Southern African Submitted Names

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.

ACHAJE m Chewa
Means "stranger" in Chichewa.

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)

AKAHLULWA m Xhosa (Modern)
This name is derived from the song Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu. Mostly popularity in the Xhisa nation. But this name is also understood Zulu which means Jesus is undefeated.

AKANYANG f Tswana
Means "think about it", "think" in Setswana.

AKAZIWE f Nguni
Means "she must be introduced" in Nguni.

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

AKWENYE m Ovambo
Means "spring (season)" in Ovambo.

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... [more]

ALINDA f Dutch, Afrikaans, Finnish, Swedish (Rare), Hungarian, Gascon
Dutch, Afrikaans, Finnish, Swedish and Hungarian contracted form of ADELINDA and Gascon contracted form of AIDELINA.

ALITA f English, Dutch, Afrikaans

ALITTA f Afrikaans, Hungarian, English
Variant of ALETTA.

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

ALLETA f English (African), Afrikaans, Danish (Rare)
Variant of ALETTA.

ALLETTA f Dutch, Afrikaans, English
Variant of ALETA.

ALLITA f Afrikaans (Rare), Danish (Rare, Archaic)
Variant of ALITA.

ALMARIE f English (American), Afrikaans

ALMINE f Afrikaans (Rare), German (Rare), Danish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Variant of ALMINA.

ALTUS m Afrikaans (Rare)

ALUWANI m & f Venda
Means "be prosperous" or "grow up" in Tshivenda.

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, Hungarian, English (African)
Variant of IMELDA.

AMILE m Zulu
something keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.

AMLONDE f South 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.

AMUNIME m Ovambo
Means "big lion" in Ovambo.

AMUSA f Southern African
It is a Silozi or Lozi Name. Silozi or Lozi is a Zambian language.

AMUTENYA m Ovambo
Means "midday" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born during the afternoon.

ANAISHE f & m Shona
Derived from Shona anashe, meaning "who is with God".

ANDISIWE f Xhosa
Means "extension" in Xhosa.

ANDRICIA f South African
greek, meaning "strong"

ANDRID f & m Southern African (Rare)

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.

ANELISA f Afrikaans, Portuguese (Brazilian), Danish (Rare)
Variant of ANNELISA.

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.

ANGULA m Ovambo
Means "morning" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born in the morning.

ANITHA f English, Afrikaans, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Variant of ANITA (1).

ANJE f Dutch, Afrikaans

ANKIA f Afrikaans

ANNALEEN f Afrikaans
[Comes from the name Anna Magdaleen. Means full of grace or favor tender and beautiful.

ANNALETTE f South African, English (African), Afrikaans

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

ANNELEE f Afrikaans (Rare), Swedish (Rare)
Variant of ANNELI.

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 (Rare), Danish (Rare), 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

ANRICH m Afrikaans

ANRIETTE f Louisiana Creole, Afrikaans
Creole variant of HENRIETTE.

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

ANZELLE f Afrikaans

APHELELE m Xhosa
Meaning “they are perfect” or “they are complete” in Xhosa. Often given to the last child in Xhosa families.

ARABANG f Sotho
Means "reply" in Sotho.

ARNOUX m Afrikaans

ASAMAHLE f Nguni
Means "she is still beautiful" in Nguni.

ASAMKELE f Nguni
Means "let us accept" in Nguni

ASANDA m South African

ATANG m & f Tswana
Means "multipy" in Setswana.

ATARELANG m & f Tswana
Means "receive with cupped hands" in Setswana.

ATASAONE m Tswana
Means "His (God's) hand" in Setswana.

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

AVHATENDI m & f Venda
Means "they do not believe" in Tshivenda.

AWAMI f Nguni
Means "belongs to me" in Nguni.

AWONKE f Xhosa

AXHOBA m Xhosa
The meaning of this name is, they are armed.

AYAKHA m Xhosa
Means "they build" in Xhosa.

AYANDA f Shona
Means "we are many" in Shona.

AZELE f Afrikaans (Rare)

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

AZILLE f South African (Rare)

AZWIANEWI m & f Venda
Means "something that cannot be told" in Tshivenda.

AZWIHANGWISI m & f Venda
Means "unforgettable" in Tshivenda.

AZWITHELI m South African

BAAITSE m & f Tswana
Means "they know" in Setswana.

BAAKANTSE f Tswana
Means "they thought" in Setswana.

BAAKANYANG m & f Tswana
Means "mend, repair" in Setswana.

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

BABSIE f South African
Short and familiar form of BARBARA.

BABUSI m Tswana
Means "leaders" in Setswana.

BADUMEDI f Tswana
Means "believe" in Setswana.

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

BAFISKE f Tumbuka
Means "let them do as they please" in Tumbuka.

BAHELWANG m & f Tswana
Means "why give them?" in Setswana.

