This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is South African; and the description contains the keywords whats or dose or this or name or means or carl.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abafile f & m ZuluMeans "they are not dead" or "undead" in Zulu.
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Akani m TsongaMeans "build, build together" in Xitsonga.
Alouette f English (Modern, Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Spanish (Mexican, Rare)Derived from French
alouette "lark, skylark".
Alouette is a popular Quebecois children's song, commonly thought to be about plucking the feathers from a lark. Although it is in French, it is well known among speakers of other languages as many US Marines and other Allied soldiers learned the song while serving in France during World War I and took it home with them, passing it on to their children and grandchildren.... [
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Aluwani m & f VendaMeans "be prosperous" or "grow up" in Tshivenda.
Andisiwe f & m XhosaMeans "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.
Andzile m & f TsongaMeans "multiplied and increased" in Xitsonga.
Anele m & f ZuluMeans "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Asavela f & m XhosaMeans "they still appear" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is South African actress Asavela Mngqithi.
Awonke m & f XhosaMeans "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.
Azwianewi m & f VendaMeans "something that cannot be told" in Tshivenda.
Bartho m Dutch, AfrikaansShort 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).
Behati f AfrikaansPossibly an Afrikaans variant of
Beata. It is the name of Namibian fashion model Behati Prinsloo (b. 1989).
Bhekumbuso m Zulu (Rare)Means "look after the kingdom", from Zulu
bheka "look after" and
umbuso "kingdom, dominion".
Bongi f Xhosa, Southern AfricanShort form of
Sibongile. This was borne by South African singer and songwriter Angela Sibongile "Bongi" Makeba (1950-1985), the only child of singer Miriam Makeba... [
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Bongiwe f Zulu (Modern)Sibongile A Zulu name meaning "Appreciated" usually given to a first born girl child or after great difficulty of not being able to conceive a girl for a long time.
Cetshwayo m ZuluMeans "advised" in Zulu. This was the name of a Zulu King,
Cézanne f & m English, AfrikaansFrom 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.
Chezelle f Afrikaans, FrenchSouth African name, probably derived from the French, it might be from a place name in France, derived from the Occitan, meaning "hill". Or accordingly to another theory it may mean "house of her".
Coenie m AfrikaansDiminutive of
Coenraad. This name is borne by South African rugby player Coenie Oosthuizen (1989-) and South African musician Coenie de Villiers (1956-).
Dela f Zulu (Rare)Dela. in Zulu it means to become whole, to feel complete and satisfied.
Devoux m South AfricanName created in the 2000s. A son who aspires for greatness. The one who reaches and catches his goals.
Eghard m Germanic, AfrikaansThe first element of this name is derived from
ag, an uncertain element for which several etymologies have been proposed. The most widely accepted explanation is that it comes from Proto-Germanic
*agjo meaning "sharp, pointed"... [
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Faf m Afrikaans (Rare)Afrikaans diminutive of
François. A notable bearer is South African rugby player Faf de Klerk (1991-), whose given name is François.
Gavaza f TsongaMeans "one who dresses elegantly" in Xitsonga.
Gedleyihlekisa m Southern African, ZuluIn the case of former South African president Jacob Zuma (1942-), the name means "the one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. His middle name was invented by his father, who based it on the phrase
ngeke ngithule umuntu engigedla engihlekisa meaning "I won't keep quiet when someone deceives me with a beautiful smile while he is doing damage to me".
Ghakarhi m ZuluThe meaning of this name is fierce warrior. A person not accepting defeat as an option.
Hlomla m & f XhosaMeans "to comment on something" in Xhosa.
Igmar m AfrikaansAfrikaans. Combination of his mother and fathers name. Siegfried and Marieta. Ig and Mar. Combined Igmar
Ijuba f ZuluCommonly 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... [
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Jabu f ZuluThe name's origin meaning is "It is the shortened form of the name Jabulani which means joy or to rejoice"
Kganya f & m SothoMeans "brightness" or "(God's) light" in Sesotho.
Khanyokulhe f ZuluMeans "guide on the way" in Zulu from the word
khanyo meaning "guide" and
kuhle meaning "way".
Khwezi m & f ZuluMeans "bright morning star" in Zulu.
Kwena m & f SothoMeans "crocodile" in the Sotho and Tswana languages. This name is chiefly used by Northern Sotho people.
Landi f AfrikaansShort from of
Yolandi. This name is borne by South African model Landi Swanepoel (b. 1979).
Lené f AfrikaansI've heard a suggestion that the meaning of the name might be "pool" or another body of water of some kind, but this is difficult to confirm as there is no reference to a language from which it originates, or it could be the short form of
Magdalene or
Helene with an acute on the last e, a popular stylisation among Afrikaans people.
Linda m ZuluMeans "wait!" in Zulu (note that this is the imperative singular form of
-linda).
Lineo f SothoMeans "gifts, grants, talents" in Lesotho.
Liyabona f & m XhosaMeans "it sees" or "you see" in Xhosa, sometimes taken from the phrase
liyabona igama le Nkosi meaning "the name of the eye of God".
Liyema f & m XhosaMeans "to stop" or "to stand, to be standing" in Xhosa, often taken from the phrase
liyema ikhaya "the home is standing" to indicate stability in the family.
Luchulumancolwenkosi f XhosaThis name is a scared name. Taken from words the Ancient King of the AmaMpondomise clan King Vukuzumbethe. He used to say “ lulo uchulumanco lwenkosi” which meant “this is God’s happiness”... [
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Luchumo m & f XhosaPossibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Lyndall f & m English, South AfricanTransferred use of the surname
Lyndall. This was (first?) used as a given name by the South African author, political activist and feminist Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) for the heroine in her most famous novel,
The Story of an African Farm (1883)... [
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Mamphaki f SothoThe name Mamphaki originates from the Northern Region of South Africa within the Bapedi people. The name was originally given to the first wife of Ntsetse Mailula - Mamphaki 'aMasekela. It was passed down within the Mailula family down to this day.
Matamela m & f Southern African, VendaPossibly means "the one who does not hold grudges" in Venda. It is the first name of the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (1952-).
Mbalienhle f Ndebele, ZuluMeans "beautiful flower" in Zulu and Ndebele, from
mbali "flower, flowers" and
enhle "something that is beautiful of nice".
Mesuli m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "wiper (of tears)" in Xhosa, suggesting someone who brings an end to sorrow.
Mixo m & f TsongaMeans "dawn, morning" in Xitsonga.