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.
Fula-ngenge m Kongo
1) "one who is chosen by GOD to control the destiny of those who are less fortunate" in Lingala... [more]
Fulata f & m Tumbuka
Means "second", given to the second-born of twins.
Fumu m Kongo
Means "king" in Kikongo.
Funani f & m Zulu (Rare)
Means "want!" or "search!" in Zulu.
Funanya f Chewa
Means “look for it” in Chichewa.
Funebi m & f Ijaw
Means "education is good" in Ijaw.
Funere f Ijaw
Means "A Learned Woman"
Funfun m & f Yoruba
Yoruba name that means "Pure"
Funganayi m Shona
Means "remember each other" in Shona.
Funkuro m Ijaw
Means "knowledge is power" in Ijaw.
Funmi m & f Yoruba
Means "give to me" in Yoruba. It can be used as a short form of names containing funmi, such as Funmilola and Olufunmilayo.
Funmike f Yoruba
Means "given to me to cherish" in Yoruba.
Funmilola m & f Yoruba
Means "give me wealth" in Yoruba.
Funsileniko m Chewa
Means "Will you go and ask for me?" in Chewa.
Funware m Ijaw
meaning library or house of book
Funye m & f Shona
Deriving from a bird with the same name, known in English as "the go-away bird".
Fuseina f Western African, Dagbani
Feminine form of Fuseini. In Northern Ghana, this name is given to the firstborn of a pair of twin girls, while the second-born twin is named Asana... [more]
Fuseini m African, Dagbani
In Northern Ghana, it is the name given to the second born of a pair of twin girls. The first born twin is named Fuseini According to superstition, the second twin is considered to be the older twin because it is said that during the trauma of birth, the older twin send the younger twin ahead to make sure the world is safe.
Future m & f English (Rare), Western African, Southern African
This name is from the English word derived from Old French futur meaning "future, to come," which is then derived from Latin futurus meaning "going to be, yet to be, the future (as a noun)." The Latin word is an irregular suppletive future participle of esse meaning "to be," which comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *bheue- meaning "to be, exist, grow, come into being."... [more]
Fwasa m Tumbuka
Means "to be calm" in Tumbuka.
Fwasani f & m Tumbuka
Means "to be calm" in Tumbuka.
Fwaya m Luo
Originated amongst the LUO tribe in Kenya, East Africa. It is said to mean "Not serious" or "Taking things for Granted". It is also used by the Luhyas in Western province Kenya. But is common in the Nyaurang' Clan of Ugenya in Siaya County... [more]
Fyiynfoluwa f Yoruba
Means "give praise to god, a person who never forgets to praise god for everything" in Yoruba.
Gabra f Ethiopian
Ethiopian girl's name, meaning "The gift of offering"
Gadifele f Tswana
Means "things don't end" in Setswana.
Gadiid m Somali (Rare)
Its an old Somali name.
Gado m Hausa
Means "bed" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to the child born after twins.
Gagare m Hausa
Means "unconquerable" in Hausa.
Gagasi f Zulu
Means "wave" in Zulu.
Gajere m Hausa
Means "short" in Hausa.
Gakuhĩ f Kikuyu
Means "the short one" in Kikuyu.
Galaletsang f Tswana
Means "glorify" in Setswana.
Galayax m Somali
Means "lighthouse" in Somali.
Galbeyte m Somali
Means "in the west" in Somali.
Galgalu f African
born in the evening in Boran
Gamilah f African
Gamilah is the name of one of the daughters of Activist Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz.
Gamuchirai f Shona
Means "accept or receive" in Shona. It is typically given to a child born out of wedlock.
Ganau m Hausa
From the Hausa ganī meaning "see". This name is traditionally given to boys born on the night of a full moon.
Ganza m Rwandan
Meaning "reign" in Kinyarwanda.
Gaodithong f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not shy" in Setswana.
Gaofenngwe m Tswana
Means "He (God) cannot be defeated" in Setswana.
Gaolatlhe m & f Tswana
Means "He (God) does not dessert" in Setswana.
Gaolebale m Tswana
Means "He (God) does not forget" in Setswana.
Gaolefufa f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not jealous" in Setswana.
Gaone m & f Tswana
Means "of His (God)" in Setswana.
