African Submitted Names

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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.
Hikani f Shona
"Surprise."
Hikolana m Dagbani
when a child was born denoting the owner to have to brought blessing, luck and authority in a family in northern dagombi speaking family .
Hilka f Low German, German (Rare), Frisian, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Originally a diminutive of names beginning with or containing the element hild-, used as a given name in its own right.
Hiloga m Datooga
Means "fortress" in Datooga.
Hirsi m Eastern African, Somali
Variant spelling of Xirsi, which is used outside of Somalia.
Hiwet f Amharic, Ethiopian
Variant transcription of Hiwot.
Hiyabel f Ethiopian, Tigrinya (?)
According to Nameberry, it means "gift of God" from the Tigrinya element hiyab meaning "gift" and Hebrew אֵל ('el) meaning "God".
Hlamalani m & f Tsonga
Means "surprised" in Xitsonga.
Hlawulani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hlawula meaning "choose".
Hlawuleka m & f Tsonga
Means "unique" or "chooseable, chosen" in Xitsonga.
Hlayisani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hlayisa meaning "preserve, protect".
Hlekani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hleka meaning "laugh".
Hlengani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga hlenga meaning "collect, gather".
Hlomla m & f Xhosa
Means "to comment on something" in Xhosa.
Hlompho m Sotho
Means "respect" in Sesotho.
Hlori f Tsonga
Means "wonder" in Xitsonga.
Hlulani m & f Tsonga
Means "win, conquer" in Xitsonga.
Ḥmed m Kabyle
Kabyle form of Ahmad.
Hodari f Swahili
Means “strong” in Swahili.
Hondo m Shona, African
means "war"
Honest m & f English (Puritan), African
From the English word meaning "honorable, virtuous". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans around the 17th century.
Hoodo f Somali
This name comes from the Somali word hoodo which means "luck, fortunate." Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as Hodo.
Ḥsen m Kabyle
Kabyle form of Hassan.
Hufane m Somali
Hufane is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Hulisani m & f Venda
Means "respect" in Tshivenda.
Huoniso m & f Shona
It means "to show; allow to see", a shorter form of the can be Huoni or Oniso.
Huraira m & f Pakistani, Punjabi, Nigerian
Means "kitten" in Arabic. Abu Hurairah was one of the Prophet Muhammad's companions, in whose case it was part of a kunya or nickname acquired because of his attachment to cats.
Hurre m Somali
Hurre is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Husaini m Hausa, Indonesian, Malay
Hausa, Indonesian and Malay form of Husayn.
Hwami m Shona
Meaning "emperor".
Hyelni f African
Name means 'God has given me'. It is used by the burah's of Garkida in Adamawa state of Nigeria.
Ibenu m Idoma
Ibenu means "dare not a warrior" it was given after the Ibenu empire who lived in the Benue-Plateau region before its disintegration. The history was told that Ikwu who beget Ibenu were both warriors... [more]
Ibianga f Nigerian
Perhaps a form of Ibiang
Ibiro m Hausa
Diminutive form of Ibrahimu.
Ibironke f African
Nigerian meaning 'you are to be cared for and pampered' or 'family has someone to care for.'
Ibiye m & f African
An ancient Kalabari meaning Good mainly used as a prefix.
Ibok m & f Efik
Ibraahiim m Somali
Somali form of Abraham.
Ibraahim m Somali
Somali form of Abraham.
Ibraahin m Somali (Archaic)
Somali form of Abraham, now perhaps archaic. This name was borne by Ibraahin Adeer (ruled late 17th century to mid-18th century), the first sultan of the Sultanate of the Geledi, a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa from the late 17th century to 1910.
Ibrahiim m Somali (Archaic)
Somali form of Abraham, now perhaps archaic.
Ibrahimu m Hausa
Hausa form of Abraham.
Ibsituu f Eastern African, Oromo
Means "light" in Oromo.
Ibubesi m Zulu
Means "lion" in Zulu.
Ibukun f Yoruba
Means "blessings; an addition" in Yoruba. It is often used as a short form for names starting with Ibukun.
Ibukunoluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "God's blessing" in Yoruba.
Ibwe m Shona
Means "stone builder" in Shona.
Idai f Shona
Means "love them" in Shona.
Idara f Hausa
Means "joy" in Hausa.
Idem m & f Efik
Idiebimo f & m Ijaw
Means "take care of me" in Ijaw.
Idil f Somali
Somali form of Idil.
Idili f & m Amharic
Means "luck, opportunity" in Amharic.
Idim m & f Efik
Idiris m Somali
Somali form of Idris 1.
Idirisu m Hausa
Hausa form of Idris 1.
Idongesit m & f Ibibio
Means "comfort" in Ibibio.
Idorenyin m & f Ibibio
Means "hope" in Ibibio.
