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HelpAfrican names
Bored with my usual suspects, I've done a little research. I had a few African names on my long list, but I've added to them. What do you think? East, West or South after the name means its from Eastern, Western or Southern Africa.
Female:
Adisa -- one who is clear (Yoruba, West)
Aina -- ("EYE-nuh") Nigerian
Asha / Eshe -- life (Swahili, East)
Ife -- ("EE-fuh") love (Yoruba, West)
Imani -- faith (Swahili, East)
Johari -- jewel (Swahili, East)
Lindiwe -- have waited for (Zulu, South)
Marjani -- ("mar-ZHAH-nee") coral (Swahili, East)
Mirembe -- peace (Luganda, East)
Monifa -- I am lucky (Yoruba, West)
Nantale -- ("nahn-TAH-lay") gazelle
Nia -- purpose (Swahili, East)
Shandurai -- ("SHAN-door-eye") Ethiopian
Thandiwe -- loving one (Xhosa, South)
Thema -- queen (Akan, West)
Zola -- tranquil (Zulu, South)
Zuri -- beautiful (Swahili, East)
Male:
Annayo -- ("a-NIE-o") Nigerian
Jelani -- mighty (Swahili, East)
Mosi -- 1st child (Swahili, East)
Olanrewaju -- my wealth is the future (Yoruba, West)
Tafari -- inspires awe (Amharic, East)
Note on pronunciaiton / useage: My cousins' names are Aina and Olanrewaju. That's how I know how to pronounce Aina. Her brother goes by Lanry. Nantale I saw in a baby name book once so I can't recall exactly which language / area it belongs to. Shandurai was the name of the female character in the movie, "Besieged." It starred Thandie Newton whose real name is Thandiwe. I met a little Johari once and asked the meaning. I also met an Annayo whose father is Nigerian.
So what do you think? Do you like any? I realize they may not be the most useable names. But by themselves, do any strike your fancy?
Female:
Adisa -- one who is clear (Yoruba, West)
Aina -- ("EYE-nuh") Nigerian
Asha / Eshe -- life (Swahili, East)
Ife -- ("EE-fuh") love (Yoruba, West)
Imani -- faith (Swahili, East)
Johari -- jewel (Swahili, East)
Lindiwe -- have waited for (Zulu, South)
Marjani -- ("mar-ZHAH-nee") coral (Swahili, East)
Mirembe -- peace (Luganda, East)
Monifa -- I am lucky (Yoruba, West)
Nantale -- ("nahn-TAH-lay") gazelle
Nia -- purpose (Swahili, East)
Shandurai -- ("SHAN-door-eye") Ethiopian
Thandiwe -- loving one (Xhosa, South)
Thema -- queen (Akan, West)
Zola -- tranquil (Zulu, South)
Zuri -- beautiful (Swahili, East)
Male:
Annayo -- ("a-NIE-o") Nigerian
Jelani -- mighty (Swahili, East)
Mosi -- 1st child (Swahili, East)
Olanrewaju -- my wealth is the future (Yoruba, West)
Tafari -- inspires awe (Amharic, East)
Note on pronunciaiton / useage: My cousins' names are Aina and Olanrewaju. That's how I know how to pronounce Aina. Her brother goes by Lanry. Nantale I saw in a baby name book once so I can't recall exactly which language / area it belongs to. Shandurai was the name of the female character in the movie, "Besieged." It starred Thandie Newton whose real name is Thandiwe. I met a little Johari once and asked the meaning. I also met an Annayo whose father is Nigerian.
So what do you think? Do you like any? I realize they may not be the most useable names. But by themselves, do any strike your fancy?
This message was edited 5/27/2008, 12:14 PM
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Replies
Marjani and Zuri I like
Mosi is cute.
I know a man named Jelani, and his last name happens to be Butts, so all his friend tease him about his name being mighty butts.
I don't really like the sound of Jelani, though I've seen it being used or mentioned a lot more lately than I ever have. The Jelani I know's favorite girl name is Aphrodite.
Mosi is cute.
I know a man named Jelani, and his last name happens to be Butts, so all his friend tease him about his name being mighty butts.
I don't really like the sound of Jelani, though I've seen it being used or mentioned a lot more lately than I ever have. The Jelani I know's favorite girl name is Aphrodite.
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I really like Asha. I heard a girl being called this in a shop once and it stuck in my mind. (I think she was probably African). I also like Imani, Thandie and Zola (as in Zola Budd the South African barefoot runner from the '80s). I have Nia on my PNL but as a Welsh name. I've come across several black women called Addie, presumably short for Adisa which is nice.
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There are quite a few African names that I like because they sound so musical, don't they? Here, I like:
Aina
Asha
Imani
Johari
Nantale
Nia
Shandurai
Zuri
Jelani -- even though this sounds mighty feminine to me
There's a little girl in Anna's GS troop who is named Akosua ("born on Sunday"). It took me a moment to wrap my tongue (and head) around it, but now I really like it. BTW, Akosua was born on Tuesday (I asked).
Aina
Asha
Imani
Johari
Nantale
Nia
Shandurai
Zuri
Jelani -- even though this sounds mighty feminine to me
There's a little girl in Anna's GS troop who is named Akosua ("born on Sunday"). It took me a moment to wrap my tongue (and head) around it, but now I really like it. BTW, Akosua was born on Tuesday (I asked).
This message was edited 5/27/2008, 12:36 PM
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Lovely. You gotta give it those parents who not only had the good taste to choose Akosua as a name, but also for a kid not born on Sunday. :-) How is it pronounced, by the way?
And I agree about Jelani. But I'm such a stickler for traditional usage that I've forced myself to think of it as masculine.
And I agree about Jelani. But I'm such a stickler for traditional usage that I've forced myself to think of it as masculine.
This message was edited 5/27/2008, 12:41 PM
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ah-KO-su-ah
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Thanks. I would have thought it was "ah-ko-SU-uh."
Koko could be a cute nn?
Koko could be a cute nn?
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