Gaongalelwe f Tswana
Means "you cannot be angry with Him (God)" in Setswana.
Garang m Dinka, African Mythology
According to the Dinka myths Garang is the First Man, created by Nhialic.
Garba m Western African, Hausa
Hausa variant of Abu Bakr.
Gariba m Dagbani
Corrupted name of Abukari. Name used by the 20th King of Dagbon and the 40th King.
Garikai m Shona
Means "Live well, safe, healthy and prosperous".
Garre m Somali
Garre is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Gashaw m Amharic
Means "the shield" in Amharic.
Gathua m Kikuyu
Means "the limping one" in Kikuyu.
Gatreth f Ethiopian
Ethiopian name meaning "rich".
Gatsha m Zulu (Rare)
From Zulu igatsha meaning "branch".
Gavaza f Tsonga
Means "one who dresses elegantly" in Xitsonga.
Gazini m Zulu
Means "blood" in Zulu.
Gbadebo m Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "returns with the crown" in Yoruba.
Gbambeli m Western African
Masculine name originating from the Banda Traditional Area & from the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana.
Gbekelolu m & f Yoruba
Means "it is left to God" in Yoruba.
Gbemi m Yoruba
Derived from the Yoruba gbé "(to) carry" (see: Gbemisola).
Gbeneowei m Ijaw
Means "complete man" in Ijaw.
Gbolahun f Yoruba
Means "show the wealth" in Yoruba.
Gbonjubola m & f Yoruba
mature into wealth.
Gboyega m Yoruba
Means "lifts chieftaincy up" in Yoruba.
Gebire’liwa f Amharic
Alternate transcription of Gebre’elwa.
Gebre m Ethiopian, Ge'ez
Means "servant" in Ge'ez.
Gebre’elwa f Amharic
Amharic feminine form of Gabriel.
Gebregziabher m Ge'ez, Tigrinya
Means "servant of God" in Ge'ez, from Ge'ez ገብረ (gäbrä) "servant" and እግዚአብሔር (ʾəgziʾäbḥer), a Ge'ez translation of God, from Ge'ez እግዚእ (ʾəgziʾ) "lord" and ብሔር (bəḥer) “world, region”
Gebrehiwot m Ge'ez, Amharic
Combination of Gebre and Hiwot.
Gebre-medhin m Ge'ez
Means "servant of the saviour" in Ge'ez.
Gebre-selam m Ge'ez
Means "servant of peace" in Ge'ez.
Gebreselassie m Ge'ez, Amharic
Means "servant of the Trinity" in Ge'ez, from Ge'ez ገብረ (gäbrä) "servant" and ሥላሴ "Trinity", referencing to the Holy Trinity, from selse "threeness".
Gebre-tsadik m Ge'ez
Means "servant of the righteous" in Ge'ez.
Gebru m Tigrinya, Ge'ez
Variant of Gebre often seen in Tigrinya.
Gedleyihlekisa m Southern African, Zulu
In the case of former South African president Jacob Zuma (1942-), the name means "the one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. His middle name was invented by his father, who based it on the phrase ngeke ngithule umuntu engigedla engihlekisa meaning "I won't keep quiet when someone deceives me with a beautiful smile while he is doing damage to me".
Geeldoon m Somali
Geeldoon is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Geesi f Somali
Means "a courageous man, brave, hero" in Somali.
Gelagile m Amharic
Means "I have reconciled" in Amharic.
Geleta m & f Amharic
Geleta is Amharic in origin & means 'revealed'.
Gelila f Ethiopian
Tempting beauty
Gemechu m Eastern African, Oromo
Means "joy, happiness" in Oromo.
Genat f Amharic
Means "heaven" in Amharic.
Genet f Ethiopian
Ethiopian name meaning "paradise"
Genevé f Afrikaans
Variant of Geneve.
Genzeb f Ethiopian
Diminutive of Genzebe.
Gerhardus m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Gerard.
Gerrie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Gerhardus.
Gertjie m & f Afrikaans
Afrikaans cognate of Gertje.
Gesebo f & m Ijaw
Means "the just" in Ijaw.
Gesekeme m Ijaw
Means "upright man" in Ijaw.
Gesiye f & m Ijaw
Means "genuine" in Ijaw.
