Xhosa Submitted Names

Xhosa names are used by the Xhosa people of South Africa.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abongile m & f Xhosa
Means "thankfulness" or "grateful" in Xhosa.
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)
Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Amandla f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "power, strength" in Xhosa and Zulu.... [more]
Andisiwe f & m Xhosa
Means "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Awonke m & f Xhosa
Means "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.
Axhoba m Xhosa
Means "they are armed".
Ayakha f & m Xhosa
Means "they build" in Xhosa.
Bongi f Xhosa, Southern African
Short form of Sibongile. This was borne by South African singer and songwriter Angela Sibongile "Bongi" Makeba (1950-1985), the only child of singer Miriam Makeba... [more]
Buchule m & f Xhosa
Means "intelligence, skill" in Xhosa.
Cebisa f & m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "to suggest, to give advice" in Xhosa.
Enzokuhle m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "to do good" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Esihle f & m Zulu, Xhosa, Southern African
Means "beautiful, good" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Gugu f Zulu, Xhosa
From Zulu igugu meaning "precious, valuable" or "treasure".
Hlomla m & f Xhosa
Means "to comment on something" in Xhosa.
Kanyisa f Xhosa
Means "giving light to the future" in Xhosa.
Khanyiso m Xhosa
Means "to light, to illuminate" in Xhosa.
Lihle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "beautiful" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Lilitha f Xhosa
Means "light" in Xhosa.
Liyabona f & m Xhosa
Means "it sees" or "you see" in Xhosa, sometimes taken from the phrase liyabona igama le Nkosi meaning "the name of the eye of God".
Liyema f & m Xhosa
Means "to stop" or "to stand, to be standing" in Xhosa, often taken from the phrase liyema ikhaya "the home is standing" to indicate stability in the family.
Lubabalo m Xhosa
Means "it is grace" or "grace of God" in Xhosa.
Lubanzi m South African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "wide, deep" in Xhosa, often from the phrase thando olubanzi meaning "vast love".
Luchulumancolwenkosi f Xhosa
This name is a scared name. Taken from words the Ancient King of the AmaMpondomise clan King Vukuzumbethe. He used to say “ lulo uchulumanco lwenkosi” which meant “this is God’s happiness”... [more]
Luchumo m & f Xhosa
Possibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.
Luphelo m Xhosa
Means "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Luphumlo m Xhosa
Means "to rest" or "our relief" in Xhosa.
Luthando m & f Southern African, Xhosa
Means "it's love" in Xhosa.
Luya f Xhosa
Diminutive form of Luyanda.
Luyanda m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "it is growing, increasing" in Zulu and Xhosa, referring to love or the child’s family.
Makaziwe f & m Xhosa
Means "let him/her be known" in Xhosa.... [more]
Mandela m & f African American, Xhosa
Transferred use of the surname Mandela given in honour of Nelson Mandela, South African revolutionary hero and statesman... [more]
Mandisa f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Derived from Xhosa and Zulu mnandi meaning "sweet" or "nice, pleasant".
Mbuyiseli m Xhosa
Means "one who returns or restores" in Xhosa.
Melokuhle m & f South African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "stand for goodness" or "defend beautiful things" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Mesuli m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "wiper (of tears)" in Xhosa, suggesting someone who brings an end to sorrow.
Mpilo m & f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "health" or "life" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mqibalo m South African, Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly derived from Mgqibelo, meaning "Saturday" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Msamaniso m South African, Xhosa
Possibly related to Masamanisi.
Mthakathi m Zulu, Xhosa
Means "witch," from 'thakatha' meaning "to bewitch" in Xhosa or "to practice witchcraft" in Zulu.
Mthobeli m Xhosa
Means "the obedient one" in Xhosa.
Mthuthuzeli m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "comforter, one who comforts" in Xhosa.
Mxolisi m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "peace maker" or "(one who) asks for forgiveness" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mzi m Xhosa
Diminutive of Mzingayi.
Mzingaye m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "there is a home because of him" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Mzingayi m Xhosa
Variant spelling of Mzingaye.
Mzwandile m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "the house has expanded" in Xhosa, idiomatically referring to a growing family.
Nambitha f Xhosa
Means "to savour, to enjoy" in Xhosa, encouraging the child to savour life.