Idriss m Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Arabic alternate transcription of Idris 1 chiefly used in Northern Africa as well as the form used in parts of Western Africa.
Ifamma f Igbo
Means “good deeds” in Igbo.
Ife f Yoruba
It means “February” and “Love” ... [more]
Ifedapo m & f Yoruba
Means "love came together" in Yoruba.
Ifedayo f Yoruba
Means "love turned to joy" in Yoruba.
Ifejika m Igbo, Nigerian
Why we are greater; What I have is greater;
Ifemelu f Igbo, Literature
Ifemelu is the name of the main protagonist in 'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Ifeoluwa m & f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "love of God" or "God's will" in Yoruba.
Ifetayo f Nigerian (Rare)
A name of African descent meaning "love brings joy".
Ifetundun f Yoruba
Means "love is sweet" in Yoruba.
Ifeyinwa f & m Igbo
Igbo (Nigerian)
Ifiemi f & m Ijaw
Means "there is time for everything" in Ijaw.
Iften m Berber
Means "be better than them" in Amazigh.
Ighlaf m Berber
Means "well protected" in Amazigh.
Igider m Berber (Rare)
Mighty and strong, this name stands for ‘eagle’ in one of the Berber languages.
Igmar m Afrikaans
Afrikaans. Combination of his mother and fathers name. Siegfried and Marieta. Ig and Mar. Combined Igmar
Igolo f & m African
Meaning: Biblical name (in Nigeria of Africa) that means 'the star that the three wise men followed when Christ was born.'... [more]
Igunikeme m Ijaw
Means "stranger" in Ijaw.
Iheanyichukwu m Igbo
Means "there is nothing God cannot do" in Igbo.
Ihotu f Idoma
Means "love" or "like" in Idoma.
Ihunanya f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo.
Ihuomachukwu f Igbo
Means "good face of god" in Igbo.
Iimaan f & m Somali
Somali form of Iman. One notable bearer of this name is Somalian-born American model Iman (born 1955).
Ijja f Northern African
Female name meaning "Smells good" or "Fragrant".
Ijuba f Zulu
Commonly it is meaning Dove or Peace. Less common in means storm or fighting. It also means freedom in some local tribes. It is said many years ago a great war loomed. Fighting had started but one warrior championed the cause of peace and unity... [more]
Ikeem m African
africa
Ikemba m Igbo
Means "strength of a nation" or "power of the people" in Igbo.
Ikeoluwa f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "the care of God" in Yoruba.
Ikidaola m & f Yoruba
full of wealth
Ikiemoye f & m Ijaw
Means "thoughts" in Ijaw.
Ikolo m Lingala
Means “chief, leader” in Lingala.
Ikuromo f & m Ijaw
Means "encourage me" in Ijaw.
Ikusasa f & m Zulu
Means "destiny" in Zulu.
Ilane f South African, Brazilian
Problably a feminine form to Ilan.
Ilánkaka f Lingala, African Mythology
Ilankaka means ‘the sun maiden’. She is one of the main characters in the Mongo mythology complex. She is the estranged wife of Lonkundo.
Ilayetmas m Berber
Means "he has brothers" in Tamazight.
Ilesanmi m Yoruba
Means "home befits me" in Yoruba.
Iliman m Wolof (Rare)
Standard spelling of Ilimane in Wolof.
Iliyasu m Hausa
Hausa form of Elias.
Illi f Berber (Rare)
Literally "My daughter"
Ima f Ibibio
Means "love" in Ibibio.
Imany f Swahili
A variant of Imani.
Imanzi m Rwandan
From the Kinyarwanda word "umumanzi", meaning "righteousness".
Ima-obong f African
Nigerian(Akwa-Ibom)
Imara f Swahili
Means "strong, firm, stable" in Swahili.
Imbasa f & m Zulu
Means "star" in Zulu.
Imka f Dutch, Afrikaans, German
Diminutive of Ime 2.
Immeghar m Berber
Means "he is great" in Amazigh.
Imohimi m & f Western African, Edo
Means "I have a support" in Edo language.
Imose f Western African, Edo
Means "beauty" in Edo.
Inalegwu m African
popular among the Idoma people of Benue State of Nigeria.translate in English 'as Innocent'.
Inemesit f & m Western African, Ibibio
Means "happiness" in Ibibio.
Ingqondo f Zulu
Means "intelligence" in Zulu.
Ini f & m Western African, Ibibio
Means "time" in Ibibio.... [more]
Iniabasi m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means "God's time" in Ibibio.
Inibrakemi f Ijaw
Means "your destiny is in your hands" in Ijaw.
Iniekenimi f & m Ijaw
Means "know only your own" in Igbo.
