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".
Abegundem & fYoruba Means "The one who came with the masquerade" in Yoruba.
AbeikumAkan Means "born on Wednesday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
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".
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.
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".
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".
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".
AgyemanmAkan Means "saviour of the nation" in Akan.
Ahamefunam & fIgbo Means "may my name not be lost" in Igbo.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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".
Arukubuf & mIjaw Means "a child born in a canoe" in Ijaw.
ArzikifHausa Means "wealth, riches; prosperity" in Hausa.
Asaaseasam & fAkan Means "the land is finished" in Akan. The implication of this name is that there is no more land for the dead to be buried - so the child is encouraged to live as there will be no more space for his/her burial.
AsabifYoruba Means "one selected for birth" in Yoruba.
AtsenmAfizere Atsen which means"Visitor" is a male given name among the Afizere people of Nigeria. who are predominantly in Jos Plateau and Bauchi State Nigeria.
AyafBaoulé Derived from Baoulé ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".