South African Submitted Names

These name are used in the Republic of South Africa.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Shiluva m & f Tsonga
Means "flower" in Xitsonga.
Shotah f & m South African
Meaning as of yet unknown.
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).
Sibakhulule m & f Ndebele
Means "we have liberated them" in Ndebele.
Sibhakabhaka f Zulu
Means "sky" in Zulu.
Sibongiseni m Zulu
Meaning "(you), be thankful with us" in Zulu.
Siboniso m South African, Zulu
Means "being a leader" 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.
Sihawukele m Ndebele
Means "have mercy on us" in Ndebele.
Sikhalele m Tsonga
Means "outcry" in Xitsonga.
Sikhangezile f Ndebele
Means "we're receiving" in Ndebele.
Sikhethiwe f Ndebele
Means "we are chosen" in Ndebele.
Sikhulekile f Ndebele
Means "we prayed" in Ndebele.
Sikhululekile m & f Ndebele
Means "we are free" in Ndebele.
Silibele m Ndebele
Means "we're unaware" in Ndebele.
Silindile f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "we are waiting" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Simangaliso f Ndebele
Means "miracle" in Ndebele.
Simangele f South African, Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.
Simdingile m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly means "we need this", derived from Xhosa and Zulu dinga meaning "to need, to require".
Simosihle f South African, Zulu
Means "beautiful feeling" in Zulu.
Simphiwe m & f Zulu
Meaning "we have been given him/her" in Zulu.
Sinazo f Xhosa
Means "we have it" in Xhosa.
Sindisa m & f Southern African (Rare), Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu sindisa meaning "save, redeem, rescue".
Sindisiwe f Zulu
Means "saved" in Zulu.
Sindiswa f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi
Means "saved" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Sinegugu f Zulu
Means "we have treasures" in Zulu.
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.
Siphamandla m South African, Zulu
Means "give us strength" in Zulu.
Siphelele m Zulu
Means "we are complete" in Zulu.
Siphephelo f Zulu
Means "refuge" in Zulu.
Siphesihle m Zulu
Means "beautiful gift" in Zulu.
Siphilanzima m & f Ndebele
Means "we are surviving hardships" in Ndebele.
Siphokazi f Zulu
Feminine form of Sipho.
Siphosethu m Zulu
Means "our gift" in Zulu.
Siphosomzi m Zulu
Means "freedom, joyful, hard worker" in Zulu.
Sisipho f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "it is a gift" in Zulu and Xhosa.
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.
Sithenjiwe f Ndebele
Means "we are trusted" in Ndebele.
Sitshengisiwe f Ndebele
Means "we were shown" in Ndebele.
Sivuyile m South African, Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
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.
Skhumbuzo m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "reminder, remembrance" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Smiso m South African
Means "rule".
Solomzi m Xhosa
Means "eye of the home" in Xhosa, figuratively "guardian of the family".
Solonzi m Xhosa (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Solomzi.
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.
Soyaphi m Tsonga
Means "where will we go?" in Xitsonga.
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.
Steyn m Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Afrikaans
Dutch variant and Afrikaans form of Steijn. In the case of the Afrikaans name, it can also be a transferred use of the Afrikaans surname.
Sthandekile f Ndebele
Means "we are loved" in Ndebele.
Stiaan m Afrikaans
Short form of Christiaan.
Sunette f English (American, Rare), Afrikaans, Dutch (Rare)
Meaning uncertain. In the English-speaking world, the name might perhaps be a combination of the English word sun with the French feminine diminutive suffix -ette, which would essentially give the name the meaning of "little sun"... [more]
Susara f Afrikaans
Contraction of Susanna and Sara.
Susarah f Afrikaans
Variant of Susara.
Tafeta m Sotho
Sotho form of David.
Takalani m & f Venda
Means "be happy" in Tshivenda.
Talana f South African, English
Use of this name in South Africa probably owes something to the Battle of Talana Hill in 1899.
Tandeko m Zulu
Always lovable. From Bantu root tande
Tandzile f Swazi
Means "a female addition to the family" in Swazi.
Tebello f & m Sotho
Means "expectation" in Sotho.
Tekano m Sotho
Means "equality" in Sotho.
