African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Vasti f Biblical Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Biblical Dutch, Afrikaans, Biblical Spanish, Biblical Italian, Biblical Finnish
Finnish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Vashti and Dutch variant of Wasti.
Veliana f Kongo
Veliana means youthful in Kikongo
Velile m & f Xhosa, South African
Means "appeared, arrived" in Xhosa.
Velim f Dagbani
Means "beauty" in Dagbani.
Vemvane f Zulu
Means "butterfly" in Zulu.
Venecia f English (Rare), Spanish (Caribbean), Spanish (Mexican), South African (Rare), Jamaican Patois (Rare)
Variant of Venetia. As a Spanish name it could be a variant of Benecia or taken from the Spanish place name (see Venecia).
Vernube m African
A TIV NAME FROM NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA,BENUE PRECISELY
Vhonani m & f Venda (Modern)
Vhonani meaning is "watch or look"... [more]
Vimbainashe f Shona
Means "have faith in God" in Shona.
Vimbayi f Shona
Means "have faith" in Shona.
Vimbo f Shona
Means "faith, trust" in Shona.
Violett f English (Modern), Norwegian (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
English variant and Swedish form of Violet as well as a Hungarian borrowing of French Violette. This name coincides with the Swedish word violett "purple (the color)".
Viriola f Eastern African (Rare), Ancient Roman (?)
Attia Viriola was a client of the ancient Roman lawyer and statesman Pliny the Younger (61-113), whose legal case he described in his Epistles.
Visolela f & m Central African
From a proverb, meaning "good judgement". Origin is from the Ovimbundu of Angola. Ovisolela violomupa; vi pungula viopongala. English: Longing are Waterfalls; those you pick over are of the drying trays.
Vitani f African
It's Swallihi and Kwhailli it means "war" and "demon of war" it is used in lion king two for one of the outsiders.
Vivette f French (Rare), English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Possibly a diminutive form of Vivienne (see also Viviette), but it could also be an independent name that is ultimately derived from Latin vivus "alive" or Latin vividus "full of life, lively, spirited".
Vonani m & f Tsonga
Means "behold" in Xitsonga.
Vongai f Shona
Means "Be thankful". This name is both a call to be thankful and an expression of gratitude.
Vukona f Tsonga
Means "presence" in Xitsonga.
Vukosi m Tsonga
Means "royalty, chiefdom" in Xitsonga.
Vulombe f Tsonga
Means "honey" in Xitsonga.
Vushemadzoro m Shona
The name comes from Shona tribes in which KingShip was prevalent. This name was usually given to the chosen next bearer of the throne. The name means the Kingship turnover, i.e. the practice of succeeding a leader... [more]
Vusumuzi m Zulu
Means "builder of the home" in Zulu.
Vutivi f Tsonga
Means "knowledge" in Xitsonga.
Vutlhari m & f Tsonga
Means "wisdom" in Xitsonga.
Vutomi m & f Tsonga
Means "life" in Xitsonga.
Vutshila m & f Tsonga
Means "art" in Xitsonga.
Vuyi f South African
Short form of Vuyiswa.
Vuyiseka f Xhosa
Means "be happy, rejoice" or "makes happy" in Xhosa.
Vuyisile m & f Xhosa
Means "bringing joy" in Xhosa.
Vuyiswa f South African
vuyiswa is a Zulu word meaning "rejoice".
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.
Waabberi m Somali
Meaning: Waabberi generally means "dawn" or "daybreak."... [more]
Waaberi m Somali
Means "dawn" in Somali.
Waaq m Oromo (Latinized, Archaic), Somali (Latinized, Archaic)
Waaq is a name for the ancient Cushitic sky god. He was the supreme creator and god to the indigenous religions of several Cushitic peoples before the advent of the Abrahamic religions in the Horn of Africa... [more]
Waasila f South African
Probably derived from Arabic وَسِيلَة (wasīla) "means, medium; tool, instrument; measure, step provision".
Wachikondi m & f Chewa
Means "friendly" in Chewa.
