Southern African
names include those from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. See also
about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ANAISHE f & m ShonaDerived from Shona
anashe, meaning "who is with God".
ANDZILE m & f TsongaMeans "multiplied and increased" in Xitsonga.
ANELE m & f ZuluMeans "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.
BAFANA m ZuluDerived from Zulu
abafana, the plural form of
umfana, meaning "boy, young man."
BANGA m ShonaMeans "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.
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 South AfricanThis 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.
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 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.
CHARL m South AfricanSouth African form of
CHARLES. Notable bearers include Charl Willoughby, cricket player and Charl Schwartzel, golf player.
CHENJERAI m ShonaChenjerai means "Be on guard, wisen up". Chenjerai Hunzvi the Zimbabwean Freedom Fighter is one bearer of this name.
CHIMIKA f & m TumbukaAfter miscarriage(s), family would use traditional medicine (herbs, roots, barks) to prevent a potential next miscarriage. Kumika, means to stop, halt, prevent. Chimika is what you use to stop, prevent, halt...
[more] 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.
DANISMO m Southern AfricanThe meaning of Danismo is "Jubilant and Content with one's life and experiences." Commonly used to describe someone who has had good fortune recently.
DAWIE m AfrikaansRelated 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.
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.
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.
FANYANA m ZuluFrom Zulu
umfanyana,
abafanyana meaning "little boy".
FUTURE m & f English (Rare), Western African, Southern AfricanThis name is from the English word derived from Old French
futur meaning "future, to come," which is then derived from Latin
futurus meaning "going to be, yet to be, the future (as a noun)." The Latin word is an irregular suppletive future participle of
esse meaning "to be," which comes from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bheue- meaning "to be, exist, grow, come into being."...
[more] 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.
GOODWILL m Zulu, South African, LiteratureDerives 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] GUGU f XhosaMeans "our pride" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
GUGU f ZuluFrom Zulu
igugu meaning "precious".
GWINYAI m ShonaGwinyai means "be strong". The Zimbabwean tennis player Gwinyai Tongoona is a famous bearer of this name.
HAMUNYARI f ShonaHamunyari means "Have you no shame".
This name is given in a feuding situation.
HAZVINEI f ShonaHazvinei means "Never mind, no worries".
This name may be given by a parent who was offended HAZVIPERI m & f ShonaIt does not end. "Situational name given in circumstances where family faced unending troubles or trials".
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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