Nangamso f & m Xhosa
Means "future" or "even tomorrow" in Xhosa, figuratively "thank you". Often intended as being part of a phrase such as ungadinwa nangomso meaning "don’t be tired tomorrow". Meant to convey gratitude, and the hope for more of the same in the future.
Ngcondebuku m & f Xhosa (Modern)
A combination of Ngconde, the name of a Xhosa clan, and Buku, a surname.
Nkosi m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "chief, king, lord" in Xhosa.
Nkuli f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Diminutive form of Nonkululeko and Nkululeko.
Nkululeko m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Nokhanyo f Xhosa
Means "light, shine" or "enlightenment" in Xhosa.
Nomathamsanqa f Xhosa
Feminine form of Thamsanqa.
Nombuyiselo f Xhosa
Means "she who gives back" or "mother of restoration" in Xhosa, a feminine form of Mbuyiseli.
Nomnikelo f South African, Xhosa
Means "offering" in Xhosa.
Nomthandazo f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "a prayer" in Xhosa.
Nonkululeko f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, South African
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Novuyo f Xhosa
Feminine form of Vuyo.
Ntombhekya f South African, Xhosa
Means "girl of the house" in Xhosa, from ntombi "girl" and khaya "home, household".
Ntombifikile f Xhosa
Means "a girl has arrived" in Xhosa.
Ntomboxolo f Xhosa
Means "girl of peace" in Xhosa.
Ongezwa f Xhosa
Means "addition, one who was added" in Xhosa.
Phila m & f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "to live" or "get well, be healthy" in Nguni languages.
Qondiwe f Xhosa
Possibly related to qonda, meaning "to understand".
Rolihlahla m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "pulling the branch of a tree" in Xhosa, colloquially "stirring up trouble" or "troublemaker". This was the given name of Nelson Mandela (Rolihlahla Mandela) and is now typically attributed to him as a middle name.
Sandisiwe f Xhosa
Means "increased" or "we have been added to" in Xhosa.
Silindile f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "we are waiting" in Xhosa and Zulu.
Simdingile m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly means "we need this", derived from Xhosa and Zulu dinga meaning "to need, to require".
Sinazo f Xhosa
Means "we have it" in Xhosa.
Sindiswa f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi
Means "saved" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Sisipho f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "it is a gift" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Sivuyile m South African, Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Siyamthanda f & m Xhosa
Means "we love him/her" in Xhosa.
Siyavuya m Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Skhumbuzo m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "reminder, remembrance" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Solomzi m Xhosa
Means "eye of the home" in Xhosa, figuratively "guardian of the family".
Solonzi m Xhosa (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Solomzi.
Sonwabile m Xhosa
Means "we are content" or "we are happy" in Xhosa.
Thamsanqa m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "luck, fortune" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Thandolwethu m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "our love" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Unako m & f Xhosa
Means "ability" or "you can" in Xhosa.
Velile m & f Xhosa, South African
Means "appeared, arrived" in Xhosa.
Vuyiseka f Xhosa
Means "be happy, rejoice" or "makes happy" in Xhosa.
Vuyisile m & f Xhosa
Means "bringing joy" in Xhosa.
Vuyo m Xhosa
Means "happiness, joy" in Xhosa. Sometimes used as a short form of names beginning with Vuyo-.
Vuyokazi f Xhosa
Means "great joy" in Xhosa, a variant of Vuyo using the feminine or augmentative suffix -kazi.
Wandisile m Xhosa
Means "he has been added" in Xhosa.
Xabiso m Xhosa
Means "value, price" in Xhosa.
Xola m & f Xhosa
Means "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Xolo m & f Xhosa
Possibly related to Xhosa uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from -xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".
Yibanathi m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "be with us" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Yolisa f Xhosa
Means "exciting" in Xhosa.
Yomelela m Xhosa
Measn "be strong" in Xhosa.
Yonelani f Xhosa
Means "be satisfied" in Xhosa.
Zenzele f Xhosa
Means "she will do for herself" in Xhosa.
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.
Ziyanda f Xhosa
Means "increase within daughters" in Xhosa.
Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.
Zoliswa f Xhosa
Means "one who calms" in Xhosa.