Western African Submitted Names

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.
gender
usage
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
AANNULIRÓ f Bandial
Means "she was brought down inside" in Bandial.
ÁÁRÓNÌ m Yoruba
Yoruba form of AARON.
ABA f Akan
Means "born on Thursday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
ABADI m Ijaw
Means "a big sea" in Ijaw.
ABADIBO f & m Ijaw
Means "a person from the sea" in Ijaw.
ABAKA f Akan
Means "first born" in Akan.
ABASIAMA m & f Ibibio
Means "it is God that loves" in Ibibio.
ABAYIE m & f Akan
Means "has come well" in Akan.
ABAYOMI m & f Yoruba
Means "he came to bring me joy and happiness" or "I would have been mocked" in Yoruba.
ABDOU m Western African
Western African form of ABDUL.
ABDOUL AZIZ m Western African
Western African form of ABD AL-AZIZ.
ABDOUL KARIM m Western African
Western African form of ABD AL-KARIM.
ABDOUL SALAM m Western African
Western African form of ABDUS SALAM.
ABDOURAHMANE m Western African
Form of ABD AL-RAHMAN used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
ABDULLAHI m Somali, Nigerian
Form of ABDULLAH used in Somalia and Nigeria.
ABEIKU m Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
ABEJUL m & f Bandial
Means "the one who pouts" in Bandial.
ABEKE f Yoruba
Means "one begged to care for" in Yoruba.
ABI f Nigerian
Means "owner" in Izere.
ABIOLA f & m African, African American (Modern), Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "born in honor" in Yoruba.
ABIONA f & m Yoruba
Means "born during a journey" in Yoruba.
ABISADE m & f Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.
ABISO m Yoruba
Means "given" or "acquired" in Yoruba.
ABODERIN m Yoruba
Means "one who walks in the company of hunters" in Yoruba.
ABRA f Ewe
Means "Tuesday-born girl" in Ewe.
ABUCHI m & f Igbo
Means "song of God" in Igbo.
ABUKKAKKEN f Bandial
Means "she entrusts to raise (her child)" in Bandial.
ABURU m Dagbani
"One of the royal gates of Dagbong Kingdom" denoting "Corrupted name of Abdulai"
ACHIKE m Igbo
Means "take the things of the world easy" in Igbo.
ADA m Idoma
Means "father" in Idoma.
ADAKU f Igbo
Means "daughter of wealth" in Igbo.
ADAMA m Western African
Form of ADAM used in parts of western Africa.
ADAMMA f Igbo
Means "daughter of beauty" in Igbo.
ADAMU m Amharic, Swahili, Hausa
Amharic, Swahili, and Hausa form of ADAM.
ADAORA f Igbo
Means "the people's daughter" in Igbo.
ADEBIMPE f Yoruba
Means "the crown is complete" in Yoruba.
ADEBISI f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba. This is the name of the (Nigerian) mother of British musician Seal Samuel.
ADEDAMOLA m Yoruba
Means "my crown mixed with blessing" in Yoruba.
ADEDOYIN f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is now honey" in Yoruba.
ADEFUNKE f Yoruba
Means "the crown has given me to cherish" in Yoruba.
ADELAKUN m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown opens the womb" in Yoruba.
ADELEKE f Yoruba
Means "crown achieves happiness" in Yoruba.
ADELOWO m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown has honour" or "the crown has respect" in Yoruba.
ADEMOLA m Yoruba
Means "the crown along with wealth" or "the crown has been added to the wealth" in Yoruba.
ADEMUREWA f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown brought goodness" in Yoruba.
ADENIJI m Yoruba
Means "the crown has fame" in Yoruba.
ADENIKE f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be treasured" in Yoruba.
ADENIYI m Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "the crown is precious" in Yoruba.
ADEOLA f & m Yoruba
Means "crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.
ADEPERO f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the crown pacifies" or "the crown calms" in Yoruba.
ADERONKE f Yoruba
Means "crown has found something to pet" in Yoruba.
ADESIMBO f Yoruba
Means "noble birth" in Yoruba.
ADESINA f Yoruba
Means "the crown has opened the way" in Yoruba.
ADESOLA f Yoruba
Means "the crown honored us" in Yoruba.
ADESUA f Edo
Variant of ADESUWA.... [more]
ADESUWA f Edo
Means "in the midst of prosperity" in Edo.