Wacuka f Kikuyu
Means "cotton fabric one" in Kikuyu.
Wada f Oromo
East african (Kushitic, Oromo) meaning "Promise".
Wadiya m & f Luo (Archaic)
Found mainly in the Suba regions. Name believed to have Bantu origins.
Wadzanai m & f Shona
Means "be in cordial fellowship" in Shona.
Wafuletbo f Bandial
Means "there is nothing there" in Bandial.
Wagaye f Amharic
Means "my sense of value" or "my price" in Amharic.
Wagguten m Berber (Rare)
It means ‘one who will proliferate’ and reflects the abundance of life.
Waibodei m & f Ijaw
Means "has returned again" in Ijaw.
Waitherero f Kikuyu
Means "of down river" in Kikuyu.
Wakai m Shona
Meaning “build”.
Waliko f & m Tumbuka
Means "God is there" in Tumbuka.
Walshak m Ngas
WAL means "cry", shak means "one another". Which Literally means Feel for one another
Walumbike f Chewa
Means "praise" in Chewa.
Wamwema m & f Swahili (Modern, Rare)
A Christian surname with swahili origin that mean belonging to the one that is good. Belonging to God who is the only one that is good.
Wandile f & m Zulu, South African
Means "you are extra" in Zulu.
Wandisile m Xhosa
Means "he has been added" in Xhosa.
Wandoo m & f Tiv
Means "a child is good" in Tiv.
Wangũ f Kikuyu
Means "of firewood" in Kikuyu.
Wangũi f Kikuyu, African Mythology
Variant of Wangũ. A famous bearer of the name was one of the daughters of Kikuyu and Mumbi, the first man and woman in Kikuyu Mythology.
Wangwiro m & f African
chewa name southern africa meaning "perfect"
Wanhija f Kaguru
Means "they run off" in Chikaguru.
Wanja f Kikuyu
Means "the one from outside" in Kikuyu.
Wanjĩra f Kikuyu
Means "of the road" in Kikuyu.
Wanjiru f Kikuyu
Njiru means black thus meaning one that comes from black or dark matter mainly in reference to skin colouration
Wankumbu m Bemba
Means "He (God) is merciful" in Bemba.
Wararni m Berber
Means "without victor, without conqueror" in Amazigh.
Wari m Amharic
Means "midnight" in Amharic.
Wariboko f Ijaw
Derived from the Ijaw word wari meaning "house" and boko meaning "harbinger of riches".
Waridabo m & f Ijaw
Means "lord of the household" in Ijaw.
Waridi f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "rose", ultimately from the Arabic Warda.
Warigia f Kikuyu
Means "the last one" in Kikuyu.
Waris f African, Somali
Means "desert flower" in Somali.
Warmaksan m Berber (Rare)
Means ‘without enemies; undefeatable" in Berber.
Warona f & m African
Means 'ours/belonging to us"
Warsame m Somali
Means "good news", derived from Somali war meaning "information, news" and same "good, positive".
Warsan f Somali
Means "good news", derived from Somali war meaning "news" combined with the Somali feminine name suffix -san, itself a derivative of Somali wanaagsan meaning "good". A notable bearer of this name is Warsan Shire (1988-), a British writer, poet, editor and teacher of Somali descent.
Warũgũrũ f Kikuyu
Means "the one from the west" in Kikuyu.
Waseme f Swahili
Means "let them talk" in Swahili.
Watidaishe f Shona
Means "the Lord has loved us" in Shona.
Watipaso m & f Tumbuka
Means "he (God) has given us again" in Tumbuka.
Watna m Western African
Means "let's go" in Balanta, spoken in Guinea Bissau.
Wawira f Kikuyu
Means "the worker" in Kikuyu.
Wawuda f Eastern African
Means "one who is satisfied" in Taita.
Wedzerai f Shona
Means "add onto" in Shona.
Weheliye m Somali
Means "companion" in Somali.
Weldab m Eastern African
Eritrean given name of uncertain meaning. It might possibly be a variant or alternate transcription of Woldeab.
