Eastern African Origin Names

Abeba f Amharic
Means "flower" in Amharic.

Aberash f Amharic
Means "giving off light, shining" in Amharic.

Achieng f Luo
Feminine form of Ochieng.

Adhiambo f Luo
Feminine form of Odhiambo.

Akinyi f Luo
Means "born in the morning" in Luo.

Alemayehu m & f Amharic
Means "I have seen the world" in Amharic.

Amondi f Luo
Feminine form of Omondi.

Asha 2 f Swahili
From Swahili ishi meaning "live, exist", derived from Arabic عاش (ʿāsha).

Ashura f Swahili
From the name of an Islamic holy day that commemorates the death of Husayn ibn Ali. It is so named because it falls on the tenth day of Muharram, deriving from Arabic عشرة (ʿashara) meaning "ten".

Atieno f Luo
Feminine form of Otieno.

Awiti f Luo
Means "thrown away" in Luo, possibly used for a child born prematurely.

Ayaan 2 f Somali
Means "good luck" in Somali.

Ayan 3 f Somali
Variant of Ayaan 2.

Ayana 1 m Ethiopian
Meaning unknown (possibly Amharic or Oromo).

Ayele m Amharic
Means "become strong, become powerful" in Amharic.

Babirye f Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

Bahati f & m Swahili
Means "luck, good fortune" in Swahili, ultimately from Persian بخت (bakht).

Bakari m Swahili
From the Swahili name for the constellation Boötes.

Barack m Various
In the case of the former American president Barack Obama (1961-), he was named after his Kenyan father. His father had Anglicized it from the original spelling Baraka.

Baraka m Swahili
Means "blessing" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic بركة (baraka).

Bekele m Amharic
Means "grow, flourish" in Amharic.

Bereket m Amharic
Means "blessing, abundance, profusion" in Amharic.

Berhane m & f Amharic
Means "my light" in Amharic.

Berhanu m Amharic
Means "his light" in Amharic.

Bontu f Oromo
Means "proud" in Oromo.

Businge m & f Kiga
Means "peace" in Rukiga.

Chausiku f Swahili
Means "born at night" in Swahili.

Chimwala m & f Yao
Means "stone" in Yao.

Chiumbo m Mwera
Means "small" in Mwera.

Dejen m Amharic
Means "foundation, support" in Amharic.

Desta f & m Amharic
Means "joy" in Amharic.

Eshe f Swahili
Variant of Asha 2.

Etenesh f Amharic
Means "you are my sister" in Amharic.

Fadhili m Swahili
Means "kindness, favour" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic.

Faraji m Swahili
Means "consolation" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic فرج (faraj).

Furaha f Swahili
Means "joy, happiness" in Swahili, borrowed from Arabic فرح (fariḥa).

Gadisa m Oromo
From Oromo gaaddisa meaning "shade".

Gadise f Oromo
Feminine form of Gadisa.

Gudina m Oromo
Means "growth, advancement" in Oromo.

Gwandoya m Ganda
Means "met with misery" in Luganda.

Hamisi m Swahili
From Swahili Alhamisi meaning "Thursday", from Arabic الخميس (al-khamīs), itself derived from خمسة (khamsa) meaning "five".

Haregewoin f Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.

Hiwot f Amharic
Means "life" in Amharic.

Hodan f Somali
Means "rich, lush" in Somali.

Ifa m Oromo
Means "light" in Oromo.

Imamu m Swahili
Means "spiritual leader" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إمام (ʾimām).

Imani f & m Swahili, African American
Means "faith" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إيمان (ʾīmān).

Isingoma m Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

Jengo m Swahili (Rare)
Means "building" in Swahili.

Juma m Arabic, Pashto, Swahili
Means "Friday" or "week" in Arabic.

Jumanne m Swahili
Means "Tuesday" in Swahili.

Kamaria f Comorian
From Arabic qamar meaning "moon", also the root of the name of the island country of the Comoros.

Kamau m Kikuyu
Meaning unknown. This was the birth name of the Kenyan president Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978).

Kariuki m Kikuyu
Means "reincarnated one" in Kikuyu.

Kato m Ganda
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

Kebede m Amharic
Means "heavy, serious" in Amharic.