ADETULA m Yoruba
Means "royalty survived again" in Yoruba.
ADETULE m Yoruba
Variant of ADETULA.
ADETUTU f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown is gentle" in Yoruba.
ADEWUMI m & f Yoruba
Means "royalty attracts me" in Yoruba.
ADEWUYI m & f Yoruba (Modern)
Means "royalty is prestigious" in Yoruba.
ADEYINKA f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown surrounds me" in Yoruba.
ADIA f Igede, Swahili
Means "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa adia "gift".
ADIAHAUDO f Ibibio
Means "first daughter of a second son" in Ibibio.
ADIGHEJI m Isoko (Rare)
Means "pillar of the house" in Isoko.
ADIM m & f Efik
ADOLE m Idoma
Means "father of the house" in Idoma.
ADUKE f Yoruba
Means "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
ADWIN m Akan
Means "creative" in Akan.
AFAFA f Ewe
Means "the first child of the second husband" in Ewe.
AFAGACHE m & f Kassena
Means "I am on guard, alert" in Kasem.
AFIANWAN f Ibibio
Means "fair lady" in Ibibio.
AFIRÍYIE f Akan
Means "happy circumstances" in Akan.
AFOGORI m & f Bandial
Means "S/he gets buried around" in Banjal. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
AFRIYIE m & f Akan
Means "has appeared well" in Akan.
AFRYEA f Ewe
Means "born during happy times" in Ewe.
AFULUCHIANYA m Igbo
Means "does one see God?" in Igbo.
AGALEMBO m & f Bandial
Means "s/he ruins it" in Bandial.
AGANJU m African Mythology, Yoruba
The son of OBATALA and ODUDUA. He marries his sister Yemaja and they produce a son named ORUNGAN ("air").
AGBANI f Nigerian
Meaning unknown.
AGHADINUNO m Igbo
Means "war is in the house" in Igbo.
AGYEGYESΕM m & f Akan
Means "trouble making" in Akan.
AGYEMAN m Akan
Means "saviour of the nation" in Akan.
AHAMEFUNA m & f Igbo
Means "may my name not be lost" in Igbo.
AÏCHATA f Western African
Western African elaboration of AÏCHA (see AISHA).
AIDEVO f Yoruba
Means "no one can change my destiny but God" in Yoruba.
AINA f Yoruba
Means "difficult birth" in Yoruba.
AINOSE f & m Esan
Means "no one is greater than God" in Esan.
AISHAFSAT f Western African (Modern)
Combination of AISHA meaning "life" with HAFSAT meaning "gathering".
AISSA f Western African
Form of AISHA used in West African countries (primarily Mali, Senegal, and Cameroon).
AÏSSATA f Western African
Form of AISHA used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
AJAH m & f Bandial
Means "the clever one" in Bandial.
AJAŊA m Jola
Means "girl" in Jola-Fonyi.
AJANI m & f Jamaican Patois, Yoruba
Means "one (we) fought to have" in Yoruba.
AJOKE f Yoruba
Means "jointly beloved" in Yoruba.
AKACHUKWU m Igbo
Means "hand of God" in Igbo.
AKAMMBOÑAA f Jola
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.
AKANDE m Yoruba, Nigerian
means "first born"
AKEREDOLU m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "one who becomes prominent at a young age" or "he who reduces (humbles) himself in order to become king" in Yoruba.
AKHERE m & f Western African, Esan
Means "the younger twin" in Esan.
AKIN m Yoruba
Means "the brave one" in Yoruba.
AKINBOLADE m Yoruba
Means "bravery comes with wealth" in Yoruba.
AKINFELA m Yoruba
Means "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
AKINTUNDE m Yoruba
Means "bravery returns" in Yoruba.
AKISSI f Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
AKKALENJAYI f & m Bandial
Means "she torments her mother" or "he torments his mother" in Bandial (a Jola language of Senegal, also known as Gújjolaay Eegimaa).
AKKAYIL m Bandial
Means "he surpasses them" in Bandial.
AKOBUNDU m Igbo
Means "wisdom is life" in Igbo.
AKONAWE m Isoko
Means "let the teeth laugh" in Isoko.
AKPADIAHA m Ibibio
Means "first son of first daughter" in Ibibio.
AKPO m & f Edo
Means "short person" in Edo.
AKPOEBI f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "life is good" in Ijaw.
