hebrew. It refers to a weekly reading portion of the Torah, so the whole Torah is completed every year. This name is typical of North African Jewry.
SIMAN f Berber (Rare)Siman stands for 'two souls', referring to parents, the name in away implies the child is their combination or fruit.
SURA f Muslim, BerberMeans "highness of status, highness of rank, glory" in Arabic.
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.
TASSADIT f KabyleDerived from the Tamazight feminine prefix ⵜⴰ-
(ta-) combined with Arabic سَعْد
(saʿd) meaning "good fortune, luck, success" and the feminine suffix -ⵜ
(-t).
THANINA f KabyleSometimes spelled
Tanina, the name is often associated with a mystical bird or "female eagle". This name is born by Tanina Cheriet, the daughter of Algerian Kabyle singer, Idir (b. 1949).
TINHINAN f BerberMeans "she of the campfires" in Tamazight. This was the name of a Tuareg queen.
UDAD m BerberMeans "ram (male sheep)" in Tamazight.
UMALER f BerberMeans "star of the peace" in Tamasheq, language of Tuareg people.
YEDDER m Berber (Rare)Though this name symbolizes immortality, it indicates a sense of unbroken spirit or uncaptured soul.