Kenya f English, African American
From the name of the African country. The country is named for Mount Kenya, which in the Kikuyu language is called Kĩrĩnyaga meaning "the one having stripes". It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 1960s.

Kenyatta m & f African American
From a surname used by the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978). He adopted the surname in his youth, supposedly from a type of ornamental belt worn by the Maasai people.

Kidist f Amharic
Means "blessed" in Amharic.

Kirabo m & f Ganda
Means "gift" in Luganda.

Kisembo m & f Tooro
Means "gift" in Rutooro.

Konjit f Amharic
From Amharic ቆንጆ (qonjo) meaning "beautiful".

Lelisa m Oromo
From Oromo leellisaa meaning "admirer".

Lelise f Oromo
Feminine form of Lelisa.

Lencho m Oromo
Means "lion" in Oromo.

Lishan f & m Amharic
Means "award" in Amharic.

Lulit f Amharic
From Amharic ሉል (lul) meaning "pearl".

Maina m Kikuyu
Means "sing, dance" in Kikuyu. Kikuyu males were traditionally organized into age sets or generations, each lasting about 30 years. The Maina generation occupied the last part of the 19th century.

Makena f & m Kikuyu
Means "happy one" in Kikuyu.

Malaika f Swahili
Means "angel" in Swahili, derived from Arabic ملك (malak).

Marijani m Swahili
Means "coral" in Swahili, originally a borrowing from Arabic مرْجان (marjān).

Masamba m Yao
Means "leaves, vegetables" in Yao.

Meklit f Amharic
Means "talent" in Amharic.

Meti f Oromo
Means "umbrella" in Oromo.

Mirembe f Ganda
Means "peace" in Luganda.

Mosi f & m Swahili
Means "first (child)" in Swahili.

Moti 1 m Oromo
Means "leader" in Oromo.

Mubiru m Ganda
Meaning unknown. This is the name of a figure in Ganda mythology associated with forests and hunting.

Mukami f Kikuyu
Possibly means "the one who milks the cows" in Kikuyu.

Mumbi f Kikuyu
Means "she who shapes" in Kikuyu. In Kikuyu mythology Mumbi was the wife of Gikuyu and the mother of his nine daughters.

Muthoni f Kikuyu
Means "mother-in-law" in Kikuyu.

Mwajuma f Swahili
Contracted form of Mwanajuma.

Mwanahamisi f Swahili
Means "child born on Thursday" in Swahili.

Mwanahawa f Swahili
Combination of Swahili mwana meaning "child" and the name Hawa.

Mwanaidi f Swahili
Means "child born during the festival" in Swahili.

Mwanaisha f Swahili
Combination of Swahili mwana meaning "child" and the name Aisha.

Mwanajuma f Swahili
Means "child born on Friday" in Swahili.

Mwangi m Kikuyu
Means "rapid expansion" in Kikuyu. Kikuyu males were traditionally organized into age sets or generations. The Mwangi generation started around the beginning of the 20th century and lasted for about 30 years.

Nafula f Luhya
Feminine form of Wafula.

Nakato f Ganda
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

Naliaka f Luhya
Means "born during the weeding season", from Luhya liliaka meaning "weeding".

Nanjala f Luhya
Feminine form of Wanjala.

Nasimiyu f Luhya
Feminine form of Simiyu.

Naya f African American (Modern)
Variant of Nia 2, probably modelled on Maya 2. It was borne by the actress Naya Rivera (1987-2020).

Neema f Swahili
Means "divine grace" in Swahili, from Arabic نعمة (niʿma) meaning "blessing".

Nekesa f Luhya
Feminine form of Wekesa.

Nia 2 f Swahili, African American
Means "purpose, aim" in Swahili, borrowed from Arabic نيّة (nīya).

Njeri f Kikuyu
Means "travelling one" in Kikuyu. Njeri (or Wanjeri) is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Nuru f Swahili
Means "light" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr).

Nyah f English (Modern)
Meaning unknown, possibly a variant of Nia 2 or Nia 3. This name briefly entered the American popularity charts after it was featured in the movie Mission: Impossible 2 (2000).

