South African Submitted Names

Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.

AANISAH f English (British, Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant transcription of Anisa.

ABIGAJIL f Norwegian (Rare, Archaic), Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Danish (Rare)
Variant of Abigail used in the Norwegian translation of the Bible.

ABONGILE m Xhosa
Means "thankfulness" in Xhosa.

ADDINGTON m English, South African
From a surname which comes from either of the Old English place names Eaddingtūn, meaning "Eadda's town", or Æddingtūn, "Æddi's town".

ADIELA f Hebrew, English (Rare), Spanish (Latin American), South African
Feminine form of Adiel.

AGETHA f English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Agatha.

AGRINETTE f South African (Rare)

AKEELAH f South African (Rare), English (Modern, Rare), Arabic
Variant of Akilah, notably used in the 2006 movie 'Akeelah and the Bee'

AKHONA f & m South African

ALARICE f Afrikaans (Rare), English (New Zealand, Rare)

ALETTA f Dutch, Swedish (Archaic), Afrikaans, Icelandic (Modern, Rare), Hungarian
Archaic Swedish diminutive of Alhet and Dutch variant of Aleida as well as a Hungarian adoption of the Dutch name. In the Netherlands this name was borne by the country's first female physician, Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929).

ALINDA f Dutch, Afrikaans, Finnish, Swedish (Rare), Hungarian
Contracted form of Adelinda.

ALITTA f Afrikaans, English

ALIZEA f French (Modern, Rare), Afrikaans (Modern, Rare)
Latinate variant of Alizée.

ALLETTA f Dutch, Afrikaans, English
Variant of Aleta.

ALMARIE f English (American), Afrikaans

ALTUS m Afrikaans (Rare)

ALYDIA f Dutch (Rare), South African (Rare)

ALZENA f Indonesian (Rare), South African (Rare)
Possibly derived from Arabic النِسَاء‎ (an-nisāʾ) meaning "the woman".

AMELDA f Afrikaans, English (African)

AMOGELANG m & f South African, Sotho, Tswana
Means "welcome, receive or accept the child or situation".

AMOHELANG m Sotho
Means "receive" in Sotho.

AMORÉ f Afrikaans (Modern)
Afrikaans form of Amore.

AMUKELANI m & f African, Tsonga
Means "acceptance" in Tsonga.

ANDISIWE f Xhosa
Means "extension" in Xhosa.

ANDRICIA f South African
greek, meaning "strong"

ANDRIETTA f Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Andriette.

ANDZILE m & f Tsonga
Means "multiplied and increased" in Xitsonga.

ANEKE f Afrikaans
Variant of Anneke.

ANELE m & f Zulu
Means "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.

ANELMA f Afrikaans

ANENE f South African

ANESKA f Afrikaans

ANET f Croatian (Rare), Sorbian, Estonian (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Variant of Aneta and Annette.

ANJE f Dutch, Afrikaans

ANKIA f Afrikaans

ANNALIE f English (Australian), Afrikaans, Danish (Rare), Swedish (Rare)
Variant of Annelie.

ANNELINE f Afrikaans, Dutch, French (Archaic), Danish, Norwegian
Dutch and Afrikaans variant of Annelien as well as a Danish and Norwegian combination of Anne and Line (and thus a cognate of Annelien) as well as a Danish, Norwegian and archaic French diminutive of Anne found up to the 1700s in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

ANNIAH f South African (Rare)

ANNINE f Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans
Diminutive of Anna.

ANOESCHKA f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Anuschka. This is borne by Namibian author Anoeschka von Meck (1967-).

ANOKA f Indian, South African

ANOLDA f South African (Rare)

ANRI f Afrikaans

ANTHON m Dutch, South African, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian (Rare)
Variant of Anton.

ANZA f English (Rare), Swahili (?), South African (Rare), Pakistani (Rare)

ANZELLE f Afrikaans

ARABANG f Sotho
Means "reply" in Sotho.