Tengisa f Tsonga
Means "purify" in Xitsonga.
Thaba m Sotho
Means "mountain".
Thaba m Sotho
mountain
Thabelo m & f Venda
Means "prayer" in Tshivenda.
Thabisa f Zulu
Means "delight" in Zulu.
Thamsanqa m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "luck, fortune" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Thandabantu m Zulu
Means "fond of others" in Zulu.
Thandiswa f Zulu, Bantu
Means "to be loved" or "to be blessed" in Zulu
Thandoluhle m Zulu
Means "good love" in Zulu.
Thandolwethu m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "our love" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Thapeli m Sotho
Means "appeal" in Sesotho.
Thapelo m & f Sotho
Means "prayer" in Sotho.
Thebe m Sotho
Means "shield" in Sesotho.
Thembelihle f Zulu
Means "good hope" in Zulu.
Thembi f Zulu
Possibly a short form of names containing thembi, such as Sithembile.
Thembisile f Zulu
Means "the trusted one" in Zulu.
Thenjiwe f Zulu
Means "trusted one" in Zulu.
Theonie f Afrikaans (Rare)
Afrikaans form of Théonie.
Theuns m Afrikaans
Afrikaans short form of Antonius.
Thikhathali m Venda
Means "one who does not worry" in Tshivenda.
Thilivhali m Venda
Means "one who does not forget" in Tshivenda.
Thobeka f Southern African, Zulu
Means "humble" in Zulu.
Thobekile f Ndebele
Means "polite" in Ndebele.
Tholakele f Zulu
Means "found" in Zulu.
Tholoana f Sotho
Means "fruit".
Tholoana f Sotho
Meaning, fruit or seed, in the context of ‘fruit of my womb’
Thoriso m Sotho
Means "praise" in Sesotho.
Thuba f Ndebele
Means "chance" in Ndebele.
Thubelihle f Ndebele
Means "good chance" in Ndebele.
Thula f Zulu
Means "peace" in Zulu.
Thulie f Zulu
Diminutive of Nokuthula.
Thulilwempi m Ndebele
Means "the dust of war" in Ndebele.
Thulisile f African, Zulu
Means "she who made things quiet" in Zulu.
Thuso m Sotho
Means "help" in Sotho.
Thuto m Sotho
Means "lesson" in Sesotho.
Thys m Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Medieval Dutch and Afrikaans short form of Matthys. But in other words, you could also say that this name is the medieval Dutch and Afrikaans equivalent of Thijs.... [more]
Tiaan m Afrikaans
Short form of Christiaan.
Tiisetso f Sotho
Means "perseverance" in Sesotho,
Tintswalo f Tsonga
Means "grace" in Xitsonga.
Tinus m Afrikaans, Dutch
Usually a short form of Martinus, but there are also cases where it is a short form of Constantinus.
Tinyiko m & f Tsonga
Means "gifts" in Xitsonga.
Tirhani m & f Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga word tirha meaning "work".
Tiyani m & f Tsonga
Means "be strong" in Xitsonga.
Tiyiselani m & f Tsonga
Means "persevere, endure" in Xitsonga.
Tlali m Sotho
Means "lightning" in Sotho.
Tlangelani m & f Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga word tlangela meaning "celebrate".
Tlhokomelo m & f Sotho
Means "care" in Sotho.
Tlholo m Sotho
Means "victory" in Sesotho.
Tlotliso f & m Sotho
Means "honour" in Sotho.
Tokoloho f Sotho
Means "freedom" in Sesotho.
Topollo f Sotho
Means "emancipation, release" in Sesotho.
Trofimus m Afrikaans (Archaic), Dutch (Archaic)
Afrikaans and Dutch form of Trophimus.
Trudene f English (Rare), Afrikaans
Elaborated form of Trudy.
Tryna f Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Trijna and thus a short form of Catharina and Catherina (compare Tryntje).
Tsakani f & m South African, Tsonga
The meaning is "to be happy". It was popularized by Tsakani Mhinga. She was a South African singer who died in 2006.... [more]
Tsebo m Sotho
Means "knowledge" in Sesotho.
Tsela m Sotho
Means "path" in Sesotho.