BAITSHEPHI m & f Tswana
Means "the just" or "the saints" in Setswana.

BAITUMETSE m Tswana
Means "they are happy" in Setswana.

BAKANG m & f Tswana
Means "praise" in Tswana.

BALIJEKWAO f Tumbuka
Means "they have no home" in Tumbuka.

BAMBATHA f South African

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

BANGA m Shona
Means "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.

BANKATAMETSE f Tswana
Means "they are close to me" in Setswana.

BANYATSANG f Tswana
Means "why do they doubt?" in Setswana.

BAONE f Tswana (Rare)

BAPAKI m Tswana
Means "those who give testimony" in Setswana.

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).

BARULAGANYE f Tswana
Means "they are in order" in Setswana.

BARUTI m Tswana
Means "teacher" in Tswana.

BASADIBOTLHE f Tswana
Means "all women" in Setswana.

BASETSANA f Sotho
Means "ladies" in Sotho.

BASETSANABOTLHE f Tswana
Means "all girls" in Setswana.

BASIRELETSI m Tswana
Means "our protector" in Setswana.

BATHUSI m & f Tswana
Means "helpers" in Setswana.

BATIRAI m Shona

BATSEBA f Scandinavian, South African
Cognate of BATHSHEBA.

BATSHEGI f Tswana
Means "those who laugh" in Setswana.

BATSIRAI f Shona
Means "help" in Shona.

BAYENKHU f Tumbuka
Means "where will they go?" in Tumbuka.

BAZA f South African
medal, trophy

BEATHA f Southern African
Variant of BEATA.

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

BERNALEE f South African

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".

BILONDA f Southern African

BIRIA f Shona
Means "gathering" in Shona.

BOAMMARURI m Tswana
Means "truth" in Setswana.

BOATAMETSE m Tswana
Means "His kingdom drew near" in Setswana.

BOFELO f Tswana
Means "last" in Setswana.

BOGOSI m Tswana
Means "kingdom" in Setswana.

BOIKAEGO m Tswana
Means "someone to lean on" in Setswana.

BOIKANYO m & f Tswana
Means "trustworthy" in Setswana.

BOIKETLO f Tswana
Means "to relax" in Setswana.

BOIPUSO m Tswana
Means "independance" in Tswana.

BOITSHEPO f Tswana
Means "holy" in Setswana.

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

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

BOLATA f Indian (Rare, ?), Southern African (Rare, ?)

BONGAI f Shona
Means "be thankful" in a Shona dialect.

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.

BORAGANE f Tswana
Means "small red-billed quelea" in Setswana.

BOTSHELO m Tswana
Means "life" in Setswana.

BOUDINE f South African

BRON m English (Modern, Rare), South African (Rare)
Transferred use of the surname BRON or perhaps a truncated form of LEBRON.

BRUMILDA f Afrikaans

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

BUANG f Sotho
Means "speak" or "chat" in Sesotho.

BUCHULE m & f Xhosa
Means "skills; cleverness" in Xhosa.

BUKATA m & f Bemba
Means "God's glory" in Bemba.

BULELANI m South African

BUNDURA f Southern African
unsure

BUNGA 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.

BVUMAI m Shona
Bvumai 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

BWERANI m Chewa
Means "come" or "come back" in Chewa.

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.

CALVINIA f South African
Feminine form of CALVIN.

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 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)

CHAMIRAI m Shona
Means "be focused and diligent" in Shona.

CHAMU m Southern African
Short form of CHAMUNORWA. This is the nickname of Zimbabwean cricketer Chamu Chibhabha. His real name is Chamunorwa.

CHAPANJIRA f Chewa
Means "of the road, of the journey" in Chewa.

CHAPANSI f & m Nsenga
Child born after many miscarriages

CHAPASI f Tumbuka
Means "earth" in Tumbuka.

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.

CHARLISE f English, South African
Variant of CHARLIZE.

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

CHARNRE f South African

CHAWANANGWA m Tumbuka
Means "a blessing" in Tumbuka.

CHAWANZI m & f Nsenga
Meaning gift or freely given

CHENGETAI m & f African, Shona
To protect/to take care of

CHENJERAI m Shona
Chenjerai means "Be on guard, wisen up". Chenjerai Hunzvi the Zimbabwean Freedom Fighter is one bearer of this name.

CHENZIRA m & f Southern African, Shona
Means "born on a journey" in Shona.

CHERITY f South African
Variant of CHARITY.

CHIBINKHE m Tumbuka
Means "the dark (coloured) one" in Tumbuka.

CHIBVWIMBO m Tumbuka
Means "bird's nest" in Tumbuka.

CHIDO f Shona
Means "wish, desire; love" in Shona.

CHIKATIZYO f Nsenga
Means "helper" in Nsenga.

CHIKOMERA m & f Chewa
Means "goodwill, compassion" in Chewa.