Iniemem f & m Efik
"Time of peace"
Iniko m Igbo
Meaning "born during troubled times" or "born in a time of trouble" in Igbo, historically given to boys. A notable bearer of this name is the mononymous American singer Iniko.
Iniku f Amharic
Means "jewel" in Amharic.
Inioluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "property of the lord" in Yoruba.
Inipere f & m Ijaw
Means "here is my wealth" in Ijaw.
Inqu m Ge'ez
Means "precious stone" in Ge'ez.
Inyang m & f Efik
Inyoni f Zulu
Derived from Zulu inyoni meaning "bird".
Ipaishe f Shona
Means "give to God" in Shona.
Ipeleng f Tswana
Means "be happy" in Setswana.
Iqaqa m Zulu
Means "polecat" in Zulu.
Irawo m & f Yoruba
Means "star" in Yoruba.
Irbad m Somali
Irbad is a Somali name with the following characteristics:... [more]
Irebabofo m Western African
Origin: Ghana
Iredia m Western African, Esan
Means "stay" in Esan. ... [more]
Irekanmi f African, Yoruba
"It is now my turn for good things"
Iremide f & m Yoruba
Means "my goodness has come" in Yoruba.
Ireti m & f Yoruba
Means "hope" in Yoruba.
Irgetu m Amharic
Means "the calm" in Amharic.
Irido m Greek, Somali
Masculine form of Irida.
Irikidzai f Shona
Means "to add to" in Shona.
Irikidzayi m Shona
Means "add another one" in Shona.
Irorezi f Isoko (Rare)
Means "good thoughts" in Isoko.
Irorezi f Nigerian
A feminine Nigerian name. The meaning is loosely translated to "good thoughts". This name could also be a diminutive of the Nigerian name Orezi, meaning "precious".
Iruuju m Igbo
Means "sorrowful" in Igbo.
Isaaq m Somali, English
Variant of Isaac.
Isaka m Shona
Shona form of Isaac.
Isaki m Ndebele
Ndebele form of Isaac.
Isatou f Western African
Probably derived from Aisha, compare the West African name form Aïssatou.
Isaya m Swahili
Swahili form of Isaiah.
Isayyas m Amharic
Amharic form of Isaiah.
Isazo m & f Tumbuka
Variant of Izaso.
Isgaden m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Isheanesu m Shona
Means "the lord is with us" in Shona.
Ishemanzwa m Shona
It means "Lord you have heard".
Ishemunonzwa m Shona
It means "Lord you hear", another variation is Ishemanzwa.
Isioma f Nigerian
Means "good luck".
Isisa f Zulu
Means "the tenderness" in Zulu.
Isiyaka m Hausa
Hausa form of Isaac.
Isiyaku m Hausa
Hausa form of Isaac.
Iskinder m Amharic
Amharic form of Alexander.
Ismaaciil m Somali
Somali form of Ishmael.
Ismahan f Somali, Persian (Rare), Arabic (Rare)
Variant of Asmahan. This spelling is more typically used within the Somali diaspora.
Ismaïla m Western African
Western African form of Ismail (see Ishmael).
Isma'ilu m Hausa
Hausa form of Ishmael.
Isomubo m Ijaw
Means "messenager" in Ijaw.
Isongke f & m Western African, Anaang
Means "nothing is impossible" in Anaang, spoken in Nigeria.
Issaka m Western African
Form of Ishaq used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Isse m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Isa 1.
Isufu m Hausa
Hausa form of Joseph.
Isxaaq m Somali
Somali form of Isaac.
Itanya f Swahili
Means "hope" in Swahili.
Itohan f Western African, Edo, Ijaw
Means "mercy" in Edo and "I don't wish you bad" in Ijaw.
Itohanosa f Western African, Edo
Means "the mercy of God" in Edo language.
Itonyo f & m Ijaw
Means "my thought" in Ijaw.
Itsub m Ge'ez
Means "miracle" in Ge'ez.
Ituaton m Ijaw
Means "remember me" in Ijaw.
Ituri m Swahili
Means perfume, scent, fragrance in Kiswahili
Ityoppya f Amharic (Rare)
Rare Amharic form of Ethiopia.
Iwa f Afizere
Means "eve" in Afizere.
Iwalaye m & f Yoruba
THE IWALAYE / IWALAIYE IS THE NAME OF A FAMILY (A ROYAL NAME )IN THE YORUBA LAND,EFFO-AMURO, KOGI STATE.
Iwani f African
Means "speak out".
Iwuanyanwu m & f Igbo
Means “the law, lawful” in Igbo.
Iyabode f Ijaw
Means "poverty has come" in Ijaw.
Iyabode f Yoruba
Yoruba for " mother has returned". When a the first girl child is born after the death of a grandmother, the child is given this name. Iya is the root word,which means mother. Such as Iyaba, wich means Grandmother.
