This is a list of submitted names in which the language is Bantu.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
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.
Abdu m SwahiliAbdu is a name of Swahili origin meaning worshipper of God and the vowel at the end makes it sound like Abdul
Achiko m & f ShonaA shorter form of the name
Achiriko, meaning "one who remained" or "one who is still there".
Achipo f ShonaMeaning "one who remains" or "one who is still here".
Achiriko m & f ShonaA unisex name meaning "one who still remains there".
Adia f Igede, SwahiliMeans "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa
adia "gift".
Adiwa f ShonaMeaning "one who is beloved or desired", a longer form of the name can be
Adiwanashe, deriving from the verb
kudiwa.
Afara m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Aida f ShonaMeaning "One who desired" or "one who (portrayed) love", it derives from the verb ''kuda''.
Aidei f ShonaIt is a name that asks a question, meaning "what did he/she desire?"
Aijuka m SwahiliAijuka means "he knew' or 'he understands' in reference to gaining knowledge & education.
Aika f ChagaAika is derived from Aikambe/Aikamai meaning thank you the Chagga language spoken by the Chagga people of the Mt. Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. ... [
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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.
Akatendeka m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is faithful", deriving from the verb
kutendeka.
Aluwani m & f VendaMeans "be prosperous" or "grow up" in Tshivenda.
Amile m Zulusomething keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.
Amukudzaishe m ShonaIt is a name that means, "He has put the Lord in a high place" or "He has exalted the Lord", a shorter version of the name is
Amukudza.
Amutenya m OvamboMeans "midday" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born during the afternoon.
Anaishe f & m ShonaDerived from Shona
anashe, meaning "who is with God".
Andisiwe f & m XhosaMeans "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.
Andzile m & f TsongaMeans "multiplied and increased" in Xitsonga.
Anele m & f ZuluMeans "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.
Anemi f ShonaIt means "He (the Lord) is with you", or "one who is with you".
Anesu f ShonaA Shona name for girls. It means "God is with us".
Angula m OvamboMeans "morning" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born in the morning.
Anuarite f Central African, Bantu (Gallicized), History (Ecclesiastical)Borne by the Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta (1939-1964), a beatified Congolese nun who was killed at age 24 during the Congo Crisis. According to the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, she belonged to the Wabudu tribe and her name means "one who laughs at war".
Anza f VendaMeaning "to increase, to add more".
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Arumirirarudo f ShonaIt means "she has waited for love", or "one who has waited on love", a shorter form of the name can be
Arumi or
Rudo.
Asavela f & m XhosaMeans "they still appear" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is South African actress Asavela Mngqithi.
Aseka m ShonaMeaning “he laughs; he who has laughed”.
Asekei m ShonaIt is a name which asks a question, meaning “what does he laugh at?” or “what has made him laugh?”
Ashira m & f ShonaMeaning “receive; accept; welcome”, the fuller version of the name is
Gashira.
Awonke m & f XhosaMeans "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.
Ayani m Kongo"helpers, protectors, those who support, support or protect" comes from the verb kuyana
Azizi f & m African American (Rare), SwahiliMeans "treasure, rarity, something valuable; lover" in Swahili, derived from Arabic عَزِيز
(ʕazīz); compare
Aziz. A known (female) bearer is American model Azizi Johari (1948-), in whose case it is a pseudonym.
Azwianewi m & f VendaMeans "something that cannot be told" in Tshivenda.
Badiambila m & f LubaMeans "let them speak among themselves" in Luba-Kasai.
Bafana m ZuluDerived from Zulu
abafana, the plural form of
umfana, meaning "boy, young man."
Baleba f LubaMeans "they have birthed" in Luba-Kasai, one of the Luba languages.
Banga m ShonaMeans "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.
Bapaki m TswanaMeans "those who give testimony" in Setswana.
Basambilu f TsongaFrom the Xitsonga
basa meaning "clean, white, pure" and
mbilu meaning "heart".
Bheki m Zulu"The person that's broadminded, able to think further about future needs and wants".
Bhekumbuso m Zulu (Rare)Means "look after the kingdom", from Zulu
bheka "look after" and
umbuso "kingdom, dominion".
Bokele m LingalaBokele is the name of Lonkundo’s dad in Mongo mythology.
Boma m & f SwahiliMeaning "fort or enclosure". The word actually originates from Swahili and is traditionally known as an enclosure, a stockade or fort used to protect people's livestock (usually sheep and cattle).
Bongi f Xhosa, Southern AfricanShort form of
Sibongile. This was borne by South African singer and songwriter Angela Sibongile "Bongi" Makeba (1950-1985), the only child of singer Miriam Makeba... [
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Bongiwe f Zulu (Modern)Sibongile A Zulu name meaning "Appreciated" usually given to a first born girl child or after great difficulty of not being able to conceive a girl for a long time.
Bote m KongoThe first given name of the German footballer Ridle Baku.
Busine f PunuMeans "wealth, richness, well-being" in Punu.
Bvumai m ShonaBvumai means "Admit".
This may be a name given to say to adversary admit that you were wrong, you were defeated or that you committed the offence Cetshwayo m ZuluMeans "advised" in Zulu. This was the name of a Zulu King,
Chapasi f & m TumbukaMeans "earth, dirt, belongs to earth" in Tumbuka, often given after other children in the family have died.
Chenjerai m ShonaChenjerai means "Be on guard, wisen up". Chenjerai Hunzvi the Zimbabwean Freedom Fighter is one bearer of this name.
Chibvwimbo m TumbukaMeans "bird's nest" in Tumbuka, with implications of working hard or providing shelter and comfort.
Chidochemoyo f ShonaMeaning "the desire of the heart", shorter forms of the name include
Chido meaning "desire",
Chemoyo meaning "of the heart", or simply
Moyo meaning "heart".
Chimika f & m TumbukaAfter miscarriage(s), family would use traditional medicine (herbs, roots, barks) to prevent a potential next miscarriage. Kumika means "to stop, halt, prevent". Chimika is what you use to stop, prevent, halt... [
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Chimurenga m ShonaChimurenga is a Shona word roughly translated to English as, "revolutionary struggle". The Shona language is spoken by the Shona people of Zimbabwe. This word is sometimes used as a given name.
Chipocherudo f ShonaMeaning "gift of the love", this name corresponds with the name
Nduma. Shorter forms of this given name include
Chipo meaning "gift",
Cherudo meaning "of love," or simply
Rudo meaning "love".
Chipovisule m & f Chewa (Dutchified, Rare)"Chipovisule" is a name of African origin, specifically from Malawi. In Chewa, it means "God is with us" or "God is among us." It carries a sense of divine presence and protection.
Chishimba m & f BembaThe name Chishimba originates from the Bemba people of Zambia, a Bantu-speaking ethnic group. It holds cultural and linguistic significance in Zambia. The name derives from the Bemba language and carries meanings rooted in positivity and charm.... [
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Chithuzi m TumbukaMeans "shadow, picture" in Tumbuka, often given after repeated deaths in the family.
Chuki f & m SwahiliMeans "born during a time of hatred" in Swahili.
Dambuzgho f TumbukaMeans "troublesome" in Tumbuka, often given to babies whose mothers were unwell during pregnancy.
Daudi m SwahiliDaudi is an altered form of
Daud, an Arabic name, which also is an altered form of the Hebrew name
David, which means "beloved" or "uncle."
Dela f Zulu (Rare)Dela. in Zulu it means to become whole, to feel complete and satisfied.
Diba f LubaMeans "sun" in Tshiluba language spoken in Democratic Republic of Congo.