Wenikado f & m Ijaw
Means "I have worked too much" in Ijaw.
Wenyasha m & f Shona
Means "merciful" in Shona.
Wenzile m Zulu
Means “he did” in Zulu.
Weransia f Chaga
Means "hope" in Chagga.
Werede m Amharic
Means "he descended" in Amharic.
Werik'i f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "gold" in Amharic.
Werunako f Shona
Meaning "of beauty; a girl or woman of beauty".
Wessie f & m Southern African, English (American, Rare)
Possibly a unisex diminutive of Wesley.
Wetati f Amharic
Means “youthful” in Amharic.
Wibi f Amharic
Means "elegant" in Amharic.
Wicus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewicus.
Widdineh m Amharic
Means "you are dear" in Amharic.
Widi f Amharic
Means "precious" in Amharic.
Wiha f Amharic
Means "water" in Amharic.
Wikus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewikus.
Willanie f Afrikaans
Willanie is a female compound name. The "Will" is derived from "Willem" (German variant of William) which means determination and will. The "anie" is derived from the name Stephanie which means crown, victorious... [more]
Willene f English (American), American (South), Haitian Creole, Afrikaans
Feminine elaboration of Willie using the common name suffix lene, or perhaps a contraction of names such as Wilhelmina, Wilmadeene, and Willodean.
Wilmarie f Afrikaans, South African, Spanish (Caribbean), English (Rare)
Either a combination of names beginning with Wil-, such as Wilma, Willem or Wilfredo, and Marie or a feminine form of Wilmar... [more]
Wina f African, Nigerian
means gift of God
Winaruz m Berber
Means "hope" in Tamazight.
Winta f Amharic, Tigrinya
Means "desire, dream gift" in Amharic and "need" in Tigrinya.
Wisani f Tsonga
Means "rest" in Xitsonga.
Wisi m & f Punu, African
Means "dawning" in Punu.
Wisliane m Kongo
Rich in Gold
Witness m English (African), South African
From the English word, witness, "one who has personal knowledge of something".
Wiwurgh m Berber
Means "golden" in Tamazight.
Wodaje m Amharic
Means "my friend" in Amharic.
Woldeab m Eastern African, Tigrinya
Eritrean given name, of which the meaning is as of yet unknown.... [more]
Woldemariam m Amharic
Means "child of Mary" in Amharic. A notable bearer of this name is Yosef Wolde-Mariam, a member of the Norwegian musical duo Madcon.
Wole m Yoruba
“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.
Wolete Nagache f Ge'ez
Means "daughter of the King" in Ge'ez.
Wondim m Amharic
Means "brother" in Amharic.
Wondimagegnenu m Amharic
Means "I have found a brother" in Amharic.
Wongel f Amharic
Amharic word for "gospel," commonly chosen by Christian families
Worb-a m Sidamo
Means "brave" in Sidama.
Woubishet m Amharic
Means "beautiful young grain" in Amharic.
Woyengiemi m & f Ijaw
Means "God is alive" in Ijaw.
Woyinbode f & m Ijaw
Means "God has come" in Ijaw.
Woyinkule m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.
Wumda f & m Dagbani
Means "obedient one" in Dagbani.
Wumpini m & f Dagbani
Means "God's gift" in Dagbani.
Wundeiya m & f Dagbani
"God has accepted"
Wuninmi m & f Dagbani
Means "God knows" in Dagbani.
Wunintira m & f Dagbani
Means "it is God who gives" in Dagbani.
Wunko m & f Dagbani
Means "only God" in Dagbani.
Wunnam m & f Dagbani
Means "God's creation" in Dagbani.
Wuntia m & f Dagbani
Means "God has given" in Dagbani.
Wuntima f & m Dagbani
Means "God has given me" in Dagbani.
Wunzalgu m & f Dagbani
Means "God's plan" in Dagbani.
Wura f Yoruba
Means "gold" in Yoruba.
