Western African names include those from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. See also about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
AannulirófBandial Means "she was brought down inside" in Bandial.
AaremYoruba Means "commander" in Yoruba. Aàrẹ is a title, usually in the military of the Yoruba warriors company. The leader of the company from a clan takes the title when they join up with a coalition.
Abayomim & fYoruba Means "he came to bring me joy and happiness" or "I would have been mocked" in Yoruba. It is a name given to a child born after a number of unfortunate or near unfortunate circumstances. It is often called in full as Àbáyòmí Olúwaniòjé meaning "I would have been mocked, if not for God".
Abejulm & fBandial Means "the one who pouts" in Bandial.
AbekefYoruba Means "one begged to care for" in Yoruba.
Aberuagbam & fYoruba Means "the one who respects elders" in Yoruba, derived from a meaning "one person", bẹrù meaning "fear, be afraid" and àgbà meaning "elder".
Abionaf & mYoruba Means "born during a journey" or "born into the arts" in Yoruba, from bí "to give birth, be born" and sí "to, on" combined with either ọ̀nà "way, road, journey" or ọ̀nà "art, artistry, craftsmanship"... [more]
Abisadem & fYoruba Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.
AbisomYoruba Means "given" or "acquired" in Yoruba.
AboderinmYoruba Means "one who walks in the company of hunters" in Yoruba.
Adakolem & fIdoma Idoma name meaning "father of the house", "head of family", or "head of the home". This name is usually given to the firstborn male or female child in Idoma households.
AdaorafIgbo Means "the people's daughter" in Igbo.
AdebimpefYoruba Means "the crown is complete" in Yoruba.
AdebisifYoruba Means "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba. This is the name of the (Nigerian) mother of British musician Seal Samuel.
AdebobajomYoruba Means "the crown suits the king" in Yoruba.
AdedamolamYoruba Means "my crown mixed with blessing" in Yoruba.
Adedewef & mYoruba Means "the crown has become small" or "one has arrived small" in Yoruba, from either adé "crown" or dé "to arrive, come" combined with di "become, change into" and ẹ̀wẹ́ "small, thin"... [more]
AdediranmYoruba Means "royalty becomes generational" in Yoruba, from adé "crown" combined with di "become, change into" and ìran "generation, lineage".
Adedirem & fYoruba Means "the crown has become good fortune" in Yoruba, from adé "crown, royalty" combined with di "become, change into" and ire "luck, good fortune, goodness".
Adedoyinf & mYoruba Means "the crown is now honey" in Yoruba.
AdefunkefYoruba Means "the crown has given me to cherish" in Yoruba.
Adegbamigbem & fYoruba Means "the crown did not forget me” in Yoruba.
Adegbemibum & fYoruba Means "the crown did not insult me” in Yoruba.
AdegboyegamYoruba Means "the crown has elevated our honour" in Yoruba.
Adeikef & mYoruba Means "one who has crowned your care" in Yoruba, from adé "crown" and ìkẹ́ "fondness, care, cherishing".
AdeizafNigerian Name of Nigerian origin, meaning "giver (father) of good things" or "giver (father) of wealth".
Adejugbem & fYoruba Means "royalty does not perish" in Yoruba, from adé "crown, royalty" combined with jù "does not, cannot be" and gbé "carry, lift; take by force, overpower".
AdejuyigbemYoruba Means "the crown does not allow honour to perish" in Yoruba.
Adekanmim & fYoruba Means "the crown is now my turn" from Yoruba adé meaning "crown", kàn meaning "to touch, to concern" and mi meaning "me, my".
Adekiitem & fYoruba Means "the crown does not fall" in Yoruba.
Adekoyam & fYoruba Means "the crown rejects suffering" from Yoruba adé meaning "crown", kọ̀ meaning "to refuse, to reject" and ìyà meaning "punishment, suffering".
Adekugbem & fYoruba Means "the crown does not perish" in Yoruba.
AdeotimYoruba Means "royalty does not fade" in Yoruba, derived from adé meaning "crown, royalty", (k)ò meaning "does not" and tí meaning "fade, be blemished".
AdeoyemWestern African, Yoruba From Yoruba adé oyè, which literally means "the crown of chieftancy", and is understood to mean "the crown given to me to celebrate my acquired chieftaincy title".
Aderinolaf & mYoruba The first part, Aderi, means "crown" or "royalty," the second part, Nola, means "wealth" or "riches." The name is interpreted as "crowned with wealth" or "royalty with riches".
Aderinsolaf & mYoruba Meaning "a crown walks into wealth" or "royalty walks into wealth", from the Yoruba words adé (crown), rìn (to walk), sí (into) and ọlá (honor, wealth).
AderonkefYoruba Means "the crown has found something to pamper" in Yoruba, from adé "crown, royalty", rí "to see, find", ohun "thing, something", and kẹ́ "cherish, care for".
AdesinamYoruba Means "the crown has opened the way" or "the one who arrives and opens the way" in Yoruba, usually given to the firstborn child in a family.
AdesojimYoruba Means "the crown has woken up" from Yoruba adé meaning "crown" and sọjí meaning "to arise, to awake".
AdesolafYoruba Means "the crown honored us" in Yoruba.
AdiomYoruba Means "bundled up and stood erect" in Yoruba, referring to someone who stands strong and tall.
AdjouafBaoulé Derived from Baoulé jɔlɛ "Tuesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Tuesday".
Adom & fYoruba Possibly derived from Yoruba ádò meaning "medicine gourd". This is also the name of two cities in Nigeria, both with different etymology.
Adubif & mYoruba Means "one we struggled to birth" in Yoruba, from dù "to fight, struggle" and bí "to birth, be born". Sometimes given to children named Ige as a nickname.