Tšelang-lerato f Sotho
Pour in, love
Tshanduko m & f Venda
Means "change" in Tshivenda.
Tshediso m Sotho
Means "consolation" in Sesotho.
Tshegofatso f South African, Sotho
Means "blessing" in Sotho.
Tshiananeo m & f Venda
Means "tale, story" in Tshivenda.
Tshifhiwa m Venda
Means "gift" in Tshivenda.
Tshilidzi f & m Venda
Possibly means "Grace". A notable bearer is Tshilidzi Marwala, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation at the University of Johannesburg.
Tshimangadzo m & f Venda
Means "miracle" in Tshivenda.
Tsoalo f & m Sotho
Means "birth".
Tsotang m Sotho
Means "amazement" in Sesotho.
Tsundzuka m & f Tsonga
Means "remember" in Xitsonga.
Tumisho m & f Sotho
Means "glory" in Sotho.
Tutu m & f Western African, South African
Means "cliff dweller".
Twelani f Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga word twila meaning "pity, feel pity".
Uakile m Tsonga
“He has built”
Uluthando m Ndebele, Zulu
Means "he is love" in Ndebele and Zulu.
Ulwazi m Zulu
Derived from Zulu ulwazi meaning "knowledge".
Umakoti f Zulu
Means "bride" in Zulu.
Umklomelo f Zulu
Means "prize" in Zulu.
Unako m & f Xhosa
Means "ability" or "you can" in Xhosa.
Unkulunkulu m Zulu, African Mythology
Means "the old, old one" or "ancestor" in Zulu. This was the name of a mythic first ancestor in early Zulu mythology, who appeared, or was created from, breaking reeds. It may have also been used to denote any significant ancestor... [more]
Utah m & f English (American, Rare), English (African, Rare), South African
Taken from the name of the US State of Utah. While a masculine name in the USA, in Nigeria and South Africa, it is sometimes used as a feminine name.
Uys m Afrikaans
Transferred use of the surname Uys. The Uys family played a significant role in South African history during the nineteenth century and made distinguished contributions to South African culture, politics and sports during the course of the twentieth.
Valmarie f English (American), Afrikaans
Variant of Valmai influenced by Marie as well as a combination of Valerie and Marie.
Vasti f Biblical Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Biblical Dutch, Afrikaans, Biblical Spanish, Biblical Italian, Biblical Finnish
Finnish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Vashti and Dutch variant of Wasti.
Velile m & f Xhosa, South African
Means "appeared, arrived" in Xhosa.
Vemvane f Zulu
Means "butterfly" in Zulu.
Vhonani m & f Venda (Modern)
Vhonani meaning is "watch or look"... [more]
Violett f English (Modern), Norwegian (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
English variant and Swedish form of Violet as well as a Hungarian borrowing of French Violette. This name coincides with the Swedish word violett "purple (the color)".
Vivette f French (Rare), English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Possibly a diminutive form of Vivienne (see also Viviette), but it could also be an independent name that is ultimately derived from Latin vivus "alive" or Latin vividus "full of life, lively, spirited".
Vonani m & f Tsonga
Means "behold" in Xitsonga.
Vukona f Tsonga
Means "presence" in Xitsonga.
Vukosi m Tsonga
Means "royalty, chiefdom" in Xitsonga.
Vulombe f Tsonga
Means "honey" in Xitsonga.
Vusumuzi m Zulu
Means "builder of the home" in Zulu.
Vutivi f Tsonga
Means "knowledge" in Xitsonga.
Vutlhari m & f Tsonga
Means "wisdom" in Xitsonga.
Vutomi m & f Tsonga
Means "life" in Xitsonga.
Vutshila m & f Tsonga
Means "art" in Xitsonga.
Vuyi f South African
Short form of Vuyiswa.
Vuyiseka f Xhosa
Means "be happy, rejoice" or "makes happy" in Xhosa.
Vuyisile m & f Xhosa
Means "bringing joy" in Xhosa.
Vuyiswa f South African
vuyiswa is a Zulu word meaning "rejoice".
Vuyo m Xhosa
Means "happiness, joy" in Xhosa. Sometimes used as a short form of names beginning with Vuyo-.
