This is a list of submitted names in which the gender is masculine; and the usage is African.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aare m YorubaMeans "commander" in Yoruba. Aàrẹ is a title, usually in the military of the Yoruba warriors company. The leader of the company from a clan takes the title when they join up with a coalition.
Abadibo f & m IjawMeans "a person from the sea" in Ijaw.
Abafile f & m ZuluMeans "they are not dead" or "undead" in Zulu.
Abarahama m ShonaMeans "one who has birthed or fathered relatives", derived from Shona
kubara "to bear offspring, to bud" and
hama "relatives". This is the Shona equivalent of
Abraham.
Abasiama m & f Ibibio, EfikMeans "it is God that loves" or "God's love" in Ibibio and Efik.
Abayomi m & f YorubaMeans "he came to bring me joy and happiness" or "I would have been mocked" in Yoruba. It is a name given to a child born after a number of unfortunate or near unfortunate circumstances. It is often called in full as Àbáyòmí Olúwaniòjé meaning "I would have been mocked, if not for God".
Abdu m SwahiliAbdu is a name of Swahili origin meaning worshipper of God and the vowel at the end makes it sound like Abdul
Abegunde m & f YorubaMeans "The one who came with the masquerade" in Yoruba.
Abeiku m AkanMeans "born on Wednesday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Abera m EthiopianMeans "light" or "he shines". Used as both a given name and a surname.
Aberuagba m & f YorubaMeans "the one who respects elders" in Yoruba, derived from
a meaning "one person",
bẹrù meaning "fear, be afraid" and
àgbà meaning "elder".
Abiona f & m YorubaMeans "born during a journey" or "born into the arts" in Yoruba, from
bí "to give birth, be born" and
sí "to, on" combined with either
ọ̀nà "way, road, journey" or
ọ̀nà "art, artistry, craftsmanship"... [
more]
Aboderin m YorubaMeans "one who walks in the company of hunters" in Yoruba.
Aburu m DagbaniOne of the royal gates of Dagbong Kingdom denoting "Corrupted name of Abdulai"
Abush m OromoMeans, 'little boy' often used to denote the youngest child of a family.
Abyan m SomaliFrom the Somali word Abyee which translates to "to complete or to perfect"
Achike m IgboMeans "take the things of the world easy" in Igbo.
Achiko m & f ShonaA shorter form of the name
Achiriko, meaning "one who remained" or "one who is still there".
Achiriko m & f ShonaA unisex name meaning "one who still remains there".
Adakole m & f IdomaIdoma name meaning "father of the house", "head of family", or "head of the home". This name is usually given to the firstborn male or female child in Idoma households.
Adedewe f & m YorubaMeans "the crown has become small" or "one has arrived small" in Yoruba, from either
adé "crown" or
dé "to arrive, come" combined with
di "become, change into" and
ẹ̀wẹ́ "small, thin"... [
more]
Adediran m YorubaMeans "royalty becomes generational" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown" combined with
di "become, change into" and
ìran "generation, lineage".
Adedire m & f YorubaMeans "the crown has become good fortune" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown, royalty" combined with
di "become, change into" and
ire "luck, good fortune, goodness".
Adeike f & m YorubaMeans "one who has crowned your care" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown" and
ìkẹ́ "fondness, care, cherishing".
Adejugbe m & f YorubaMeans "royalty does not perish" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown, royalty" combined with
jù "does not, cannot be" and
gbé "carry, lift; take by force, overpower".
Adekanmi m & f YorubaMeans "the crown is now my turn" from Yoruba
adé meaning "crown",
kàn meaning "to touch, to concern" and
mi meaning "me, my".
Adekoya m & f YorubaMeans "the crown rejects suffering" from Yoruba
adé meaning "crown",
kọ̀ meaning "to refuse, to reject" and
ìyà meaning "punishment, suffering".
Adeoti m YorubaMeans "royalty does not fade" in Yoruba, derived from
adé meaning "crown, royalty",
(k)ò meaning "does not" and
tí meaning "fade, be blemished".
Adeoye m Western African, YorubaFrom Yoruba adé oyè, which literally means "the crown of chieftancy", and is understood to mean "the crown given to me to celebrate my acquired chieftaincy title".
Aderinola f & m YorubaThe first part, Aderi, means "crown" or "royalty," the second part, Nola, means "wealth" or "riches." The name is interpreted as "crowned with wealth" or "royalty with riches".
Aderinsola f & m YorubaMeaning "a crown walks into wealth" or "royalty walks into wealth", from the Yoruba words
adé (crown),
rìn (to walk),
sí (into) and
ọlá (honor, wealth).
Adesina m YorubaMeans "the crown has opened the way" or "the one who arrives and opens the way" in Yoruba, usually given to the firstborn child in a family.
Adesoji m YorubaMeans "the crown has woken up" from Yoruba
adé meaning "crown" and
sọjí meaning "to arise, to awake".
Adeyemo m & f YorubaMeans "the crown suits the child" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown, royalty" combined with
yẹ "suitable, worthy" and
ọmọ "child".
Adigun m & f YorubaMeans "bound upright" in Yoruba, figuratively "well-planned and successful".
Adio m YorubaMeans "bundled up and stood erect" in Yoruba, referring to someone who stands strong and tall.
Ado m & f YorubaPossibly derived from Yoruba
ádò meaning "medicine gourd". This is also the name of two cities in Nigeria, both with different etymology.
Adole m IdomaMeans "father of the house" in Idoma.
Adongo m & f LuoMeans "second of the twins" in Luo.
