[Opinions] African Names
Are there any african names you like? What are your favourites, and what nyour opinions on these?
(some are unisex, so I just put them in the gender I prefer to use it for)
Boys
Omobolanle
Lanre
Chisomo
Ikenna
Kayin
Kojo
Obi
Okoro
Simba
Xolani
Girls
Imani
Amara
Ayo
Chiamaka
Chichi
Kamaria
Dayo
Madalitso
Mayamiko
Omolara
Zuri
(some are unisex, so I just put them in the gender I prefer to use it for)
Boys
Omobolanle
Lanre
Chisomo
Ikenna
Kayin
Kojo
Obi
Okoro
Simba
Xolani
Girls
Imani
Amara
Ayo
Chiamaka
Chichi
Kamaria
Dayo
Madalitso
Mayamiko
Omolara
Zuri
Replies
Quiet a few. My favourites are Olanna and Kainene.
Not being tied to Africa at all, I have never really considered named from African countries (unless you count Egypt, which is technically in Africa).
Here are a few that I do like and know:
Imani - I have a friend with this name. It's always been a highlight for her, and people love it. But, it is still simple enough and easy for everyone to say and read.
Chimdinma - A friend gave this middle name to her daughter Love. The father is Nigerian. It's quite pretty when said aloud.
Adanna - also and Igbo name, and possibly the name of Love's (see above) sister to be.
Ayodele - a Yoruba name I did consider, back when I planned to name all my children a name that means "joy". It's actually quite stunning (for a girl).
Dayo - the male version of the name above, and a simple yet charming boy's name.
Nia and Zuri are both Swahili names that I find simple and sweet. They are also quite universal to me.
Zuberi would be a male Swahili name that I like, though I would never use it. I just think it has a lot of quirky gumption to it.
Desta is a unisex name that was actually on our list for a long time, for a boy. My mother actually rooted for this when we were pregnant with Clarisse. We ended up having the name Evren as our male name if she turned out to be a boy... but Desta (another "joy" name") is on my original Excel file of names. I totally forgot that it was Amharic (Ethiopian).
My husband liked the name Tendai, which I thought was Japanese, but he says it is an African name. BtN says it is Shona, from the people of Zimbabwe. He knew a missionary there years ago. I think this is quite a spunky name and would actually use it irl.
Here are a few that I do like and know:
Imani - I have a friend with this name. It's always been a highlight for her, and people love it. But, it is still simple enough and easy for everyone to say and read.
Chimdinma - A friend gave this middle name to her daughter Love. The father is Nigerian. It's quite pretty when said aloud.
Adanna - also and Igbo name, and possibly the name of Love's (see above) sister to be.
Ayodele - a Yoruba name I did consider, back when I planned to name all my children a name that means "joy". It's actually quite stunning (for a girl).
Dayo - the male version of the name above, and a simple yet charming boy's name.
Nia and Zuri are both Swahili names that I find simple and sweet. They are also quite universal to me.
Zuberi would be a male Swahili name that I like, though I would never use it. I just think it has a lot of quirky gumption to it.
Desta is a unisex name that was actually on our list for a long time, for a boy. My mother actually rooted for this when we were pregnant with Clarisse. We ended up having the name Evren as our male name if she turned out to be a boy... but Desta (another "joy" name") is on my original Excel file of names. I totally forgot that it was Amharic (Ethiopian).
My husband liked the name Tendai, which I thought was Japanese, but he says it is an African name. BtN says it is Shona, from the people of Zimbabwe. He knew a missionary there years ago. I think this is quite a spunky name and would actually use it irl.
This is like asking, "What are your favourite European names?" It's difficult to answer, especially as I've never dedicated the time to looking through the list of names for every single African language, as I haven't with every single European language.
I did, however, inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's books, make a little list of my favourite Nigerian names.
♀
Adannaya
Amarachi
Chiamaka
Ebele
Funanya
Ngozi
Nneka
Onyekachi
♂
Ekene
Emeka
Enyinnaya
Obi
I did, however, inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's books, make a little list of my favourite Nigerian names.
♀
Adannaya
Amarachi
Chiamaka
Ebele
Funanya
Ngozi
Nneka
Onyekachi
♂
Ekene
Emeka
Enyinnaya
Obi