Southern African Origin Names

Alinafe f & m Chewa
Means "he or she is with us" in Chewa.

Amahle m & f Zulu
Means "the beautiful ones" in Zulu.

Amogelang m & f Tswana
Derived from Tswana amogela meaning "welcome, accept".

Andile m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Ayanda m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they are increasing" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Bandile m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "they have increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Banele m & f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "it is enough" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.

Boipelo m & f Tswana
Means "joy, rejoicing" in Tswana, from ipela meaning "to rejoice".

Boitumelo f & m Tswana
Means "joy" in Tswana, from itumela meaning "to be happy".

Bongani m Zulu
Means "grateful, thankful" in Zulu.

Bonolo f Sotho
Means "ease" in Sotho.

Buhle f & m Xhosa, Ndebele
From Xhosa and Ndebele buhle "beautiful, handsome", from the root hle.

Chifundo m & f Chewa
Means "mercy" in Chewa.

Chifuniro m & f Chewa
Means "will, wish" in Chewa.

Chikondi m & f Chewa
Means "love" in Chewa.

Chikumbutso m & f Chewa
Means "memory" in Chewa.

Chimwemwe m & f Chewa
Means "joy, pleasure" in Chewa.

Chipiliro m & f Chewa
Means "perseverance, endurance" in Chewa.

Chipo f Shona
Means "gift" in Shona.

Chisomo m & f Chewa
Means "grace" in Chewa.

Chiyembekezo m & f Chewa
Means "hope" in Chewa.

Dakarai m Shona
Means "rejoice" in Shona.

Dalitso m & f Chewa
Means "blessing" in Chewa.

Danai 2 f Shona
From Shona dana meaning "call, summon".

Dikeledi f Tswana
Means "tears" in Tswana.

Dumi m Zulu, Ndebele
Short form of Dumisani.

Dumisani m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "praise" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Enzokuhle m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "to do good" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots enza "to do" and hle "beautiful, good".

Fadzai f Shona
From Shona fadza meaning "please, make happy".

Farai m & f Shona
From Shona fara meaning "rejoice, be happy".

Fatsani m & f Chewa
Means "be meek" in Chewa.

Fungai m & f Shona
From Shona funga meaning "think, judge".

Ganizani m Chewa
Means "think" in Chewa.

Gugulethu f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele igugu "treasure, pride" and lethu "our".

Hlengiwe f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "helped, rescued, redeemed" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.

Iminathi f Zulu
Means "he stands with us" in Zulu.

Itai 2 m & f Shona
From Shona ita meaning "do, act, perform".

Itumeleng m & f Tswana
Means "be happy" in Tswana, from itumela meaning "to be happy".

Kabelo m Sotho, Tswana
Means "allotment, share, gift" in Sotho and Tswana.

Kagiso m & f Tswana
Means "peace" in Tswana.

Karabo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "answer" in Sotho and Tswana.

Katlego m & f Tswana
Means "success, prosperity" in Tswana.

Katleho m & f Sotho
Means "success, prosperity" in Sotho.

Kefilwe m & f Tswana
Means "I was given" in Tswana, derived from filwe "given".

Kelebogile f & m Tswana
Means "I am thankful" in Tswana, derived from leboga "to be thankful, to thank".

Kgosi m Tswana
Means "king, chief" in Tswana.

Khumbo m & f Chewa
Means "wish" in Chewa.

Kondwani m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "be happy, rejoice" in Chewa and Tumbuka.

Kumbukani m & f Chewa
Means "remember" in Chewa.

Lebogang m & f Tswana
Means "be thankful" in Tswana.

Lebohang m & f Sotho
Means "be thankful" in Sotho.

Lerato f & m Sotho
Means "love" in Sotho.

Lesedi f & m Tswana
Means "light" in Tswana.

Lesego m & f Tswana
Means "luck, blessing" in Tswana, from sego "blessed".

Lethabo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "joy, happiness" in Sotho and Tswana.

Lethokuhle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "bring goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots letha "to bring" and hle "beautiful, good".

Limbani m Chewa
Means "be strong" in Chewa.

Limbikani m Chewa
Means "work hard" in Chewa.

Lindiwe f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "waited for, awaited" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi, from linda "to wait".

Lisakhanya f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "still shining" in Xhosa and Zulu, from the roots sa "still, continuing" and khanya "to shine".

Lovemore m Southern African
From the English words love and more. This name is most common in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the south of Africa.

