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.
Aba f AkanMeans "born on Thursday" in Fante, a dialect of Akan.
Ababuo f AfricanAbabuo means a child that keeps coming back. This name is mainly used in Ghana
Abadibo f & m IjawMeans "a person from the sea" in Ijaw.
Abafile f & m ZuluMeans "they are not dead" or "undead" in Zulu.
Abagbe f NigerianThe meaning of Abagbe is we begged to have this one to lift up
Abam f AfricanAbam’s meaning is “second child after twins”
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
Abebi f YorubaMeans "begged to be born" in Yoruba, from
bẹ̀ "beg, pray" and
bí "to give birth, be born"... [
more]
Abedikani m & f AlurMeans "Where do I stay?" in Alur language. It is given to someone who is born to a parent or parents who are disliked by, or in conflict with, their familymembers or community.
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.
Abeke f YorubaMeans "one begged to care for" in Yoruba.
Aber f & m AlurMeans "I'm better" or "I'm good" in Alur language.
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".
Abiba f Northern AfricanHas its origins in the Moroccan language and means "first child born after the grandmother has died."
Abike f YorubaMeans "born to treasure" or "born to be pampered" in Yoruba, from
bí "to give birth, be born" and
kẹ́ "to cherish, care for".
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.
Aboyo f LuoMeans "one who saunters" in Luo.
Abra f EweMeans "Tuesday-born girl" in Ewe.
Abuk f African Mythology, DinkaIn Dinka mythology (south Sudan), the first woman. She is the patron goddess of women and gardens. Her emblem is a little snake. She is the mother of
Deng (
Danka).
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.
Abuto f LuoMeans "I have hidden" in Luo.
Abyan m SomaliFrom the Somali word Abyee which translates to "to complete or to perfect"
Acan f & m AlurMeans "I suffer" in Alur language. The name may be given to a child born when the parents were experiencing poverty or suffering.
Achan f DinkaMeans "female child in the first pair of twins" in Dinka.
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".
Achipo f ShonaMeaning "one who remains" or "one who is still here".
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.
Adaku f IgboMeans "daughter of wealth" in Igbo.
Adanech f AmharicMeans "she saved" or "she rescued" or "she has rescued them" in Amharic.
Adaora f IgboMeans "the people's daughter" in Igbo.
Adebisi f YorubaMeans "the crown has given birth to more" in Yoruba. This is the name of the (Nigerian) mother of British musician Seal Samuel.
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".
Adeiza f NigerianName of Nigerian origin, meaning "giver (father) of good things" or "giver (father) of wealth".
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".
Adelola f YorubaThe name origin came from Nigeria with the name meaning: "The crown brings honour"
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".
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).
Aderonke f YorubaMeans "the crown has found something to pamper" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown, royalty",
rí "to see, find",
ohun "thing, something", and
kẹ́ "cherish, care for".
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.
Adesuwa f EdoMeans "in the midst of prosperity" in Edo.
Adeyemo m & f YorubaMeans "the crown suits the child" in Yoruba, from
adé "crown, royalty" combined with
yẹ "suitable, worthy" and
ọmọ "child".
Adia f Igede, SwahiliMeans "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa
adia "gift".
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.
Adiwa f ShonaMeaning "one who is beloved or desired", a longer form of the name can be
Adiwanashe, deriving from the verb
kudiwa.
Adjoua f BaouléDerived from Baoulé
jɔlɛ "Tuesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Tuesday".
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.
Aduke f YorubaMeans "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
Adunni f YorubaMeans "sweet to have" in Yoruba, from
dùn "sweet, pleasant" and
ní "obtain, have, possess".... [
more]
Adut f Eastern AfricanThis name is borne by Adut Akech Bior ( born 25 December 1999), a South Sudanese-Australian model.
Afafa f EweMeans "the first child of the second husband" in Ewe.
Afara m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is happy or joyous".
Afeworq m AmharicMeans "mouth of gold" from Amharic አፍ
(ʾäf) "mouth" and ወርቅ
(wärḳ) "gold".
Affoué f BaouléDerived from Baoulé
fue "Saturday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Saturday".
Afogori m & f BandialMeans "she/he gets buried around" in Bandial. This is considered a death prevention name.
Afryea f EweMeans "born during happy times" in Ewe.
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".
Agbeke f YorubaMeans "carried and cared for" in Yoruba, from
gbé "to carry, hold, lift" and
kẹ́ "to care for, pamper, cherish".
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’
Ahou f BaouléDerived from Baoulé
we "Thursday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Thursday".
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?"
Aidevo f YorubaMeans "no one can change my destiny but God" in Yoruba.
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. ... [
more]
Aina f YorubaMeans "not to be beaten" in Yoruba, from the negative prefix
àì- combined with
nà "to beat, hit, flagellate; to defeat". Given to children born with an umbilical cord around their neck; compare
Ojo.
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").
Ajike f YorubaMeans "wakes up to be pampered" in Yoruba, from
jí "to wake" and
kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Ajoke f YorubaMeans "jointly beloved" or "pampered by all" in Yoruba, from
jọ "together, jointly; to assemble, congregate" and
kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Akammboñaa f JolaMeans "she tries it for nothing" or "she does it there for nothing" in Jola-Fonyi. This is applied to a woman in reference to her repeated failure to carry a pregnancy to term, implying the bearer gets pregnant in vain.
Akani m TsongaMeans "build, build together" in Xitsonga.
Akanke f YorubaMeans "especially cared for" in Yoruba, from
kàn "touch, concern" and
kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Akanni m YorubaMeans "special to have" or "profitable encounter" in Yoruba.
Akatendeka m & f ShonaMeaning "one who is faithful", deriving from the verb
kutendeka.