ARNOUX m Afrikaans

ASANDA m South African

AUBEN f & m English (Modern, Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of Aubin.

AUBRIANO m South African (Rare)
Masculine form of Aubriana.

AVHATAKALI m South African

AWONKE f Xhosa

AYAKHA m Xhosa
Means "they build" in Xhosa.

AZELE f Afrikaans (Rare)

AZELLE f Afrikaans (Rare), English (Rare)
Possibly a feminization of Azel.

AZILLE f South African (Rare)

AZWITHELI m South African

BAATSEBA f & m Sotho (Anglicized, Rare)
Sotho form of Bathsheba.

BABSIE f South African
Short and familiar form of Barbara.

BAFANA m Zulu
Derived from Zulu abafana, the plural form of umfana, meaning "boy, young man."

BANELE m Ndebele
Means "boys are enough" in Ndebele.

BARTHO m Dutch, Afrikaans
Short form of Bartholomeus. Notable bearers of this name include the Dutch actor Bartho Braat (b. 1950) and the South African writer Bartho Smit (1924-1986).

BASETSANA f Sotho
Means "ladies" in Sotho.

BATSEBA f Scandinavian, South African
Cognate of Bathsheba.

BAZA f South African
medal, trophy

BEAUNARD m Afrikaans (Rare)

BEAUTY f English, Popular Culture, South African
From the English word "beauty", ultimately derived from Latin bellus, "beautiful".... [more]

BEHATI f Afrikaans
Possibly an Afrikaans variant of Beata. It is the name of Namibian fashion model Behati Prinsloo (b. 1989).

BEKEBEKE f Zulu
Means "glittering" in Zulu.

BEKEZELA f Ndebele
Means "be patient" in Ndebele.

BERLINA f Indonesian, South African, Filipino

BERTHA f Sotho (Modern)
Sepedi name.... [more]

BEURAN m South African (Rare)

BHEKANI m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "look" in Zulu and Ndebele.

BHEKISISA f Zulu
Means "to be careful, cautious" in Zulu.

BHEKITHEMBA f Zulu
Means "look for hope" in Zulu.

BHEKIZIFUNDISWA m Zulu
Means "watch the educated ones" in Zulu.

BHEKIZIZWE m Zulu
Means "look after the nations" in Zulu.

BHEKUMBUSO m Zulu (Rare)
Means "look after the kingdom", from Zulu bheka "look after" and umbuso "kingdom, dominion".

BOKAMOSO m & f South African, Sotho
Means "future".

BOKANG f Sotho
Means "praise" or "rejoice" in Sotho.

BONGI f South African
This is the name of Bongi Makeba who was a South African singer/songwriter. She was the only child of singer Miriam Makeba with her first husband, James Kubay.

BONGINKOSI m Zulu
Means "thanksgiving" in Zulu.

BOUDINE f South African

BRUNELDA f Afrikaans, Italian
Variant form of Brunilda, which is the Italian form of Brünhild. This name is also frequently used in South Africa.

BULELANI m South African

BURGER m Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), West Frisian (Archaic)
Dutch, Afrikaans and West Frisian form of the ancient Germanic name Burghar.... [more]

BUSISIWE f Zulu
Means "blessed" in Zulu.

BUTHO m Ndebele
Means "soldier" in Ndebele.

CAAREN f Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch

CACILE f Ndebele
Means "clear" in Ndebele.

CALEY f American (Modern, Rare), South African (Modern, Rare)
Variant of Kaylee, or from an English surname meaning "jackdaw clearing" or from an Irish surname which is an altered form of Macauley.

CALIEN f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English (New Zealand, Rare)

CALPHURNIA f South African (Rare)
Variant of Calpurnia.

CARDEL m & f African American, South African
Variant of Cordell.

CARLIEN f Dutch, South African

CASHILE f Zulu (Rare)
Possibly derived from cashisa meaning "conceal, hide."

CASMONIQUE f South African

CASTER f South African
Possibly a variant of Castor.

CAZIMIRA f Romanian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Feminine form of Cazimir.

