Names in Ethiopia

This is a list of names in which the place is Ethiopia.
gender
usage
place
Aadan m Somali
Possibly a Somali form of Adam.
Aamina f Arabic, Somali
Alternate transcription of Arabic آمنة (see Amina 1), as well as the Somali form.
Abeba f Amharic
Means "flower" in Amharic.
Aberash f Amharic
Means "giving off light, shining" in Amharic.
Alemayehu m & f Amharic
Means "I have seen the world" in Amharic.
Anaclet m French (African)
French form of Anacletus, most common in Francophone Africa.
Annet f Dutch, Eastern African
Dutch variant of Annette, also in use in East Africa.
Axmed m Somali
Somali form of Ahmad.
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.
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.
Bijou f & m French (African)
Means "jewel" in French. It is mostly used in French-speaking Africa.
Blessing m & f English (African)
From the English word blessing, of Old English origin. This name is most common in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.
Bontu f Oromo
Means "proud" in Oromo.
Cabdullaahi m Somali
Somali form of Abd Allah.
Cali 2 m Somali
Somali form of Ali 1.
Cismaan m Somali
Somali form of Osman.
Comfort f English (African)
From the English word comfort, ultimately from Latin confortare "to strengthen greatly", a derivative of fortis "strong". It was used as a given name after the Protestant Reformation. It is now most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
Cusmaan m Somali
Somali form of Osman.
Daa'uud m Somali
Somali form of David.
Dawit m Amharic
Amharic form of David.
Dejen m Amharic
Means "foundation, support" in Amharic.
Desta f & m Amharic
Means "joy" in Amharic.
Dorcas f Biblical, English (African)
Derived from Greek δορκάς (dorkas) meaning "gazelle". This is the Greek translation of the name Tabitha in the New Testament (see Acts 9:36). At present it is most commonly used in English-speaking Africa.
Elias m Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Dutch, Greek, Amharic, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Elijah used in several languages. This is also the form used in the Greek New Testament, as well as some English translations.
Eliud m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Eastern African
From a Greek form of a Hebrew name meaning "God is grandeur". The Gospel of Matthew lists him as an ancestor of Jesus. This name is popular in Kenya.
Ermias m Amharic
Amharic form of Jeremiah.
Eskender m Amharic
Amharic form of Alexander.
Eskinder m Amharic
Alternate transcription of Amharic እስክንድር (see Eskender).
Etenesh f Amharic
Means "you are my sister" in Amharic.
Eyob m Amharic, Tigrinya
Amharic and Tigrinya form of Job.
Faarax m Somali
Somali form of Farah.
Fadumo f Somali
Somali form of Fatima.
Fatuma f Eastern African
Form of Fatima used East Africa.
Favour m & f English (African)
From the English word favour, ultimately from Latin faveo "to favour". This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Filbert m Eastern African
Possibly a form of Philibert. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.
Friday m English (African)
From the English word for the day of the week, which was derived from Old English frigedæg meaning "Frig's day". Daniel Defoe used it for a character in his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719). As a given name, it is most often found in parts of Africa, such as Nigeria and Zambia.
Gadisa m Oromo
From Oromo gaaddisa meaning "shade".
Gadise f Oromo
Feminine form of Gadisa.
Gift m & f English (African)
From the English word gift, of Old Norse origin. This name is most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
Gifty f English (African)
From the English word gift. This name is most common in Ghana in Africa.
Gudina m Oromo
Means "growth, advancement" in Oromo.
Haregewoin f Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.
Haron m Eastern African
Variant of Harun found in East Africa.
Hawo f Somali
Somali form of Eve (via Arabic Ḥawāʾ).
Henok m Tigrinya, Amharic
Tigrinya and Amharic form of Enoch.
Hibo f Somali
Somali form of Hiba.
Hiwot f Amharic
Means "life" in Amharic.
Hodan f Somali
Means "rich, lush" in Somali.
Ifa m Oromo
Means "light" in Oromo.
Innocent m History (Ecclesiastical), English (African)
From the Late Latin name Innocentius, which was derived from innocens "innocent". This was the name of several early saints. It was also borne by 13 popes including Innocent III, a politically powerful ruler and organizer of the Fourth Crusade.... [more]
Janeth f Spanish (Latin American), Eastern African
Variant of Janet, currently in use in South America and East Africa.