Lubanzi m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "it is wide" in Xhosa and Zulu, from the phrase uthando lubanzi "love is wide".

Lungile f & m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "correct, right, good" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Lwandle m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "ocean" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Madalitso m & f Chewa
Means "blessings" in Chewa.

Mandla m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "strength, power" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Mandlenkosi m Zulu, Ndebele
From Zulu and Ndebele amandla "strength, power" and inkosi "king, chief".

Manyara f Shona
Means "you have been humbled" in Shona.

Masego f Tswana
Means "blessings" in Tswana, from sego "blessed".

Masozi m & f Tumbuka
Means "tears" in Tumbuka.

Mavuto m Chewa
Means "troubles, problems" in Chewa.

Mayamiko m & f Chewa
Means "praise, gratitude" in Chewa.

Mayeso m & f Chewa
Means "test (from God)" in Chewa.

Mbalenhle f Zulu
From Zulu imbali "flower" and hle "beautiful".

Mbali f Zulu
Means "flower" in Zulu.

Melisizwe m Xhosa
Means "leader of the nation" in Xhosa.

Melokuhle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "stand for goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots mela "to stand for, to represent" and hle "beautiful, good".

Minenhle f & m Zulu
From Zulu imini "day" and hle "beautiful".

Mphatso m & f Chewa
Means "gift" in Chewa.

Mpho m & f Tswana, Sotho
Means "gift" in Tswana and Sotho, a derivative of fa "to offer".

Mtendere m & f Chewa
Means "peace" in Chewa.

Mudiwa f & m Shona
Means "beloved, darling" in Shona.

Munashe m & f Shona
Means "with God" in Shona, derived from ishe meaning "lord, God".

Munyaradzi m Shona
Means "comforter, consoler" in Shona, from nyaradza "to make quiet, to console".

Mwayi f & m Chewa
Means "opportunity" in Chewa.

Mwenya f & m Chewa
From the Chewa word for a type of flowering tree (species Breonadia salicina).

Neo 1 f & m Tswana
Means "gift" in Tswana, a derivative of naya "to give".

Netsai f Shona
From Shona netsa meaning "trouble, annoy, bother".

Nkazimulo m & f Zulu
Means "glory, brightness" in Zulu.

Nkosana m Xhosa
Means "prince" in Xhosa.

Nkosazana f Xhosa
Means "princess" in Xhosa.

Nomusa f Ndebele
Means "merciful" in Ndebele.

Nonhle f Xhosa
From the Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with hle "beautiful".

Nontle f Xhosa
Variant of Nonhle.

Nosipho f Zulu, Xhosa
From the Zulu and Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isipho "gift".

Nosizwe f Xhosa
From the Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isizwe "nation".

Noxolo f Xhosa, Ndebele
From the Xhosa and Ndebele feminine prefix no- combined with uxolo "peace".

Nqobile f & m Zulu
Means "they conquered" in Zulu, from nqoba "to conquer".

Nthanda m & f Tumbuka
Means "star" in Tumbuka.

Ntombi f Zulu
Means "girl" in Zulu.

Ntombifuthi f Zulu
Means "a girl again" in Zulu.

Ntombizodwa f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "only girls", from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele intombi "girl" and zodwa "only".

Nyarai f Shona
From Shona nyara meaning "be shy, be quiet, be humble".

Okuhle f & m Zulu, Xhosa
Means "that which is beautiful, that which is good" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Omphile f & m Tswana, Sotho
Means "he has given" in Tswana and Sotho.

Onalerona f & m Tswana, Sotho
Means "he is with us" in Tswana and Sotho.

Palesa f Sotho
Means "flower" in Sotho.

Pemphero m & f Chewa
Means "prayer" in Chewa.

Penjani m & f Tumbuka
Means "seek for, look for" in Tumbuka.

Pilirani m & f Chewa
Means "persevere, endure" in Chewa.

Puleng f Sotho
Means "in the rain" in Sotho.

Refilwe m & f Tswana
Means "we were given" in Tswana, derived from filwe "given".

Rethabile f & m Sotho
Means "we are happy" in Sotho.

Rudo m & f Shona
Means "love" in Shona.

Rufaro f Shona
Means "happiness" in Shona.

Rumbidzai f Shona
From Shona rumbidza meaning "praise".

Rutendo f & m Shona
Means "thankfulness" in Shona.

Sandile m Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "we increased" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele, from anda "to increase".

Sekai f Shona
From Shona seka meaning "laugh".