Wuraola f Yoruba
Means "gold of wealth" or "shining treasure of wealth" in Yoruba.
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.
Xaabsade m Somali
Means "keeper" in Somali.
Xaadsan f Somali
Means "cute" in Somali.
Xaaji m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Haji.
Xaawa f Somali
Variant of Xaawo.
Xabiso m Xhosa
Means "value, price" in Xhosa.
Xaliimo f Somali
Somali form of Halima.
Xalwo f Somali
Means "sweet" in Somali. It is the name of a Somali dessert.
Xamida m Berber
Berber form of Hamid 1.
Xamse m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Hamza.
Xamza m Somali
Somali form of Hamza.
Xanaan f Somali
Somali form of Hanan 2.
Xandulle m Somali
Xandulle is a Somali name
Xareed m Somali
Means "rain" in Somali.
Xasna f Somali
Somali form of Hasna.
Xassan m Somali
Variant of Xasan.
Xawa f Somali (Rare)
Variant of Xaawo.
Xawo f Somali
Variant of Xaawo.
Xetsa f Ewe
Means "twin" in Ewe.
Xiavelo f Tsonga
Means "share" in Xitsonga.
Xichavo f Tsonga
Means "respect" in Xitsonga.
Xiddig f Somali
Means "star" in Somali.
Xidig m Somali
Means "star" in Somali.
Xihlamariso f Tsonga
Means "surprise, marvel" in Tsonga.
Xikombiso m & f Tsonga
Means "proof, example" in Xitsonga.
Xiluva f Tsonga
Means "flower" in Xitsonga.
Ximphephani f Tsonga
Means "the saved" in Tsonga.
Xirsi m Somali
This Somali name means "safeguard." The word xirsi also means "safeguard." The x in Somali is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, a throaty sound that is not present in English. Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as HIRSI or HERSI.
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.
Xolisile f South African, Zulu
Means "(we are) sorry" in Zulu.
Xolo m & f Xhosa
Possibly related to Xhosa uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from -xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".
Xuseen m Somali
Somali form of Husayn.
Xusen m Somali
Variant of Xuseen.
Yaabari m & f Ogoni
Means "thank God" in Khana.
Yaasmiin f Somali
Somali form of Yasmin.
Yabaal m Somali
Meaning: Yabaal generally means "one who is ambitious" or "strives for success."... [more]
Yabets m Amharic
Means “sorrowful, born in pain” in Amharic.
Yacob m Ethiopian
Form of Jacob used in Ethiopia.
Yacquub m Somali
A Somali form of Yaqub.
Yahaya m Malay, Western African, Hausa
Malay and Hausa form of Yahya.
Yahye m Somali
Somali form of Yahya.
Yakachena f Shona
Name that means "Pure"
Yakasu m Bariba
Means "bush" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born in the bush.
Yakobo m Swahili
Swahili form of Jacob or James.
Yaƙutu f Hausa
Refers to a sapphire, ruby, jacinth, corundum, or similar stone.
Yalany m & f Manding
Mandinka name of unknown meaning.
Yalsumah m & f Dagbani
Means "good things" in Dagbani.
Yäm'ata m Eastern African
Ethiopian variant of Adimata.
Yambo m Western African
A famous bearer was Yambo Ouologuem (1940–2017) a Malian writer. Possibly from the Dogon language.
Yamiche f Akan
Means "god's gift" in Akan.
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.
Yandiswa f South African
Means "increased" in Zulu and "extended" in Xhosa.
Yankoï m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.
Yany m & f Western African
Named from the Kingdom of Yany in Gambia, a diminutive of Yanimarew.
Yao m Baoulé
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".
Yapunga f Tumbuka (Archaic)
Means "wind; bringing people together" in Tumbuka.
Yar f Dinka
Refers to a specific kind of cow in Dinka.
'Yarja f Hausa
Means "fair" in Hausa.
Yarra f & m Western African, Yoruba, Arabic (Maghrebi), Northern African
Means "child" in Yoruba, Nago and Kanga, spoken in Northern and Western Africa.