Vuyokazi f Xhosa
Means "great joy" in Xhosa, a variant of Vuyo using the feminine or augmentative suffix -kazi.
Waasila f South African
Probably derived from Arabic وَسِيلَة (wasīla) "means, medium; tool, instrument; measure, step provision".
Wandile f & m Zulu, South African
Means "you are extra" in Zulu.
Wandisile m Xhosa
Means "he has been added" in Xhosa.
Wicus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewicus.
Wikus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewikus.
Willanie f Afrikaans
Willanie is a female compound name. The "Will" is derived from "Willem" (German variant of William) which means determination and will. The "anie" is derived from the name Stephanie which means crown, victorious... [more]
Willene f English (American), American (South), Haitian Creole, Afrikaans
Feminine elaboration of Willie using the common name suffix lene, or perhaps a contraction of names such as Wilhelmina, Wilmadeene, and Willodean.
Wilmarie f Afrikaans, South African, Spanish (Caribbean), English (Rare)
Either a combination of names beginning with Wil-, such as Wilma, Willem or Wilfredo, and Marie or a feminine form of Wilmar... [more]
Wisani f Tsonga
Means "rest" in Xitsonga.
Witness m English (African), South African
From the English word, witness, "one who has personal knowledge of something".
Wynand m Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), West Frisian (Rare), East Frisian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Medieval Dutch form of Wijnand, Frisian variant of Winand and South African form of Winand.... [more]
Wynanda f Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), West Frisian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Medieval Dutch form of Wijnanda, Frisian variant of Winanda and South African form of Winanda.
Xabiso m Xhosa
Means "value, price" in Xhosa.
Xiavelo f Tsonga
Means "share" in Xitsonga.
Xichavo f Tsonga
Means "respect" in Xitsonga.
Xihlamariso f Tsonga
Means "surprise, marvel" in Tsonga.
Xikombiso m & f Tsonga
Means "proof, example" in Xitsonga.
Xiluva f Tsonga
Means "flower" in Xitsonga.
Ximphephani f Tsonga
Means "the saved" in Tsonga.
Xisomisani m & f Tsonga
Means "dry seasons" in Xitsonga.
Xisungulo m & f Tsonga
Means "beginning" in Xitsonga.
Xitshembhiso m & f Tsonga
Means "promise" in Xitsonga.
Xitsundzuxo m & f Tsonga
Means "reminder" in Xitsonga.
Xola m & f Xhosa
Means "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Xolisile f South African, Zulu
Means "(we are) sorry" in Zulu.
Xolo m & f Xhosa
Possibly related to Xhosa uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from -xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".
Yandiswa f South African
Means "increased" in Zulu and "extended" in Xhosa.
Yemetle f Sotho
Means "beautiful (referred to an object)" in Sotho.
Yibanathi m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "be with us" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Yinhla m Tsonga
Means "point; cornerstone" in Xitsonga.
Yolandi f Afrikaans
Afrikaans variant of Yolande.
Yolindi f Afrikaans
South africa
Yolisa f Xhosa
Means "exciting" in Xhosa.
Yomelela m Xhosa
Measn "be strong" in Xhosa.
Yonelani f Xhosa
Means "be satisfied" in Xhosa.
Zaakir m South African
Form of Zakir used especially in South Africa.
Zama f South African, Zulu
Means "try" in Zulu.
Zamokuhle f Zulu
Means "try the good" in Zulu.
Zandile f Zulu
Means "they have multipled" in Zulu.
Zanele f Zulu
Means "they are enough" in Zulu.
Zanne f Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Sanne.
Zayaan f & m South African (Rare), Muslim (Rare)
Variant transcript of Zayyan.
Zenzele f Xhosa
Means "she will do for herself" in Xhosa.
Zenzile f South African
This is Miriam Makeba's first name. She was nicknamed Mama Africa and was a South African singer and civil rights activist.
Zethu f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "ours" or "belongs to us" in both Xhosa and Zulu within the Nguni language group. Notable South African name bearers include actor Zethu Dlomo and orchestral musician Zethu Mashika.
Zibu f Zulu
Means "waterlily" in Zulu.