Getachew m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "their lord", from Amharic ጌታ (géta) "Lord (Jesus), master".
Getaneh m Amharic
Means "you are a lord" in Amharic.
Gete f Amharic
Short form of Getenesh.
Gethera f Swahili
Means "harvest" in Swahili.
Ghakarhi m Zulu
The meaning of this name is fierce warrior. A person not accepting defeat as an option.
Ghanim m Berber
Means "reed" in Amazigh.
Ghebreyesus m Amharic
Means "servant of Jesus" in Amharic. A notable bearer of this name is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Ghilas m Kabyle
Short form of Aghilas.
Gichinga m Rwandan
Means “protection” in Kinyarwanda.
Gidamarird m Datooga
Means "leopard" in Datooga.
Gidang’adid m Datooga
Means "lion" in Datooga.
Gifti f Oromo
Means "lady" or "queen" in Afaan Oromo.
Giljon m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Chilion.
Giniel m Afrikaans
Giniel de Villiers is a South African rallye driver and winner of Rallye Dakar 2009.
Ginikanwa f & m Igbo
Means "what is greater than a child" in Igbo.
Giorgis m Eastern African, Amharic, Greek (Rare)
Form of George used in Ethiopia, as well as a Greek variant of Georgios.
Girly f Filipino, South African, Malayalam (Rare), Malaysian (Rare), Various
Perhaps from the English word girly which is both an adjective meaning "girl-like, girlish, feminine" and a noun meaning "little girl" (from girl combined with a diminutive suffix). Also compare Girlie.
Gisakteayda m Datooga
Masculine form of Usakteayda.
Gitonga m Meru, Embu, Gikuyu
This name is commonly used in Meru, Embu and Gikuyu regions in Kenya. The name means a rich man. The name has been passed from generation to generation since time in memorial. The cultures which usually name their male children after their grandparents-dead or alive intentionally do this to ensure the character or personality of the grandpa can be carried to the grandchildren.
Given f & m English (Puritan), African
From the English word given, meaning "A condition that is assumed to be true without further evaluation.".... [more]
Giwa m Western African, Hausa
Means "elephant" in Hausa.
Giyorgis m Amharic
Amharic form of George.
Gnégnéri m Western African (Gallicized)
Borne by Ivorian footballer Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (1983-), known simply as Yaya Touré.
Godslove m & f Nigerian (Modern), English
The combination of God is love, God's love. Meaning "God's kind of love" or "God is love"
Godstime m & f Nigerian
From the English phrase God's time.
Godwinson m African (Rare)
Transferred use of the surname Godwinson.
Gofaone m & f Tswana
Means "He (God) gives" in Setswana.
Gogontlejang f Tswana
Means "she is beautiful" in Setswana.
Goitsemang f Tswana
Means "who knows?" in Setswana.
Goitsemodimo m Tswana
Means "only God knows" in Setswana.
Goitseone m & f Tswana
Means "it is he (god) who knows" in Tswana.
Goli f Kaguru
Means "wealth" in Chikaguru.
Golibe f Igbo
Short form of Golibenachukwu.
Golibenachukwu f Igbo
Means "rejoice the Lord" in Igbo.
Gombe m & f Luo (Archaic)
One of the progenies of the Ugenya clans.
Gondai m Shona
Means "to trust or place hope in" in Shona.
Goodluck m African
A famous bearer is the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Goodwill m Literature, English (African), Southern African
From the English word goodwill, derived from Middle English gode meaning "good" and will "wish, will, volition", which was originally a nickname applied to an amiable person with a favourable disposition towards others... [more]
Gor m & f Luo (Archaic)
traditional Luo name. origin: ancient Luo warrior
Gor m Wolof
Meaning "man".
Gorfu m Amharic
Means "flood" in Amharic.
Goriola m Yoruba
Means "climbed to the top of wealth" in Yoruba.
Goshu m Amharic
Means "buffalo" in Amharic.
Gotaatamang m Tswana
Means "who is coming?" in Setswana.
Gothusang f Tswana
Means "who is helping?" in Setswana.
Gotonyal m Amharic
Amharic form of Othniel.
Gowan m African
Means "Rainmaker" and originates from Africa, notably Nigeria.
Gowon m African, Ngas, Nigerian
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria.