CEBISA f Xhosa, Southern African
Means "advice" in Xhosa.

CERONIA f South African (Rare)

CÉZANNE f & m English, Afrikaans
From the French artist, Paul Cézanne. This name is sometimes used as a feminine name by Afrikaners in South Africa due to its similarity to Suzanne.

CHAKA f & m African American (Rare), South African (Rare)

CHARL m South African
South African form of CHARLES. Notable bearers include Charl Willoughby, cricket player and Charl Schwartzel, golf player.

CHARLE m & f South African, English
Variant of Charles.

CHARLICE f South African, American (Modern)
Variant of Charlize.

CHARMEINE f English (Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of Charmaine.

CHARNRE f South African

CHERITY f South African
Variant of Charity.

CHILENE f Afrikaans (Rare), Haitian Creole

CHRISELDA f Afrikaans, South African, Filipino
Presumably a variant of Griselda, influenced by names beginning with "Chris-", such as Christine.

CHRISTIEN f Dutch, Afrikaans
Dutch form of Christine.

CHRISTO m Afrikaans, Dutch, English, German, French
Short form of Christopher or Christian.

CHRISZETTE f Afrikaans
Compound name of Christine and Suzette.

CHRIZELDA f Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Chriselda.

CLARENCIA f Medieval Spanish, South African (Rare), American (South, Rare)

CLEARENCE m English (American, Rare), South African (Rare), English (Puritan, ?)
Variant of Clarence. In some cases it may be a variant of Clearance.

COENIE m Dutch, South African, Afrikaans
Diminutive of Coenraad.... [more]

COLLIEN f German (Modern, Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Colleen.

CONFIDENCE f English (Puritan), South African
Meaning, "the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust." Referring to the confidence one may have in God.

CORLA f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

CORLIA f Afrikaans
Contracted form of Cornelia.

CRIZELDA f Filipino (Rare), South African (Rare), American (Hispanic, Rare, ?)
Variant of Chriselda.

DALIEN f Afrikaans

DANÉ f Afrikaans
Variant of Danaë.

DANIE m & f Afrikaans, English
Dannie, Danny... [more]

DANTELLE f South African (Modern, Rare)
Feminine form of Dante.

DAVENIA f African American, Jamaican Patois, South African

DAWIE m Afrikaans
Related to David and is the Afrikaans version of David mostly used in South Africa.

DELA f Zulu (Rare)
Dela. in Zulu it means to become whole, to feel complete and satisfied.

DELIZE f Afrikaans

DELMAIN m South African

DENFORD m South African

DENVON m South African

DIANI f English (Modern), Afrikaans

DIDIZA f Zulu
Means "flutter" in Zulu.

DIETTMAR m Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Dietmar.

DINEO f Sotho
Means "gifts" or "talents" in Sotho.

DOLINDE f French (Archaic), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Archaic French vernacular form of Adelinde found in the Poitou-Charentes region. Today, the name is occasionally found in the Netherlands and in Afrikaans-speaking South Africa. In this case, however, the origin of the name is uncertain; it might be an adoption of the French name, but it is equally possible that it is a modern coinage, perhaps based on Dolly and names that end in -linde.

DONATION m South African, English (Puritan)
From the word donation, meaning "an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution."

DORAH f English (Rare), South African (Rare), African, Haitian Creole (Rare)
Variant of Dora.

DYSHIKI f South African
South African meaning One who Likes Candy

EKUSENI f Zulu
Means "in the morning" in Zulu.

ELANDRI f Afrikaans (Rare), South African (Rare)

ELANI f Afrikaans

ELIFASI m South African, Zulu

ELIZE f Dutch, Afrikaans
Variant of Elise.

ELMARIE f Afrikaans (Modern)

ELNA f Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, Catalan, Medieval Catalan
Southern Swedish form of Elin as well as a Danish, Dutch and Medieval Catalan short form of Helena which are now used as given names in their own right and a Danish contracted form of Eleonora.