Sekani m Tumbuka
Means "laugh" in Tumbuka.

Sethunya f Tswana
Means "bloom, flower" in Tswana, derived from thunya "to bloom".

Sibonakaliso m & f Zulu
From Zulu isibonakaliso meaning "sign, token, proof".

Sibongile f Zulu, Ndebele
Means "we are thankful" in Zulu and Ndebele, from bonga "to thank".

Sibusisiwe f Ndebele
Means "we are blessed" in Ndebele.

Sibusiso m Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele
Means "blessed" in Zulu, Swazi and Ndebele, from busisa "to bless".

Sifiso m Zulu
Means "wish" in Zulu.

Simba 1 m Shona
Means "power, strength" in Shona.

Sipho m Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "gift" from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele isipho.

Siphosethu m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "our gift" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Sithembile f & m Zulu
Means "we trust" in Zulu.

Siyabonga m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "we thank you" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Sizwe m Xhosa
Means "nation" in Xhosa.

Tadala f Chewa
Means "we have been blessed" in Chewa.

Tafadzwa m & f Shona
Means "we are pleased" in Shona, from fadza meaning "please, make happy".

Takondwa m & f Chewa
Means "we are glad" in Chewa.

Tamandani m & f Chewa
Means "exalt, praise" in Chewa.

Tambudzai f Shona
From Shona tambudza meaning "make trouble, frustrate".

Taonga f & m Tumbuka
Means "we are thankful" in Tumbuka.

Tapiwa f Shona
Means "given" in Shona.

Tariro f Shona
Means "hope" in Shona.

Tatenda m & f Shona
Means "thank you" in Shona, from tenda meaning "thank".

Tau m Tswana, Sotho
Means "lion" in Tswana and Sotho. Tau was the name of the last ruler of the Rolong in South Africa (18th century).

Taurai m & f Shona
From Shona taura meaning "speak".

Tebogo f & m Tswana
Means "gratitude, thanks" in Tswana.

Teboho m Sotho
Means "gratitude" in Sotho.

Tendai m & f Shona
From Shona tenda meaning "be thankful, thank".

Thabang m & f Tswana
Means "be happy" in Tswana.

Thabani m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "be happy" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Thabo m Sotho, Tswana
Means "joy, happiness" in Sotho and Tswana.

Thandeka f Zulu, Ndebele
Means "loved" in Zulu and Ndebele.

Thandi f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
Short form of Thandiwe.

Thandiwe f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
Means "loving one" in Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele, from thanda "to love".

Thando m & f Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele thanda meaning "to love".

Thato m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "will, desire" in Sotho and Tswana.

Themba m Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "trust, hope" in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.

Thoko m & f Chewa
Short form of Thokozani.

Thokozani m & f Chewa
Means "thank" in Chewa.

Thulani m Zulu
Means "be quiet, be peaceful" in Zulu.

Thulile f Zulu
Means "quiet, peaceful" in Zulu.

Tichaona m Shona
Means "we will see" from Shona ticha "we will" and ona "see".

Tinashe m & f Shona
Means "we are with God", from Shona ti "we", na "with" and ishe "lord, God".

Tionge f & m Chewa, Tumbuka
Means "we thank" in Chewa and Tumbuka.

Tiwonge f & m Chewa
Variant of Tionge.

Tiyamike f & m Chewa
Means "we praise" in Chewa.

Tshepo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "hope" in Sotho and Tswana.

Tsholofelo f Tswana
Means "hope, expectation" in Tswana.

Tumelo m & f Sotho, Tswana
Means "faith" in Sotho and Tswana.

Unathi m & f Xhosa
Means "he or she is with us" in Xhosa, from the prefix u- meaning "he, she" and nathi meaning "with us".

Wanangwa m & f Tumbuka
Means "freedom" in Tumbuka.

Wongani m & f Chewa
Means "be thankful" in Chewa.

Xolani m Zulu
Means "peace" in Zulu.

Yamikani m & f Chewa
Means "be grateful, praise" in Chewa.

Zanokuhle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "come with goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots za "to come, to approach" and hle "beautiful, good".

Zendaya f African American (Modern)
Borne by the American actress Zendaya Coleman (1996-), known simply as Zendaya. Her name was apparently inspired by the Shona name Tendai.

Zikomo m & f Chewa
Means "thank you, greeting" in Chewa.

Zodwa f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Short form of Ntombizodwa.

Zola 2 f & m Xhosa
From the Xhosa root -zola meaning "calm".