Goyit m Ngas
Foresight, seer, one who sees the future. The name is used in reference to a visionary.
Grizelda f American (South, Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Kashubian
Hungarian and Kashubian form and English and Afrikaans variant of Griselda. The English usage may have been influenced by Grizel.
Gubajuti m & f Bandial
Means "they do not have you" in Bandial.
Gudeta m Amharic
Means "obligation" in Amharic.
Gudit f Eastern African, Ge'ez
Ge'ez form of Judith.... [more]
Guenet m & f Amharic
Means "paradise" or "garden" in Amharic.
Gugu f Zulu, Xhosa
From Zulu igugu meaning "precious, valuable" or "treasure".
Guled m & f Somali
It means victory after a long struggle
Gulema f Amharic
Means “he who helps, helper” in Amharic.
Gumi m & f Shona
Meaning “ten”.
Guondibo m & f Bandial
Means "they inter you there" in Bandial. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
Guor m Eastern African, Dinka
Meaning unknown. ... [more]
Gurey m Somali
A name that comes from the Somali word gurey, meaning "left-handed." This word is usually an adjective, but sometimes a name.
Guuleed m Somali
Means "victor" in Somali.
Guyyah m Bandial
Means "graves" in Bandial, originally a short form of Ammenguyyah. This is considered a 'death prevention' name.
Gwaggo f Hausa
Means "aunt" in Hausa.
Gwalajori m Kassena
Means "the slave raider has returned" in Kasem.
Gwasila m Kabyle
Means "son of the plains" in Kabyle.
Gweth m & f Luo (Modern)
"blessings"
Gwhd f Western African, Anaang
Means “disgraceful; unworthy being” in Anaang.
Gwinyai m Shona
Gwinyai means "be strong". The Zimbabwean tennis player Gwinyai Tongoona is a famous bearer of this name.
Haaruun m Somali
Somali form of Harun.
Haawá f Afar
Afar form of Eve.
Haawo f Ewe
Means “the snow” in Ewe.
Haben f Tigrinya
Means "pride" in Tigrinya.
Habibou f & m Western African
Western African variant of Habiba or Habib.
Habon f & m Somali (Rare), Spanish
This name means when everything comes together at the right time and the right place. Beautiful.
Habraham m African (Rare), Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Variant of Abraham, occasionally found in Latin America and French-speaking African countries.
Habsade m Eastern African, Somali
Variant of Xaabsade, which is used outside of Somalia.
Habtamu m Amharic, Ethiopian
Basically means "my wealth" in Amharic and is therefore etymologically related to Habtom.
Habte m & f Ethiopian
According to some sources, Habte means "treasure/present/wealth/riches of".
Habtewold m Ge'ez
Means "gift of the Son" in Ge'ez.
Habteyes m Ge'ez
Means "gift of Jesus" in Ge'ez.
Habtom m Tigrinya (Modern)
Means "wealthy" in Tigrinya.
Hadadangi m & f Western African, Hausa
Means "joining of clans" in Hausa.
Hadiatou f Western African
Western African elaboration of Hadia.
Hadidja f Central African, Comorian
Form of Khadija used in Central Africa and the Comoros.
Hafidh m Arabic, Swahili, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic حافظ or حفيظ (see Hafiz), as well as a Swahili and Indonesian variant.
Hafzah f Somali
It means lioness.
Hagiir-s-o m Sidamo
Means "one who brings joy" in Sidama.
Hagos m Tigrinya
Means "joy" in Tigrinya.
Haiba f Swahili
It means charm, grace, beauty in Kiswahili
Haile m Ge'ez, Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "power, force, strength" in Ge'ez and Amharic. This was the Ge'ez (baptismal) name of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie (1892-1975), who was born as Tafari Makonnen.
Hailemichael m Ethiopian
" power of arch angel Saint Michael "
Hakiem m Ethiopian, Amharic
Means "doctor" in Amharic.
Hakizimana m Rwandan, Rundi, African Mythology (Modern)
A name which means "God saves everything," imana being the name of the original Rwandan/Burundian deity and now the modern word for God in all monotheistic usages within Rwanda and Burundi.
