Shona
names are used by the Shona people of Zimbabwe.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abarahama m ShonaMeans "one who has birthed or fathered relatives", derived from Shona
kubara "to bear offspring, to bud" and
hama "relatives". This is the Shona equivalent of
Abraham.
Achiko m & f ShonaA shorter form of the name
Achiriko, meaning "one who remained" or "one who is still there".
Achipo f ShonaMeaning "one who remains" or "one who is still here".
Achiriko m & f ShonaA unisex name meaning "one who still remains there".
Adiwa f ShonaMeaning "one who is beloved or desired", a longer form of the name can be
Adiwanashe, deriving from the verb
kudiwa.
Afara m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Aida f ShonaMeaning "One who desired" or "one who (portrayed) love", it derives from the verb ''kuda''.
Aidei f ShonaIt is a name that asks a question, meaning "what did he/she desire?"
Akatendeka m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is faithful", deriving from the verb
kutendeka.
Amukudzaishe m ShonaIt is a name that means, "He has put the Lord in a high place" or "He has exalted the Lord", a shorter version of the name is
Amukudza.
Anaishe f & m ShonaDerived from Shona
anashe, meaning "who is with God".
Anemi f ShonaIt means "He (the Lord) is with you", or "one who is with you".
Anesu f ShonaA Shona name for girls. It means "God is with us".
Arumirirarudo f ShonaIt means "she has waited for love", or "one who has waited on love", a shorter form of the name can be
Arumi or
Rudo.
Aseka m ShonaMeaning “he laughs; he who has laughed”.
Asekei m ShonaIt is a name which asks a question, meaning “what does he laugh at?” or “what has made him laugh?”
Ashira m & f ShonaMeaning “receive; accept; welcome”, the fuller version of the name is
Gashira.
Banga m ShonaMeans "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.
Bvumai m ShonaBvumai means "Admit".
This may be a name given to say to adversary admit that you were wrong, you were defeated or that you committed the offence Chenjerai m ShonaChenjerai means "Be on guard, wisen up". Chenjerai Hunzvi the Zimbabwean Freedom Fighter is one bearer of this name.
Chidochemoyo f ShonaMeaning "the desire of the heart", shorter forms of the name include
Chido meaning "desire",
Chemoyo meaning "of the heart", or simply
Moyo meaning "heart".
Chimurenga m ShonaChimurenga is a Shona word roughly translated to English as, "revolutionary struggle". The Shona language is spoken by the Shona people of Zimbabwe. This word is sometimes used as a given name.
Chipocherudo f ShonaMeaning "gift of the love", this name corresponds with the name
Nduma. Shorter forms of this given name include
Chipo meaning "gift",
Cherudo meaning "of love," or simply
Rudo meaning "love".
Ditiro m & f ShonaMeaning "acts" or "actions". Deriving from the verb
kuita.
Dzikamai m ShonaDzikamai means "settle down".
The name is given to express the idea of settling down and not jumping from one relationship to another or one project to another. The former Zimbabwean Minister and MP, Dzikamai Mavhaire is one well known bearer of this name.
Dzinashe m ShonaDzinashe means "It's with the Lord". One well known bearer of this name is Dzinashe Machingura.
Endai m ShonaMeaning "go, depart" or "proceed, progress"; it is the plural of
enda.
Funye m & f ShonaDeriving from a bird with the same name, known in English as "the go-away bird".
Gamuchirai f ShonaMeans "accept or receive" in Shona. It is typically given to a child born out of wedlock.
Garikai m ShonaMeans "Live well, safe, healthy and prosperous".
Gondai m ShonaMeans "to trust or place hope in" in Shona.
Gwinyai m ShonaGwinyai means "be strong". The Zimbabwean tennis player Gwinyai Tongoona is a famous bearer of this name.
Hakunei m & f ShonaThis is a name that implies and asks, meaning "What is not there?". This is a name given by or to someone who is assumed to be falling short or without, so they name the child "What could be missing?" in a sense of affirmation, so to say there is perfection even if you (all) do not see it or doubt it... [
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Hamandishe m ShonaMeaning “one’s relative or family is God”, this name may be given by and/or to someone who is devoted to God, who is an orphan, has no relatives or was abandoned.
Hamunyari f ShonaHamunyari means "Have you no shame".
This name is given in a feuding situation.
Hanu m & f ShonaMeaning “mountain pass”, or “path in the valley”, synonymous with
Haro.
Hazvinei f ShonaHazvinei means "Never mind, no worries".
This name may be given by a parent who was offended Hazviperi m & f Shona"It does not end". Situational name given in circumstances where family faced unending troubles or trials.
Izwirashe m & f ShonaIt means "the voice of the Lord", one can also use
Izwi as the shorter form.
Jairiro m & f ShonaIt means "to be used to; accustomation to".
Janha m & f ShonaMeaning "one's turn; chance; opportunity".
Jekesai f Shona"Make it clear". Meant to speak to neighbor or family to make clear their position or purpose.
Kambeu m ShonaKambeu means "little seed".
This name may be given to a child who was very small at birth Karikoga m ShonaMeans "one who is alone". The name may be given to say that one who lives alone or was born alone without siblings.
Kuchinei m ShonaKuchinei 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.