AdukefYoruba Means "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
AdunnifYoruba Means "sweet to have" in Yoruba, from dùn "sweet, pleasant" and ní "obtain, have, possess".... [more]
AffouéfBaoulé Derived from Baoulé fue "Saturday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Saturday".
AganjusolamYoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare) Means "the one with the stiff face makes honor" in Yoruba. According to Yoruba tradition, this is the name of a warrior king deified after his death, said to fight by shooting fire. He is associated with wilderness, the desert, and volcanoes... [more]
AgbaakinmYoruba Means "elderly warrior" or "most senior of the brave ones" in Yoruba, from àgbà "elder, adult" and akin "bravery, valour; a brave person, warrior".
AgbekefYoruba Means "carried and cared for" in Yoruba, from gbé "to carry, hold, lift" and kẹ́ "to care for, pamper, cherish".
Agboolam & fYoruba Means "gathering of wealth" in Yoruba.
AgemomYoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare) In Yoruba mythology, Agemo is a chameleon who is the messenger of the gods. He is the main deity of the Ijebu people, as he is believed to protect children and safeguard the future of Ijebu people through his blessing.
AhoefafEwe, African Name of Ewa origin, meaning "peaceful" or "bringer of peace".
AhoufBaoulé Derived from Baoulé we "Thursday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Thursday".
AidevofYoruba Means "no one can change my destiny but God" in Yoruba.
AinafYoruba Means "not to be beaten" in Yoruba, from the negative prefix àì- combined with nà "to beat, hit, flagellate; to defeat". Given to children born with an umbilical cord around their neck; compare Ojo.
Ainosef & mEsan Means "no one is greater than God" in Esan.
Ajalam & fYoruba Means "fights and survives" in Yoruba, from jà "to fight, struggle" and là "to survive". Alternatively, the final element could be lá "to lick; to become worn out".
Ajarif & mYoruba Means "fought to be seen" in Yoruba, traditionally given to children born facing downwards.
Ajayim & fYoruba Means "fought to turn" in Yoruba, traditionally given to children born facing downwards or sideways.
Ajef & mYoruba Mythology, Yoruba Means "wealth, money, profit" in Yoruba. This is the name of a goddess of wealth, prosperity, and business in Yoruba tradition.
Ajewolem & fYoruba Means "the goddess Aje has entered this house" or "wealth has come in" in Yoruba, from ajé "wealth, prosperity" and wọle "enter into" (itself from wọ "to enter" and ilé "house, home").
AjikefYoruba Means "wakes up to be pampered" in Yoruba, from jí "to wake" and kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
AjokefYoruba Means "jointly beloved" or "pampered by all" in Yoruba, from jọ "together, jointly; to assemble, congregate" and kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
AkammboñaafJola Means "she tries it for nothing" or "she does it there for nothing" in Jola-Fonyi. This is applied to a woman in reference to her repeated failure to carry a pregnancy to term, implying the bearer gets pregnant in vain.
Akeredolum & fWestern African, Yoruba Means "one who becomes prominent at a young age" or "he who reduces (humbles) himself in order to become king" in Yoruba.
AkinfelamYoruba Means "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
AkinleyemYoruba Means "bravery is honourable" or "valour has dignity" in Yoruba, from akín "courage, valour; brave person, warrior" and either ni "to be" or ní "to have, possess" combined ẹ̀yẹ "honour, respect, dignity".
AkissifBaoulé Derived from Baoulé kisie "Monday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Monday".
Akkalenjayif & mBandial Means "she torments her mother" or "he torments his mother" in Bandial.
AkonawemIsoko Means "let the teeth laugh" in Isoko.
AkosiafWestern African, Akan A name of Ashanti origin meaning "born on a Sunday" in Akan culture. Notable name bearers include actor Akosia Sabet and mononymic musician Akosia. Akosua is a variation of this name.
AkoufEwe Akou is a name often given to a girl born on a Wednesday in Ewe culture.
AlaramYoruba, History Possibly from the title of the traditional monarch of either Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín or Ará-Èkìtì, from Yoruba oni-, a possessive forming prefix, and either Ìlárá "the ones who possess many relatives” or Ará, of unknown etymology... [more]
AmarimAfrican, Yoruba, Western African A noted bearer was a Damel of Cayor, Amari Ngoné Ndella, who ruled from 1790 AD to 1809 AD. The Kingdom of Cayor was one of the largest of most powerful kingdoms in what is now Senegal, existing from 1549 AD to 1879 AD.
AmefiamEwe Amefia means 'people's king' in Ewe. Amefia is a surname that has significant transferred usage to a given name.
Amenaghawonf & mWestern African, Edo Literally translated to "the water you shall drink" in Edo, from the proverb Amen na gha won ighi le se omwan rhae, meaning "the water you shall drink will surely come to be", implying that what is destined to be, will be.
Amigaatm & fBandial Means "He/she has a skinny leg" in Bandial.
AminattafWestern African (Rare) Variant of Aminata. This is borne by Aminatta Forna (1964-), a British writer of Scottish and Sierra Leonean descent.
AmlanfBaoulé Derived from Baoulé mlan "Wednesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Wednesday".
AmoinfBaoulé Derived from Baoulé mɔnnɛn "Sunday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Sunday".
Amokef & mYoruba Means "known and cherished" in Yoruba, from mọ̀ "to know" and kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Amul-yaakaarm & fWolof Means "she/he has no hope" in Wolof. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
AmusanmYoruba Means "one who holds the whip" in Yoruba, from mú "to hold, grasp" and ìṣán, a kind of whip or cane used in Egúngún (or Masquerade) festivals. Usually given to children born holding the umbilical cord, with a membrane "mask" covering their head, or the third-born of triplets.