ELROSE f English (Modern, Rare), South African (Rare)

ELZEBE f Dutch (Archaic), Afrikaans (Rare), Old Swedish
Variant of Elsebe.

EMELDA f South African, Nigerian

EMMARENTIA f Afrikaans
Variant of Emerentia influenced by Emma.

ENANELA f Zulu
Means "rejoice" in Zulu.

ENZOKUHLE m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "expected to do great things" in Zulu and Xhosa.

EON m Afrikaans (Rare)

ERCO m West Frisian (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant spelling of Erko, which is most likely a diminutive of Erk. Also compare Ercken and Herko, which is a variant of Herke.

ESABELLA f English (Rare), South African
Variant of Isabella.

ESASA f Zulu
Means "be happy" in Zulu.

ESCA f Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Eska.

ESCHELLE f & m South African
My Guardian# said its the name of her best friendMelissa

ESIHLE m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Southern African
Means "beautiful, good" in Zulu and Xhosa.

ESTHA f English (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

ESTIA f Greek (Rare), Afrikaans
Variant of Hestia.

ESTIE f English (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Diminutive of Ester.

ETHUKA f Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.

ETHULO f Zulu
Means "gift" in Zulu.

ETHWASA f Zulu
Means "start anew" in Zulu.

EVANGELIQUE f Afrikaans (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Cognate of Évangélique, which is usually used in non-francophone regions and countries.

EVERALDA f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

EXCELIA f South African

EZELDA f Afrikaans (Rare)

EZLYN f South African, American (Modern)
Variant of Ezlynn.... [more]

EZROM m South African
Likely a variant of Hezron.

FAAIEZAH f South African (Rare)

FANYANA m Zulu
From Zulu umfanyana, abafanyana meaning "little boy".

FELLENG f Sotho
Means "beyond the end" in Sotho.

FIKILE f Tsonga
Means "arrived" in Tsonga.

FREDERICH m German (Silesian, Archaic), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Friedrich.

FUNANI f & m Zulu (Rare)
Means "want!" or "search!" in Zulu.

GAGASI f Zulu
Means "wave" in Zulu.

GAOPALELWE m & f South African (Rare)

GARROL m South African

GATSHA m Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu igatsha meaning "branch".

GAZINI m Zulu
Means "blood" in Zulu.

GERHARDUS m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Gerard.

GERSHEN m Afrikaans

GIDEA f English (Rare), German (Rare, Archaic), Afrikaans, Italian (Rare, Archaic)
Feminine form of Gideon.

GIOVARDO m South African (Rare)

GIZELDA f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Giselda.

GLACIA f South African (Rare)

GOODWILL m Zulu, South African, Literature
Derives from the Medieval English gode meaning "good", plus will, "wish or desire", and was originally given as a complimentary nickname to an amiable person, favourably disposed towards others... [more]

GRANY f South African

GRIZELDA f English (Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Hungarian form and English and Afrikaans variant of Griselda. The English usage may have been influenced by Grizel.

GUGU f Xhosa
Means "our pride" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

GUGU f Zulu
From Zulu igugu meaning "precious".

HANNCHEN f Afrikaans
Hannchen is from German origin derived from Johanna or Hanna with the same meaning. ... [more]

HANNELEEN f Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans
Combination of Hanne and Leen.

HANNELI f Finnish, Afrikaans
Diminutive of Hanna.

HANNELIZE f South African
Altered form of Anneliese (compare Hannelore, Charlize).

HANSIE m Afrikaans
Short form of Johannes.

HEIDRI f South African (Rare)

HEILA f Afrikaans

HEINU m Afrikaans (Rare)

HELOUISE f American (Rare), Louisiana Creole, Dutch (Rare), Dutch (Surinamese, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Héloïse.

HENRICO m Interlingua, Afrikaans
Interlingua form of Henry.

HENTIE f Southern African, Afrikaans
Afrikaans diminutive of Henriette.

HILKA f Low German, German (Rare), Frisian, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Originally a diminutive of names beginning with or containing the element hild-, used as a given name in its own right.

