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.
AKAHLULWAmXhosa (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.
AKANYANGfTswana Means "think about it", "think" in Setswana.
AKAZIWEfNguni Means "she must be introduced" in Nguni.
ANNELINEfAfrikaans, 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.
BAPAKImTswana Means "those who give testimony" in Setswana.
BARTHOmDutch, 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).
BONGAIfShona Means "be thankful" in a Shona dialect.
BONGIfSouth 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.
BVUMAImShona 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
BWERANImChewa Means "come" or "come back" in Chewa.
CÉZANNEf & mEnglish, 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.
CHIMIKAf & mTumbuka 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]
CHIMURENGAmShona 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.
CONFIDENCEfEnglish (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.
DANISMOmSouthern 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.
DONATIONmSouth African, English (Puritan) From the word donation, meaning "an act or instance of presenting something as a gift, grant, or contribution."
DZIKAMAImShona 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.
DZINASHEmShona Dzinashe means "It's with the Lord". One well known bearer of this name is Dzinashe Machingura.
EGHARDmAncient 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]