Adubi f & m YorubaMeans "one we struggled to birth" in Yoruba, from
dù "to fight, struggle" and
bí "to birth, be born". Sometimes given to children named
Ige as a nickname.
Afara m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Afeworq m AmharicMeans "mouth of gold" from Amharic አፍ
(ʾäf) "mouth" and ወርቅ
(wark) "gold".
Afogori m & f BandialMeans "she/he gets buried around" in Bandial. This is considered a death prevention name.
Aganjusola m Yoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare)Means "the one with the stiff face makes honor" in Yoruba. According to Yoruba tradition, this is the name of a warrior king deified after his death, said to fight by shooting fire. He is associated with wilderness, the desert, and volcanoes... [
more]
Agbaakin m YorubaMeans "elderly warrior" or "most senior of the brave ones" in Yoruba, from
àgbà "elder, adult" and
akin "bravery, valour; a brave person, warrior".
Agbor m & f Jagham, KenyangMeans "he/she has fallen" in Jagham and Kenyang, spoken in Nigeria and Cameroon. It derives from the Jagham root
gbɔ̌ meaning "to fall" maybe referred to God's blessings falling from above.
Agemo m Yoruba Mythology, Yoruba (Rare)In Yoruba mythology, Agemo is a chameleon who is the messenger of the gods. He is the main deity of the Ijebu people, as he is believed to protect children and safeguard the future of Ijebu people through his blessing.
Agibu m FulaFulani name meaning ‘patient, meticulous’
Aijuka m SwahiliAijuka means "he knew' or 'he understands' in reference to gaining knowledge & education.
Ainose f & m EsanMeans "no one is greater than God" in Esan.
Ajadi m YorubaMeans "ends conflict" or "end of a conflict" in Yoruba.
Ajaero m & f IgboTaken from the Igbo phrase
ana aja gi n’ihu ana ero gi n’azu, meaning "they praise you to your face and mock you behind your back".
Ajaja m & f YorubaMeans "one who fights and escapes" in Yoruba, from
jà "to fight, struggle" and
já "to snap, break off, break loose".
Ajala m & f YorubaMeans "fights and survives" in Yoruba, from
jà "to fight, struggle" and
là "to survive". Alternatively, the final element could be
lá "to lick; to become worn out".
Ajani m YorubaMeans "one (we) fought to have" in Yoruba.
Ajari f & m YorubaMeans "fought to be seen" in Yoruba, traditionally given to children born facing downwards.
Ajayi m & f YorubaMeans "fought to turn" in Yoruba, traditionally given to children born facing downwards or sideways.
Aje f & m Yoruba Mythology, YorubaMeans "wealth, money, profit" in Yoruba. This is the name of a goddess of wealth, prosperity, and business in Yoruba tradition.
Ajewole m & f YorubaMeans "the goddess
Aje has entered this house" or "wealth has come in" in Yoruba, from
ajé "wealth, prosperity" and
wọle "enter into" (itself from
wọ "to enter" and
ilé "house, home").
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Akani m TsongaMeans "build, build together" in Xitsonga.
Akanni m YorubaMeans "special to have" or "profitable encounter" in Yoruba.
Akatendeka m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is faithful", deriving from the verb
kutendeka.
Akeredolu m & f Western African, YorubaMeans "one who becomes prominent at a young age" or "he who reduces (humbles) himself in order to become king" in Yoruba.
Akinfela m YorubaMeans "bravery expands the coast of wealth" in Yoruba.
Akinleye m YorubaMeans "bravery is honourable" or "valour has dignity" in Yoruba, from
akín "courage, valour; brave person, warrior" and either
ni "to be" or
ní "to have, possess" combined
ẹ̀yẹ "honour, respect, dignity".
Akkalenjayi f & m BandialMeans "she torments her mother" or "he torments his mother" in Bandial.
Akol m & f AfricanFrom Iteso in eastern uganda. Meaning nicelooking.
Akoma m & f Central African, African MythologyAkoma is the creator god of Pahuin mythology. His name Means “creator” in Pahuin, a common language in parts of São Tomé and Principe, southern Cameroon, much of northern Gabon, and mainland Equatorial Guinea.
Akpo m & f EdoMeans "short person" in Edo.
Akpomofa f & m IjawMeans "the world is not as you think of it" in Ijaw.
Alabi m & f YorubaMeans "born of the white cloth, born of purity" in Yoruba, from
ala "white cloth, purity" and
bí "to give birth, be born".
Alara m Yoruba, HistoryPossibly from the title of the traditional monarch of either
Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín or
Ará-Èkìtì, from Yoruba
oni-, a possessive forming prefix, and either
Ìlárá "the ones who possess many relatives” or
Ará, of unknown etymology... [
more]
Alatari m & f IjawMeans "king's love" or "love of royalty" in Ijaw.
Alazidei m IjawMeaning "I have given birth to royalty" in Ijaw.
Alera f & m OgoniMeans "enough" or "it is enough" in Khana.
Aluwani m & f VendaMeans "be prosperous" or "grow up" in Tshivenda.
Amari m African, Yoruba, Western AfricanA noted bearer was a Damel of Cayor, Amari Ngoné Ndella, who ruled from 1790 AD to 1809 AD. The Kingdom of Cayor was one of the largest of most powerful kingdoms in what is now Senegal, existing from 1549 AD to 1879 AD.
Amazigh m Northern African, BerberFrom Tamazight ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ
(Amaziɣ), which is the self-designation of the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa. The name itself is of unknown meaning, though folk etymologies claim the meaning of "free-man", derived from Taznatit (Gurara)
aze meaning "to be strong" and Tamasheq
jeɣeɣ meaning "to be brave".