AKPOMATUNEMIBOFA m & f Ijaw
Means "nobody has a knowledge of the world" in Ijaw.
AKPOMOFA f & m Ijaw
Means "the world is not as you think of it" in Ijaw.
AKU m Igbo
Means "wealth" in Igbo.
AKÚ f Akan
Means "Wednesday" in Akan.
AKÚÁ f Akan
Variant of AKUA.
AKUNNA f Igbo
Means "father's wealth" in Igbo, from aku meaning "property, wealth" and nna meaning "father".
AKUWUEZIUKA f & m Igbo
Means "prosperity is a good talk" in Igbo.
AKWA m Efik, Ibibio
Means "elder, senior" in Efik and Ibibio.
AKWAOWO m Ibibio
Means "great man" in Ibibio.
AKWETE f Western African
Means "eldest of twins" in Ga.
ALABRAH m Ijaw
Means "how long" in Ijaw.
ALADEINYEFA f & m Ijaw
Means "nothing is superior to royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAERE f Ijaw
Means "queen, woman of substance" in Ijaw.
ALAOWEI m Ijaw
Means "noble man" in Ijaw.
ALATA f Ijaw
Means "royal wife" in Ijaw.
ALATARI m & f Ijaw
Means "king's love" or "love of royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAYINGI f Ijaw (Rare)
Means "royal mother" in Ijaw.
ALAZIDEI m Ijaw
Meaning "I have given birth to royalty" in Ijaw.
ALAZIMO f & m Ijaw
Means "born into royalty" in Ijaw.
ALBARKA f Hausa
Feminine form of BARAK (2).
ALEJEHEN m & f Bandial
Means "the one who trivialises things" in Banjal.
ALERA f & m Ogoni
Means "enough" or "it is enough" in Khana.
ALHAJIAHMAD m Western African (Modern)
Combination of ALHAJI meaning "the pilgrim" with AHMAD meaning "most commendable, most praiseworthy".
ALHERI f & m Dagbani
Means "gift" or "kindness" in Dagbani.
ALIAUNE m Western African (Rare)
The first of the given names of the musician known as Akon (1973-).
ALIKA f Nigerian
Means “most beautiful” in Nigerian.
ALIOU m Western African
Form of ALI (1) used in parts of western Africa.
ALIOUNE m Western African
Form of ALI (1) used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
ALLSWELL m & f Western African (Rare), English (African, Rare, ?)
Presumably from the English phrase all's well.
AMADIOHA m Igbo, African Mythology
Means "man of the people" in Igbo. He is the Igbo god of thunder and lightning.
AMAITARI m Ijaw
Means "the town loves me" in Ijaw.
AMAKAI f & m Western African
Meaning unknown.
AMAKAMA m Ijaw
Means "feast for the town" in Ijaw.
AMAKEDI m Ijaw
Means "look upon the town" in Ijaw.
AMAKU m & f Efik
Of Eniong Origin
AMARACHUKWU f Nigerian, Igbo
Means "God's grace" in Igbo. (See AMARA and CHUKWU).
AMARI m African, 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.
AMBO m & f Efik
AMENAGHAWON f & m Western 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.
AMEWUSIKA f Ewe
Means "people are more valuable than material things" in Ewe.
AMEYO f Akan
Means "Saturday" in Akan.
AMIGAAT m & f Bandial
Means "He/she has a skinny leg" in Banjal (also known as Gújjolaay Eegimaa).
AMINATTA f Western African (Rare)
Variant of AMINATA. This is borne by Aminatta Forna (1964-), a British writer of Scottish and Sierra Leonean descent.
AMMENGUYYAH m Bandial
Means "he has many graves" in Bandial.
AMOGECHUKWU f Igbo
Means "no one knows God's timing" in Igbo.
AMOKE f & m Yoruba
Means "loving stroke" in Yoruba.
AMUL-YAAKAAR m & f Wolof
Means "s/he has no hope" in Wolof. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
ANAMZOOYA m Dagbani
Means "your power is great" in Dagbani.
ANANÉ m Akan
Means "fourth born" in Akan.
ANAZIA f African American (Modern), Nigerian
Originally a Nigerian surname of unknown meaning.
ANDANI m Dagbani
"Family name of one of the royal gates of Dagbong" "Inherited traditional name"
ANDI m & f Dagbani
Means "you will win" or "victor" in Dagbani.