Yashimabet f African
Meaning princess of beauty grace, loyalty and kindness. Ethopian
Yashimmabet f Amharic
Means "mistress of a thousand" in Amharic.
Yashuuca m Somali (?)
Somali form of Joshua.
Yasinta f Indonesian, Javanese, Swahili
Most likely an elaboration of Sinta. Indonesian model Yasinta Aurellia is a well-known bearer.
Yasmiin f Somali
Somali form of Yasmin.
Yasoy m Eastern African
Potential variant of Youssou.
Yatta f African
West Africa, Liberia
Yaviche m Kongo
I confirm
Yawa f Western African, Ewe
Means "born on Thursday" in Ewe.
Yawe m Theology, Lingala (Rare)
Lingala form of Yahweh.
Yawo m Western African, Akan
Means "born on Thursday" in Akan. It is tipically given to a boy born this day.
Yaxye m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Yahya. This spelling is used in Somalia.
Yaya m Indonesian, Western African
Indonesian form of Yahya as well as the form used in parts of western Africa.
Yayehirad f Amharic
Means "may whoever sees you tremble" in Amharic.
Yayra f African
blessing... [more]
Yealem Tsehay f Amharic
Means "sun of the world" in Amharic.
Yedder m Berber (Rare)
Though this name symbolizes immortality, it indicates a sense of unbroken spirit or uncaptured soul.
Yeddes m Tuareg
Means "he will be organised", from the Tuareg verb ddes meaning "organised".
Yeggul-ngon m & f Wolof
Wolof 'death prevention' name meaning "s/he has not reached the afternoon".
Yejira f Northern African (Archaic)
“flowing river” or “white flowers”
Yelma m Amharic
Means "may he prosper" in Amharic.
Yemar m Amharic
Means "may he be pleasing" in Amharic.
Yemetle f Sotho
Means "beautiful (referred to an object)" in Sotho.
Yemi m & f Yoruba
Means "I am honourable" in Yoruba.
Yemisi f & m Yoruba
Means "honours me" in Yoruba.
Yemurai f Shona
Means "appreciate" in Shona.
Yenasu m Amharic
Means "may they rise" in Amharic.
Yendembe m & f Lingala
Yendembe means ‘he is free’ and is the childhood name of Lonkundo in the Nkundo mythology complex. It also means “Take No Orders”.
Yendi f African, Jamaican Patois
This is the name of a town in northeastern Ghana. A famous bearer is Yendi Phillips, she is a Jamaican TV Host, model and beauty queen who the winner of the Miss Jamaica World 2007 beauty pageant, as well as the Miss Jamaica Universe 2010 pageant.
Yenge f Kongo
Means "peace" in Kikongo.
Yeni m Yoruba
Means "fit" in Yoruba.
Yennenga f Mossi
Yennenga is a legendary princess, and is considered to be the mother of the Mossi people. Her son Ouedraogo was the founder of the Mossi Kingdoms.
Yerda f & m Dagbani
Means "trust" in Dagbani.
Yeremiya m Bulgarian (Rare), Ganda
Luganda and Bulgarian form of Jeremiah.
Yeremyaah m Somali
Somali form of Jeremiah.
Yergu m Amharic
Means "may they be calm" in Amharic.
Yesa f & m Punu
Means "chance, luck" in Punu.
Yeshi f Amharic
Means "for a thousand". This name is often combined with other names (Yeshimebet is an example).
Yeshimebet f Amharic
Means "mistress of a thousand people", from a combination of Yeshi and Emebet.
Yesine f Amharic
Means “artwork” in Amharic.
Yetbarak m Amharic
Means "may he be blessed" in Amharic.
Yetty f Nigerian
Diminutive of Yetunde.
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".
Yewondwossen m Amharic
Means "man of the border" in Amharic.
Yezo m Fula, Western African
A name used by the Fula people, who are the largest ethnic group in Western Africa and the Sahel.
Yibanathi m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "be with us" in Zulu and Xhosa.