HILTINA f South African

IBUBESI m Zulu
Means "lion" in Zulu.

IGMAR m Afrikaans
Afrikaans. Combination of his mother and fathers name. Siegfried and Marieta. Ig and Mar. Combined Igmar

IJUBA f Zulu
Commonly it is meaning Dove or Peace. Less common in means storm or fighting. It also means freedom in some local tribes. It is said many years ago a great war loomed. Fighting had started but one warrior championed the cause of peace and unity... [more]

IKUSASA f & m Zulu
Means "destiny" in Zulu.

ILANE f South African, Brazilian
Problably a feminine form to Ilan.

IMBASA f & m Zulu
Means "star" in Zulu.

IMKA f Dutch, Afrikaans, German
Diminutive of Ime.

INETTE f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Diminutive of Ine.

INGQONDO f Zulu
Means "intelligence" in Zulu.

INYONI f Zulu
Derived from Zulu inyoni meaning "bird".

IQAQA m Zulu
Means "polecat" in Zulu.

ISAKI m Ndebele
Ndebele form of Isaac.

ISISA f Zulu
Means "the tenderness" in Zulu.

ITHA f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), East Frisian (Rare)
Variant of Ida.

IVERISA f South African (Rare, ?)
Possibly a variant of the Norwegian name Iverise.

IZELLE f Afrikaans, English (Rare)
Variant of Iselle.

IZETTE f Afrikaans
Variant of Isette.

IZULA f Zulu
Means "nomad" in Zulu.

JABULANI m Ndebele, Zulu
Means "enjoy" or "be happy all" in Ndebele and "rejoice" in Zulu.

JABULILE f Zulu
Means "she is happy" in Zulu.

JACO m Jewish, South African, Judeo-Spanish, African
Judeo-Spanish form of Yaakov.

JACOMIE f Afrikaans
Variant of Jacomina.

JADINE f English (Modern), Afrikaans (Rare)
Feminine variant of Jaden or an elaborated form of Jade.

JANESKA f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

JANNIE m Afrikaans (Rare)

JAUNE m Afrikaans (Rare)

JEANIQUE f French (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Walloon (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Blend of Jeanne with any feminine name ending in -ique, such as Monique and Véronique. Also compare Janique.

JEREMIA m English, South African
Variant of Jeremiah.

JOESOEF m Indonesian, Afrikaans (Rare)
Indonesian variant transcription of Jusuf (based on Dutch orthography) and Afrikaans form of Joseph.

JOHANIKA f Afrikaans (Rare)
Diminutive of Johanna (compare Johanneke).

JOHDAN m Afrikaans

JOMEIN f South African
The name was created by combining two family names; Johanna (common first name) and Meintjies (surname). The meaning of the name unknown.

JONATHENA f South African, American
Feminine form of Jonathan, possibly influenced by Athena.

JONNIE m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Johan.

JOZETTE f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, English
Variant of Josette.

JUANE f & m Afrikaans, South American (Rare), African American

JUANÉ f Afrikaans
Feminine variant of Juane.

JUTKA f Hungarian, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Originally a Hungarian diminutive of Judit and a Dutch diminutive of Judith, occasionally used as a given name in its own right.

KAMANTHA f South African
Possibly an invented name, a combination of Kam and Samantha.

KAMOHELO m & f Sotho
Means "acceptance" or "welcome" in Sotho.

KANANELO f & m Sotho
Means "approval" or "appreciation" in Sotho.

KANYISILE f South African

KARLIA f English (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)

KARUSHA f South African (Rare)

KATIJA f South African (Rare)

KEALEBOA m Sotho
Means "thank you" in Sotho.

KEDIBONE f South African

KEELYN f American (Modern, Rare), South African (Modern, Rare)

KEITUMETSE f Tswana, South African
Means "I am happy", or "I am thankful" in Twsana.

KENEOUE f Sotho (Rare)
Means "I have been given" in Sotho.