Hakunei m & f Shona
This is a name that implies and asks, meaning "What is not there?". This is a name given by or to someone who is assumed to be falling short or without, so they name the child "What could be missing?" in a sense of affirmation, so to say there is perfection even if you (all) do not see it or doubt it... [more]
Haƙurau m Hausa
From the Hausa hàƙurà meaning “be patient”.
Halas m Somali
Meaning: Halas generally means "good" or "positive" in Somali.... [more]
Halimnye m Xhosa
Means “not one” in Xhosa.
Halimo f Somali
Somali form of Halima.
Halisi f Swahili
Means "genuine" in Swahili.
Hamadou m Western African
Form of Hamad or Hammad used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Hamady m Western African
A variant of the Arabic name Hamad, meaning "praiseworthy".
Hamandishe m Shona
Meaning “one’s relative or family is God”, this name may be given by and/or to someone who is devoted to God, who is an orphan, has no relatives or was abandoned.
Hamelmal f Amharic
Means "From The Bible" or "The Word".
Hamidou m Western African
Form of Hamid 1 or Hamid 2 used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Hamidu m Hausa
Hausa form of Hamid 1.
Hamis m Swahili
From Swahili Alhamisi meaning "Thursday" (ultimately of Arabic origin).
Hamse m Eastern African, Somali
Variant of Xamse, which is used outside of Somalia.
Hamunyari f Shona
Hamunyari means "Have you no shame". This name is given in a feuding situation.
Hanja f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "brown".
Hankali m & f Hausa
Means "intelligent" in Hausa.
Hannalie f Afrikaans
Contraction of Hanna and Elisabeth.
Hannchen f Afrikaans, German (Rare)
Hannchen is a German diminutive of Johanna, Hanna, Hannelore, or another name containing *hann*.... [more]
Hanneke f Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans
Diminutive form of Hanne 1.
Hanneleen f Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans
Combination of Hanne 1 and Leen.
Hanneli f Finnish, Estonian, Afrikaans
Finnish variant of Hannele and Afrikaans variant of Hannelie.
Hannelie f Afrikaans
Contraction of Hanne 1 and Elisabeth.
Hannelize f Afrikaans
Contraction of Hanne 1 and Elize.
Hansie m Afrikaans
Short form of Johannes.
Hanu m & f Shona
Meaning “mountain pass”, or “path in the valley”, synonymous with Haro.
Hanyani m Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hanya meaning "live".
Harambee m Swahili
Means "all pull together" in Swahili. It is the official motto of Kenya.
Hashiki f Swahili
Means “doesn’t hold” in Swahili.
Hasia f Western African
Probably a spelling variant of Hassia.
Hassana m Hausa
Hausa form of Hasan and Hassan.
Hassane m Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Alternate transcription of Hassan as well as the form used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Hassina f African, Arabic
Variant of Haseena used most often in Africa.
Hatima f Swahili
Means "fate" in Swahili.
Hawanatu f Western African
Possibly a form of Hawa, used in Sierra Leone.
Hawaryat m Ge'ez
Means "apostles" in Ge'ez.
Hawi f & m Luo
"good luck"
Hawi m Luo
It means luck.
Hawo f Somali, African
Somali variant of Hawa.
Haylu m Ge'ez
Means "his power" in Ge'ez.
Hazvinei f Shona
Hazvinei means "Never mind, no worries". This name may be given by a parent who was offended
Hazviperi m & f Shona
"It does not end". Situational name given in circumstances where family faced unending troubles or trials.
Heineken m Ijaw
Probably derived from the Dutch surname Heineken.... [more]
Hekima f & m Swahili
Means "wisdom" in Swahili.
H'emmuc m Berber
Berber diminutive form of Hamid 1.
Henok m Croatian (Rare), Amharic, Tigrinya
Croatian, Amharic and Tigrinyan form of Enoch.
Henos m Ge'ez
Variant of Enos.
Henrico m Dutch (Modern), Afrikaans
Variant of Hendrik influenced by Enrico.
Herru f Berber
Etymology unknown. This was the name of a famous poetess.
Hetisani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hetisa meaning "finish".
Hetta f English (British), South African
Hetta is a nickname for Henrietta although it is used on its own as well.
Hibaaq f Somali
Derived from Arabic هِبَة (hiba) meaning "gift, grant".
Hibaq f Somali
Variant transcription of Hibaaq.
Hidaya f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "beautiful".