Kwanaya f ShonaMeaning “it has rained”, rain is seen as a symbol of new life as its waters are a source of nourishment for natural life.
Kwayedza m & f ShonaMeaning “the sunlight or morning light has dawned” or “the sunrise has dawned”.
Machiveyi f Shona"What do you seek or covert?" Situational name given in circumstance where family has covetous neighbours or kin.
Maita f ShonaA Shona (Zimbabwean) name that implies gratitude for something that has been done well. It may be spelt as Mayita or Mazvita depending on the area of origin of the speaker.... [
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Maitaishe m & f ShonaIt means "You have done it Lord" or simply, "Thank you Lord."
Majaya m ShonaGiven to the last male born of the the family born in the same year. If families have male children in a given year the last to be born normally carries the name. The year of boys.
Makanaka f ShonaMakanaka means "You are good". #This name is usually given in praise of God".
Masimba m ShonaMeans "powers, energy" in Shona. Other meanings are possible.
Mateo m ShonaIt is the Shona version of the name Matthew.
Mazvita f ShonaMeans "we are grateful" or "many thanks" in Shona.
Miriro f & m African, ShonaStarted in the early 1900's. Name was given to the second born daughter of the family. Name means "to be expected." Basically the one who was waited for.
Motsi m & f ShonaMeans "first one" or "one who has matted hair" in Shona.
Muchena m ShonaOne who is white or light skin tone. Or Blessing in Ndau dialect of Shona
Munesu f & m ShonaMeans "God is with us" or "God is within us" in Shona.
Munonzwaishe m & f ShonaIt means "You Lord are one who hears" or simply, "You hear the Lord".
Mvumo m ShonaMeaning "agreement; harmony, accordance".
Nakiso f ShonaMeaning “the beautifier; one who makes things beautiful”.
Namatai m ShonaNamatai means "Pray or praise and worship God".
Ndakaitei f ShonaMeans "What did I do?"
This name is an expression of regret by a parent. Usually given by a single mother whose partner does not take responsibility of the child born.
Ndarama m & f ShonaIt means "gold", this name serves as a given name and a surname.
Nerutendo f ShonaMeaning "with belief" or "with thanks; with gratitude", another form of the name is
Norutendo. It derives from the verb
kutenda.
Ngwarai m ShonaNgwarai means "Be diligent, wisen up, be on guard".
Nhamo m & f ShonaIt means "suffering; woes; disaster".
Nokutenda m & f ShonaMeans "with gratitude (associated with faith in God)" in Shona.
Norutendo f ShonaMeaning "with belief" or "with thanks; with gratitude".
Nyashadzashe m & f Shonaits from zimbabwe and is in the shona language it means Gods grace
Nyashanu m & f ShonaMeaning "the fifth one". It was also the name of a Shona historical figure and King, Nyashanu, who was the ruler of a Shona people known as the Hera.
Nzero m ShonaMeaning “wisdom; insight; sagacity”, it corresponds with the name
Njere.
Onai f ShonaMeans "Look and see".
This name may be given in various circumstances calling the hearer to look and see what transpired especially before and around the birth of that child Onayi f Shona"See it, see this". Situational name which says see what we have, behold.
Panganai m ShonaMeans "to consult or advise each other" in Shona.
Paradzai m ShonaParadzai means "destroy". This is possibly addressing an adversary challenging them to destroy what you have if they can".
Petina f ShonaThe name of the Zimbabwian writer Petina Gappah.
Pikirayi m ShonaVow to it. Promise. Name of a Zimbabwean journalist Pikirayi Deketeke.
Rangariro f & m ShonaIt means "recollection; remembrance", from the verb
kurangarira.
Raviro f ShonaMeans "promise, oath or pledge" in Shona.
Regai m ShonaRegai means "Let it be, leave it alone"
Revai m & f ShonaMeans "Talk or gossip about".
This is a name given to address neighbours that continue to gossip about your family Ruregerero m ShonaRuregerero means "Forgiveness".
This name may be given by a parent seeking forgiveness.
Ruvheneko m & f ShonaMeans "Enlightenment".
This name is a declaration that we have seen or received enlightenment or better circumstances Ruzvidzo f ShonaMeaning "contemptuous, despise", it derives from the verb
kuzvidza, meaning
"to show contempt; to despise" Sarudzai f ShonaMeans "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"
Shumirai f ShonaMeaning “praise” or “express admiration, adoration or reverence.”
Simbiso f ShonaMeans "One who strengthens or source of encouragement".
Tadisa f & m ShonaIt 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 ShonaIt 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.
Takashinga m ShonaMeaning "we are resilient"; it derives from the verb
kushinga.
Tanaka m & f ShonaMeans "we are good, we are blessed" in Shona.
Tanyaradzwa f ShonaMeans "we have been consoled", "we have found comfort" in Shona, often bestowed upon a girl born after a tragedy or difficulty, she being the source of consolation or comfort; the implied meaning is "blessing, godsend".
Tarirai m & f ShonaMeaning “look; behold” or “look forth”, names with similar meanings include
Onai and
Ringai.
Tavaziva m ShonaTavaziva means "We know them".
This name is given in a feuding situation to say we know who the enemy is.