Nyambura f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu mbura meaning "rain". This is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Nyongesa m Luhya
Means "born on Saturday" in Luhya.

Ochieng m Luo
Means "born when the sun shines", derived from Luo chieng meaning "sun".

Odhiambo m Luo
Means "born in the evening" in Luo.

Omondi m Luo
Means "born early in the morning" in Luo.

Otieno m Luo
Means "born at night" in Luo.

Pendo f Swahili
Variant of Upendo.

Pili 2 f Swahili
Means "second (child)" in Swahili.

Rajabu m Swahili
Swahili form of Rajab.

Ramadhani m Swahili
Swahili form of Ramadan.

Rehema f Swahili
Means "mercy, compassion" in Swahili, from Arabic رحْمة (raḥma).

Seble f Amharic
Means "harvest" in Amharic.

Shabani m Swahili
Swahili form of Shaban.

Simba 2 m Swahili
Means "lion" in Swahili. This is the name of the main character in the Disney movie The Lion King (1994), about a lion cub who exiles himself after his father is murdered.

Simiyu m Luhya
Means "born during the dry season" in Luhya.

Sisay m Amharic
Means "good omen" in Amharic.

Ssanyu f Ganda
Means "joy" in Luganda.

Subira f Swahili
Means "patience" in Swahili, from Arabic صبر (ṣabara).

Tadesse m Amharic
Means "revived" in Amharic.

Tafari m Amharic (Rare)
Possibly means "he who inspires awe" in Amharic. This name was borne by Lij Tafari Makonnen (1892-1975), also known as Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Rastafarians (Ras Tafari meaning "king Tafari") revere him as the earthly incarnation of God.

Tamrat m Amharic
Means "miracle" in Amharic.

Tariku m Amharic
Means "his history, his story" in Amharic.

Tatu 2 f Swahili
Means "third (child)" in Swahili.

Tesfaye m Amharic
From Amharic ተስፋ (tasfa) meaning "hope".

Tumaini f & m Swahili
Means "wish, hope" in Swahili, from Arabic طمع (ṭamiʿa) meaning "to desire".

Uhuru m Swahili
Means "freedom" in Swahili.

Upendo f Swahili
Means "love" in Swahili.

Wafula m Luhya
Means "born during the rainy season", from Luhya ifula meaning "rainy season".

Wairimu f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu irimũ meaning "ogre, giant". In the Kikuyu origin legend Wairimu is of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

Wamalwa m Luhya
Means "born during the brewing season" in Luhya.

Wambui f Kikuyu
Means "zebra" in Kikuyu. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wangari f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu ngarĩ meaning "leopard". In the Kikuyu origin legend this is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

Wangui f Kikuyu
From Kikuyu ngũi meaning "song leader". This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wanjala m Luhya
Means "born during famine", from Luhya injala meaning "hunger, famine".

Wanjiku f Kikuyu
Meaning unknown. This is one of Mumbi's nine daughters in the Kikuyu origin legend.

Wanjiru f Kikuyu
Possibly from Kikuyu njĩra meaning "way, path". In the Kikuyu origin legend this is the name of one of the nine daughters of Mumbi.

Wanyonyi m Luhya
Means "born during the weeding season", from Luhya enyonyi meaning "weeds".

Wasswa m Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

Wekesa m Luhya
Means "born during harvest" in Luhya.

Werknesh f Amharic
Alternate transcription of Amharic ወርቅነሽ (see Worknesh).

Workneh m Amharic
Means "you are gold", from Amharic ወርቅ (warq) meaning "gold".

Worknesh f Amharic
Feminine form of Workneh.

Yewubdar f Amharic
Means "beautiful beyond limits" from Amharic ውብ (wb) meaning "beautiful" and ዳር (dar) meaning "limit, horizon, frontier, shore".

Zawadi f & m Swahili
Means "gift" in Swahili, derived from Arabic زواد (zawād) meaning "provisions".

Zuhura f Swahili, Dhivehi
Means "Venus (planet)" in Swahili and Dhivehi. Both are borrowed from Arabic الزهرة (al-Zuhara), derived from the root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".

Zuri f Swahili
Means "beautiful" in Swahili.