Iyassu m Ethiopian
Ethiopian form of Joshua.
Iyasus m Ethiopian, Theology
Form of Jesus used in Ethiopia.
Iyeoka f Western African, Yoruba
Means "mother who speaks the word" in Yoruba.... [more]
Iyiomo m & f Yoruba
ondo region of western nigeris
Iyoas m Ethiopian
Ethiopian form of Joash, a name borne by two emperors of Ethiopia.
Iyob m Amharic
Amharic form of Job.
Izaso m & f Tumbuka
Means "come again, return" in Tumbuka, a plea for deceased relatives to come back.
Izdârasen m Berber
Means "the mighty, the strong" in Tamazight.
Izemrasen m Berber (Rare)
Means "powerful" in Berber.
Izette f Afrikaans
Variant of Isette.
Izîl m Berber (Rare)
Izîl stands for ‘sublime and magnificent’.
Izlan f Berber
Means "melody" in Tamazight.
Izmael m Hungarian (Rare), Eastern African (Rare), Judeo-Catalan, Biblical Hungarian, Biblical Polish, Biblical Czech, Spanish (Latin American, Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare)
Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Judeo-Catalan and Somali form of Ishmael, as well as a Spanish and Portuguese variant of Ismael.
Izon-ebi m & f Ijaw
Means "the Ijaw life is good" in Ijaw.
Izula f Zulu
Means "nomad" in Zulu.
Izwirashe m & f Shona
It means "the voice of the Lord", one can also use Izwi as the shorter form.
Jaachike m Igbo
Variant of Jachike.
Jaamac m Somali, Muslim
Somali transcription of the Arabic word جامع (jāmaʿa) meaning "mosque". This name has the same roots ج-م-ع (j-m-ʿ) of the Islamic day of prayers, coinciding with "Friday".
Jabai m African
Named after a african serial killer in the 5th century.
Jabu f Zulu
The name's origin meaning is "It is the shortened form of the name Jabulani which means joy or to rejoice"
Jabulani m Ndebele, Zulu
Means "enjoy" or "be happy all" in Ndebele and "rejoice" in Zulu.
Jabulile f Zulu
Means "she is happy" in Zulu.
Jachike m Igbo
Means "praise God" or "Hail God" in Igbo.
Jadesola f Yoruba
Means "emerge into wealth" in Yoruba.
Ja'ebun m African
Used for the warrior of the tribe KIKI in Nigeria
Jahali f Bandial
Means "worried" in Bandial.
Jahi f Swahili
Worthy
Jairiro m & f Shona
It means "to be used to; accustomation to".
Jak m Afrikaans
Variant of Jaak.
Jakkie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Jacob.
Jakobus m Afrikaans, Biblical German, Medieval German
Afrikaans and German form of Jacobus.
Jakubu m Kikuyu
Kikuyu form of James.
Jalaure m Alur
Of uncertain Meaning. A famous bearer was Jalusiga’s older half-brother, who was a temporary replacement for their father Amula from 1917-22 when he was in exile.
Jalia m Swahili
Honorary
Jalusiga m Alur
Meaning uncertain. A famous bearer was one of Amula’s sons, who replaced him as a chief of the Ukuru when he passed away.
Jana f Swahili
Means "yesterday" in Swahili.
Jancke f Afrikaans
Variant of Janke.
Jangwa m Swahili
Means "desert" in Swahili.
Janha m & f Shona
Meaning "one's turn; chance; opportunity".
Janita f Dutch, Flemish (Rare), Afrikaans
Feminine diminutive of Jan 1.
Jannie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Johannes.
Japie m & f Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Diminutive of Jaap.
Jaramogi m Luo
"very courageous"
Jasiba f African (Rare)
Meaning "wealthy noble princess" and "one who descends from the highest regal nobility" ... [more]
Jasimini f Amharic
Amharic form of Jasmine.
Jasiri f Swahili
Means "bold, courageous" in Swahili.
Jaturikua m Southern African, Herero
Means "to be uplifted" or "placed above".
Jawaahir f Somali
Somali form of Jawahir. One bearer is Somali-American model Jawaahir Axmed (born 1991), better known by her Americanized name of Jawahir Ahmed.
Jawaat-a m Sidamo
Means "strong" in Sidama.
Jeanique f French (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Blend of Jeanne with any feminine name ending in -ique, such as Monique and Véronique... [more]
Jebet f African
Kalenjin name from the Rift Valley area of Kenya. Means born 'during the day'.
Jegede m Nigerian (Modern)
A very active person that moves around a lot
Jekesai f Shona
"Make it clear". Meant to speak to neighbor or family to make clear their position or purpose.
Jelani m Swahili
Powerful
Jemaine m & f South African (Rare), English (Rare)
Most likely a variant of Jermaine. A famous bearer of this name is New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement (1974-).