ANEKWE m Igbo
Means "let the gods not agree to bad things" in Igbo.
ANFANI m & f Dagbani
Means "benefit" in Dagbani.
ANIEBIETABASI m & f Ibibio
Means "Who is like god?" in Ibibio.
ANIEFIOK m & f Nigerian, Ibibio
Means "who knows tomorrow?" in Ibibio.
ANIEKANABASI m Western African, Ibibio, Nigerian
Means "who is greater than God?" in Ibibio.
ANIEKPENO m & f Ibibio
Means "Who would have given me?" in Ibibio.
ANISUNG f & m Dagbani
Means "good intention" in Dagbani.
ANIYOM m & f Efik
ANJOLAOLUWA f Yoruba
Enjoying the blessings/wealth of God
ANKOMA m Western African, Akan
Means "last born of parents" in Akan.
ANNAN m Akan
Variant of ANAN (1).
ANTOBAM f Akan
Means "posthumous child" in Fante. It is typically given to a child whose father died before they were born.
AÑUGET m & f Bandial
Means "the black one" in Bandial.
ANUOLUWAPO m & f Yoruba
Means "God's mercy is plenty" in Yoruba.
ANYA-KATI m & f Afizere
Means "favour" in Afizere.
ANYIM m Nigerian
A notable bearer is Anyim Pius Anyim, a Nigerian politician.
ANZANSI m & f Dagbani
Means "courage" or "persistence" in Dagbani.
APAADI m Yoruba
Means "hell" in Yoruba.
APAPA m Ijaw
Means "groundnut" in Ijaw.
APPUTI m & f Bandial
Banjal unisex name meaning "the tiny one".
ARALOLA f Yoruba
Means "family is wealth" in Yoruba.
ARCHIBONG m Efik
Anglicised version of the Name Asibong.... [more]
AROUNA m Western African, Kwa
Form of HARUN. Possibly a name from the Kwa languages.
ARUK f Efik
Of Eniong Origin
ARUKUBU f & m Ijaw
Means "a child born in a canoe" in Ijaw.
ARZIKI f Hausa
Means "wealth, prosperity" in Hausa.
ASAASEASA m & f Akan
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.
ASABI f Yoruba
Means "one selected for birth" in Yoruba.
ASADE m & f Western African
West African form and rare feminine form of ASAD.
ASANA f African, Dagbani
The name Asana is a derivative of HASSAN. ... [more]
ASANYE m & f Efik
ASEDA f & m Akan
"Praise"
ASEYIOWU m Yoruba
Means "success" in Yoruba.
ASHILAME m Nigerian, Eggon
Means "he saves me" in Eggon.
ASHON m Akan
Means "seventh born son" in Akan.
ASIAN m & f Ibibio
Means "one who is proud" in Ibibio.
ASISAT f Nigerian
The name of the professional woman football player Asisat Oshoala, playing for FC Barcelona.
ÁSSUMA m & f Bandial
Means "the nice one" or "the unselfish one" in Banjal.
ASWA m & f Western African
Means "one who moves through darkness toward the light".
ATA m Western African, Akan
Means "one of twins" in Fante, dialect of Akan.
ATAI m & f Efik
ATERI f Nigerian, Eggon
Means "victory" in Eggon.
ATIBA m & f Yoruba
Means "understanding" in Yoruba.
ATSEN m Afizere
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.
ATSI m Afizere
Means "priest" in Afizere.
ATTA m Akan
Means "twin" in Fante, an Akan language.
ÁTUAY m & f Bandial
Banjal unisex name meaning "the white one".
AWARAN m & f Ijaw
Means "a child born during the august break in the rainy season" in Ijaw.
AWOTWE m Akan
Means "eighth born" in Akan.
AWUGOCO m & f Agatu
Means "wonder of God" in Agatu.
AWUSUNG m & f Western African, Saya
Means "extremely sweet and great" in Saya, spoken in Nigeria.
AYABA f African American (Rare), Yoruba (Rare), Nigerian (Rare), African (Rare)
From the Yoruba ayaba meaning "queen".
AYAKPO f & m Ijaw
Meaning "new world or life" in Ijaw.
AYANFEOLUWA f & m Yoruba
It means the Lord's beloved
AYANMO m & f Yoruba
Means "fate" in Yoruba.
