Southern African Submitted Names

Southern African names include those from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. See also about African names.

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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.

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".

Wuane f South African

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 South African

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.

Xoli f South African

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".

Yakachena f Shona
Name that means "Pure"

Yananai f Shona
Meaning “be joined or brought together.”

Yananiso f Shona
Meaning “togetherness; bringing or binding together”.

Yanano f Shona
Meaning "togetherness; integration; fellowship", longer forms of the name include Ruyanano and Yananiso.

Yande f & m Mwanga
Possibly means "an expression of joy" or "an unexpected gift from God" in Mwanga.

Yande m & f South African (Rare)

Yandiswa f South African
Means "increased" in Zulu and "extended" in Xhosa.

Yapunga f Tumbuka (Archaic)
Means "wind; bringing people together" in Tumbuka.

Yemetle f Sotho
Means "beautiful (referred to an object)" in Sotho.

Yemurai f Shona
Means "appreciate" in Shona.

Yeukai f Shona
Means "remember" in Shona.

Yeuko f & m Shona
Meaning "remembrance", it derives from the verb kuyeuka.

Yeutsamoyo f Shona
It means "remind the heart".

Yevedzo f Shona
Meaning "captivation; fascination", deriving from the verb kuyevedza meaning "to captivate; to make one gaze".

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.

Yolandie f Afrikaans
Variant of Yolandi.

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").

Yolinda f English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yolanda influenced by Linda.

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.

Yosefe m Southern African
Chitonga form of Joseph.

Ysanne f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English (British, Rare)

Yselle f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant of Iselle.

Yuatisisoiwahde m Zulu, South African

Yuvone f American (Rare), Southern African (Rare)
Likely a variant of Yvonne.

Zaakir m South African
Form of Zakir used especially in South Africa.

Zadzisai m & f Shona
Means "fulfill" in Shona.

Zakhi m South African

Zakieya f African American (Rare), South African (Rare)
Variant of Zakiya.

Zama f South African, Zulu
Means "try" in Zulu.

Zamokuhle f Zulu
Means "try the good" in Zulu.

Zana m & f Shona
Meaning "a hundred".

Zanele f Zulu
Means "they are enough" in Zulu.

Zanne f Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Sanne.

Zaranyika m Shona
Means "populate the world" in Shona.

Zarel m South African

Zayaan f & m South African (Rare), Muslim (Rare)
Variant transcript of Zayyan.

Zebeth f Afrikaans (Rare)

Zenani f South African

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]

Zephany f South African (Rare)
Feminine form of Zephania.

Zephne f Afrikaans

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.

Zhizha f Shona
Meaning “summer” in Shona.

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.

Zimba f & m Shona
Means "to be principled" in Shona.

Zimesele m Sotho

Zindzi f South African
Diminutive of Zindziswa.

Zindziswa f South African, Xhosa

Zinhle f Zulu
Means "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.

Zinta f Afrikaans

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.

Zirk m Afrikaans

Zithembe m Zulu
Means "trust yourself" in Zulu.

Zivai m Shona
Means "know" in Shona.

Zivaizvinodababa m & f Shona
Means "know what the father wants" in Shona.

Zivanai f & m Shona
"Know each other". Meant for relatives to keep in touch.

Ziyanda f Xhosa
Means "increase within daughters" in Xhosa.

Zobuhle f Zulu
Means "of beauty" in Zulu, from the possessive form of ubuhle.

Zodwe f South African, Zulu
Diminutive of Ntombizodwa.

Zolani m South African, Xhosa
Variant of Xolani.

Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.

Zolie f South African (Rare), American (South, Rare, Archaic)

Zoliswa f Xhosa
Means "one who calms" in Xhosa.

Zondai f & m Shona
"You may hate me." A situational name where a family is telling it's enemies you may hate me all you want.

Zondwa f South African

Zonja f English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Variant of Sonja.

Zonkizizwe m Zulu
Means “all nations” in Zulu.

Zororo f & m Shona
Rest. "May be speaking of a time of rest or peacefulness experienced by family around time of child's birth".

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.

Zuva f Shona
Means "day; daylight; sun; sunlight" in Shona.

Zuvarashe f & m Shona
Means the "lord's sun"

Zuwa m & f Shona
Meaning “sun”, it is also synonymous with Zuva.

Zvanaka f Shona
Means "it is well" in Shona.

Zvichanzii m & f Shona
Means "what is it?" in Shona.

Zvido m & f Shona
It means "desires".

Zvidzai m Shona
Means "despise, look down upon" in Shona.

Zvikomborero f Shona
Means "blessings" in Shona.

Zvipo m & f Shona
Meaning "gifts".

Zviyo m & f Shona
It is the plural of Chiyo. It means "grains". This is a name that symbolizes the smallness of grains which when planted and in their own season and time, grow and are harvested for multitudes and nations... [more]

Zvose m & f Shona
Meaning "the all; everything".

Zwelabo m South African

Zwelethu m & f Ndebele
Means "our nation" in Ndebele.

Zweli m South African

Zwelibanzi m South African

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