CHILENE f Afrikaans (Rare), Haitian Creole

CHILUFYA m & f Bemba
Means "the one who is lost" in Bemba.

CHIMANGO m Chewa
Means "builder" in Chewa.

CHIMIKA f & m Tumbuka
After 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 Shona
Chimurenga 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.

CHITHUZI m Tumbuka
Means "shadow" in Tumbuka.

CHIVIMBISO f Shona
Means "the promise" in Shona.

CHOKOMERA m & f Chewa
Means "compassion" in Chewa.

CHOKWADI m Shona
Means "truth" in Shona.

CHOSANING'OMA m Tumbuka
Means "remove bad things" in Tumbuka.

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.

CHRISZELDA f Afrikaans, South African
Variant of CHRISELDA

CHRISZETTE f Afrikaans
Compound name of CHRISTINE and SUZETTE.

CHRIZANNA f Afrikaans
Variant of CHRIZANNE.

CHRIZELDA f Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of CHRISELDA.

CHUMA m & f Bemba
Means "wealth" in Bemba.

CLARENCIA f Medieval Spanish, South African (Rare), American (South, Rare)
Variant of CLARENTIA.

CLARISE f English (American), Afrikaans, Dutch (Rare)
Variant of CLARICE.

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

CLERENCE m Southern African (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Variant of CLARENCE.

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.

CORNELLE m & f French (African), South African (Rare)
Likely a variant of CORNEILLE or CORNELL when used by men. It's possibly a variant of CORNELIA or a feminized form of CORNELL when used by women.

CRISELDA f Filipino (Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of CHRISELDA.

CRISKE f Afrikaans
Merging of the names Christen and Marike.

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

DADIRAI f Shona
Means "show off" in Shona.

DAKALO m & f Venda
Means "happiness" in Tshivenda.

DALENE f English, South African
Diminutive of MAGDALENE.

DALIEN f Afrikaans

DALISO m Chewa
A variant of DALITSO. ... [more]

DAMBISA f Southern African
A Zambian feminine name borne by the economist Dambisa Felicia Moyo.

DAMBUZGHO f Tumbuka
Means "troublesome" in Tumbuka.

DANANAI m & f Shona
Means "love each other" in Shona.

DANÉ f Afrikaans
Variant of DANAË.

DANIE m & f Afrikaans, English
DANNIE, DANNY... [more]

DANISMO m Southern African
The meaning of Danismo is "Jubilant and Content with one's life and experiences." Commonly used to describe someone who has had good fortune recently.

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

DAVENIA f African American, Jamaican Patois, South African

DAVINCIA f Southern African
Peace and love

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

DESERE f Afrikaans

DESIRÉE f Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Afrikaans, South African
Variant of DÉSIRÉE / DESIREE.

DIANI f English (Modern), Afrikaans

DIDIMALANG f Tswana
Means "be quiet" in Setswana.

DIDIZA f Zulu
Means "flutter" in Zulu.

DIETTMAR m Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of DIETMAR.

DIKELEDITSAME f Tswana
Means "my tears" in Setswana.

DIKELETSO f Tswana
Means "wishes" in Setswana.

DIKGAKGAMATSO m & f Tswana
Means "miracles" in Setswana.

DILIVIO m Afrikaans (Rare), Dutch (Surinamese, Rare)
Since this name is also found written as Di Livio, it is probably a combination of the Italian preposition di meaning "of" with the given name LIVIO... [more]

DIMAKATSO f Tswana
Means "surprises" in Setswana.

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

DINEO f Tswana
"Gifts"

DIPESALEMA m Tswana
Means "psalms" in Tswana.

DIPHETOGO m Tswana
Means "changes" in Setswana.

DIPONE m & f Tswana
Means "lights" in Setswana.

DITEBOGO f Tswana
Means "gratitudes" in Setswana.

DITHAPELO m & f Tswana
Means "prayers" in Setswana.

DITHEBE m Tswana
Means "shields" in Setswana.

DITIRO m Tswana
Means "acts" in Setswana.

DITSHWANELO m & f Tswana
Means "rights" in Setswana.

DIZGHA m Tumbuka
Means "to be quiet" in Tumbuka.

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... [more]

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.

DORATHEA f English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Variant of DOROTHEA.

DUDUETSANG f Tswana
Means "ululations" in Setswana.

DUMISA m & f Tumbuka
Means "thank you" in Tumbuka.

DYSHIKI f South African
South African meaning One who Likes Candy

DZIKAMAI m Shona
Dzikamai 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 Shona
Dzinashe means "It's with the Lord". One well known bearer of this name is Dzinashe Machingura.

DZIVA f Shona
Means "water" in Shona.

DZUWA m & f Chewa
Means "sunshine" in Chewa.

EGHARD m Ancient Germanic, Afrikaans
The 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"... [more]