Names in Zimbabwe

Anaclet m French (African)
French form of Anacletus, most common in Francophone Africa.

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.

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.

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

Chipo f Shona
Means "gift" in Shona.

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.

Dakarai m Shona
Means "rejoice" in Shona.

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

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.

Dumi m Zulu, Ndebele
Short form of Dumisani.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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]

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

Johnson m English (African)
From an English surname meaning "son of John". As a given name, it is most common in English-speaking Africa.

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]

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

Longin m Polish, French (African)
Polish and French form of Longinus. As a French given name, it is most common in Francophone Africa.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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".

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

Nomusa f Ndebele
Means "merciful" in Ndebele.

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

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".

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.

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".

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".

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

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

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

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

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

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".

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

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

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

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".

Thandolwethu f & m Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "our love" in Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele and Swazi, from thanda "to love".

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

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".

Zephania m Southern African, Eastern African
Variant of Zephaniah. This form of the name appears to be used in southern and eastern Africa.

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