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.
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.
Unaithi f Zulu
Variant of Unathi. Meaning: "God is with us" or "God is our strength".
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.
Venecia f English (Rare), Spanish (Caribbean), Spanish (Mexican), South African (Rare), Jamaican Patois (Rare)
Variant of Venetia. As a Spanish name it could be a variant of Benecia or taken from the Spanish place name (see Venecia).
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.
Wenzile m Zulu
Means “he did” in Zulu.
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.
Xoliswa f Xhosa
From the Xhosa ukuxola meaning "to calm down".
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.
Yolani f & m South African, Xhosa (?)
Likely from Xhosa yolani meaning "you all, be pleasant", itself the imperative plural form of yoli ("to be pleasant").
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.
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 & m Xhosa, Swazi
From Xhosa uzenzile meaning "you brought this on yourself". This was the first name of the South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), full name Zenzile Miriam Makeba... [more]
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.
Zibulale m Xhosa
Meaning unknown.
Zibuseni m & f Ndebele
Means "rule yourself" in Ndebele.
Zibusiso f Ndebele
Means "blessings" in Ndebele.
Zinhle f Zulu
Means "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.
Zintwezinhle f Zulu
Means "beautiful things" in Zulu.
Ziona f Hebrew, Jewish, English, Afrikaans
Feminine form of Zion.
Ziphozonke m & f Zulu
Means "all the gifts" in Zulu.
Zithembe m Zulu
Means "trust yourself" in Zulu.
Ziyanda f Xhosa
Means "increase within daughters" in Xhosa.
Zobuhle f Zulu
Means "of beauty" in Zulu, from the possessive form of ubuhle.
Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.
Zoliswa f Xhosa
Means "one who calms" in Xhosa.
Zonkizizwe m Zulu
Means “all nations” in Zulu.
Zozibini f Xhosa
Xhosa name, said to mean "received with both hands". (In this culture it is considered impolite or unappreciative to accept a worthy gift with one hand; to show appreciation and respect to the giver, you use both hands to accept a gift.)
Zuko m South African, African
Means "harmony, someone with a good heart, loving, appreciative and calm" in Nguni.
Zusakhe f Xhosa
Means "guide us" in Xhosa.
Zwelethu m & f Ndebele
Means "our nation" in Ndebele.