AYEBATONYE m & f Ijaw
Means "what God has destined" or "destiny" in Ijaw.
AYEBAYE m & f Ijaw
Means "God's property" in Ijaw.
AYIBAEMI f & m Ijaw
Means "God exists" in Ijaw.
AYIBAIFIE f Ijaw
Means "God's own time" in Ijaw.
AYIBANUA f & m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.
AYIBATONBARA f & m Ijaw
Means "the will of God" in Ijaw.
AYINDE m & f Yoruba
Means "we gave praises and he came" in Yoruba.
AYITA f English (Modern, Rare, ?), African American (Rare), Western African (Rare)
The origins of this name are uncertain. Though it is popularly claimed to mean "first to dance" in Cherokee, this appears to be untrue.... [more]
AYLINTÁ f Western African
The name Aylintá comes from the West African nation of Senegal and means Bearer of Light or Bringer of Light.
AYOBAMI m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has met me" in Yoruba.
AYODEJI m Yoruba
Means "joy has become two" in Yoruba.
AYOKA f Yoruba
Means "one we rejoice to pluck" in Yoruba.
AYOMIDELE m & f Yoruba
Means "my joy has come home" in Yoruba.
AYOOLA m & f Yoruba
Means "the joy of success" in Yoruba.
AYOTUNDUN f Yoruba
Means "joy is sweet" in Yoruba.
AYUBA m Nigerian
From أيّوب (ayyūb), the Arabic form of JOB.
AZAGBA m Western African
Means "born out of town".
AZIBO m Nigerian
Azibo means “youth” in Nigerian. It also means “Earth” in Egyptian.
AZINDOO m Dagbani
"Friday male Born"
AZU m Igbo
Means "fish" in Igbo.
AZUBIKE m Igbo
Variant of AZUBUIKE.
AZUKA m Igbo
Means "the past is greater" or "my back is greater" in Igbo.
BABACAR m Western African
Form of ABU BAKR used in parts of western Africa.
BABATOPE m & f Yoruba
A responsible father.
BADE m Nigerian
The use of the name in Nigeria is likely due to the Bade Emirate, a traditional state in Yobe State, Nigeria, the home of the Bade people.
BADIGWALA m & f Kassena
Means "they have defeated the slave raider" in Kasem.
BADRA m & f Western African, Arabic
Possibly a variant of BADR.
BADÚWAA f Akan
Means "tenth born" in Akan.
BAKERY m Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
BALARABE m Western African, Hausa
Means "born on Wednesday" in Hausa from element laraba "Wednesday".
BALIMA f & m Dagbani
Means "persuasion" in Dagbani.
BALKISSA f Western African
Form of BILQIS used in West Africa.
BANBANGTABA m & f Dagbani
Means "those who know each other" in Dagbani.
BANGBEBU m & f Dagbani
Means "be careful" in Dagbani.
BANGDA m & f Dagbani
Means "knowledgeable person" in Dagbani.
BANGSIM m & f Dagbani
"Knowledge" denoting "Intelligence"
BANKOLE m Western African, Yoruba
Means "build my house for me" in Yoruba.
BARIDAKARA f & m Ogoni
Means "God answers prayer(s)" in Khana.
BARIDILO m & f Ogoni
God is with me
BARIKPOA m Ogoni
Means "God save" in Khana.
BARILEDUM m Ogoni (Modern)
Means "God is alive" in Khana.
BARINEDUM m & f Khana, Gokana, Ogoni
"God give life".
BARISUA f & m Ogoni
Means "God knows" in Khana.
BATIFEORI m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "how we want it to be" in Yoruba.
BEBEBOMOBO f & m Ijaw
Means "interpreter" in Ijaw.
BEDIAKO m Akan
Means "came to engage in wars" in Akan.
BEDUNA m Nigerian, Ngas
The name BEDUNA is from plateau state Nigeria which means" is it bad? its a question name, when someone utter a word that is not good and didn't come to pass then you can ask him BEDUNA " is it bad?
BEEMONI m Dagbani
"Founder of Gushegu and Karaga" "Name of one of the sons of Naa Gbewaa"
BEJIDE m Yoruba
Means "(one that) come(s) with rain" in Yoruba.
BEKE m & f Ijaw, Ogoni
Means "America" or "American" in Khana and "English" in Ijaw.
BEKEARA f Ijaw
Means "Englishwoman" in Ijaw.
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