Jaylaani m Somali
Somali form of Jilani.
Johnson m English (African)
From an English surname meaning "son of John". As a given name, it is most common in English-speaking Africa.
Kebede m Amharic
Means "heavy, serious" in Amharic.
Kidist f Amharic
Means "blessed" in Amharic.
Konjit f Amharic
From Amharic ቆንጆ (qonjo) meaning "beautiful".
Lazarus m Biblical, Biblical Latin, English (African)
Latinized form of Λάζαρος (Lazaros), a Greek form of Eleazar used in the New Testament. Lazarus was a man from Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was restored to life by Jesus.... [more]
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.
Longin m Polish, French (African)
Polish and French form of Longinus. As a French given name, it is most common in Francophone Africa.
Lulit f Amharic
From Amharic ሉል (lul) meaning "pearl".
Maryan f Somali
Somali form of Maryam.
Maxamed m Somali
Somali form of Muhammad.
Meklit f Amharic
Means "talent" in Amharic.
Memory f English (African)
From the English word memory, ultimately from Latin memor "mindful, remembering". This name is most common in Malawi, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.
Meti f Oromo
Means "umbrella" in Oromo.
Monday m & f English (African)
From the English word for the day of the week, which was derived from Old English mona "moon" and dæg "day". This can be given to children born on Monday, especially in Nigeria.
Moti 1 m Oromo
Means "leader" in Oromo.
Mukhtaar m Somali
Somali form of Mukhtar.
Nuur m Somali
Somali form of Nur.
Peace f English (African)
From the English word peace, ultimately derived from Latin pax. This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Praise f & m English (African)
From the English word praise, which is ultimately derived (via Old French) from Late Latin preciare, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth". This name is most common in English-speaking Africa.
Precious f English (African), African American (Modern)
From the English word precious, ultimately derived from Latin pretiosus, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth".
Promise f & m English (African)
From the English word promise, from Latin promissum. It is currently most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
Proscovia f Eastern African
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to Praskovya. It is mainly used in Uganda.
Prossy f Eastern African
Diminutive of Proscovia, mainly used in Uganda.
Sacdiyo f Somali
Somali form of Sadia.
Samuel m English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Jewish, Amharic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemuʾel) meaning "name of God", from the roots שֵׁם (shem) meaning "name" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Other interpretations have the first root being שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" leading to a meaning of "God has heard". As told in the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel was the last of the ruling judges. He led the Israelites during a period of domination by the Philistines, who were ultimately defeated in battle at Mizpah. Later he anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and even later anointed his successor David.... [more]
Samwel m Eastern African
Form of Samuel used in Tanzania and Kenya.
Saynab f Somali
Somali form of Zaynab.
Scovia f Eastern African
Short form of Proscovia, mainly used in Uganda.
Seble f Amharic
Means "harvest" in Amharic.
Selamawit f Amharic
Amharic form of Shulammite.
Sisay m Amharic
Means "good omen" in Amharic.
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.
Tesfaye m Amharic
From Amharic ተስፋ (tasfa) meaning "hope".
Tewodros m Amharic
Amharic form of Theodore.
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.
Xaawo f Somali
Somali form of Eve.
Xafsa f Somali
Somali form of Hafsa.
Xaliima f Somali
Somali form of Halima.
Xasan m Somali
Somali form of Hasan.
Yared m Biblical Hebrew, Ethiopian
Hebrew form of Jared. This form is also used in Ethiopia. It was borne by a semi-legendary 6th-century Ethiopian musician who is considered a saint in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Yewubdar f Amharic
Means "beautiful beyond limits" from Amharic ውብ (wb) meaning "beautiful" and ዳር (dar) meaning "limit, horizon, frontier, shore".
Yishak m Amharic
Amharic form of Isaac.
Yohannes m Amharic
Amharic form of John.
Yonas m Tigrinya, Amharic
Tigrinya and Amharic form of Jonah.
Yuusuf m Somali
Somali form of Yosef (see Joseph).
Zephania m Southern African, Eastern African
Variant of Zephaniah. This form of the name appears to be used in southern and eastern Africa.