Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Kwayedza m & f ShonaMeaning “the sunlight or morning light has dawned” or “the sunrise has dawned”.
Kwena m & f SothoMeans "crocodile" in the Sotho and Tswana languages. This name is chiefly used by Northern Sotho people.
Kwoth m African, NuerThe supreme god of the Nuer (South Sudan) who manifests himself in natural phenomena. They believe he is benign god who protects the poor and the unhappy.
Laamiiɗo m FulaA Fulani honorific term, derived from the root
laamu, meaning “
leadership”
Laazis m TivMr laazis is an english name of a gospel singer
Lamessa m OromoIt is spoken by the Oromo people in Ethiopia. The meaning of the name come from Lama; which means two. And Lamessa means "the second." It is a name given to a person that comes next to the first born: male or female in the family.
Lami f HausaFrom the Hausa
Àlhàmîs meaning “Thursday”.
Laminde f HausaEtymology uncertain. Traditionally given to girls born on Thursdays.
Lamrot f AmharicMeans beautiful or knowledgable. Also common as a surname in Ethiopia.
Landi f AfrikaansShort from of
Yolandi. This name is borne by South African model Landi Swanepoel (b. 1979).
Langa m ZuluFrom Zulu
ilanga "sun, sunshine, day".
Laraba f HausaDerived from the Arabic
رَابِعَة (rābiʿa) meaning "fourth". This name is traditionally given to girls born on Wednesdays.
Laurika f Afrikaans, SlovakAfrikaans elaboration and Slovak diminutive of
Laura. Laurika Rauch is a South African singer who performs in both Afrikaans and English.
Leago m & f TswanaMeans "His (God's) alter" in Setswana.
Lebia f OgoniMeans "pretty girl/ lady" or "good girl/lady" in Khana,... [
more]
Leemmo m SidamoMeans "bamboo" in Sidama, figuratively meaning "slender".
Lefika m Sotho“My Rock” It’s used in Lesotho and South Africa
Leke m YorubaMeans "trimuph" in Yoruba. Often used as a short form of other names ending in
leke, such as
Adeleke.
Lelosa f NigerianMeans "Follow God." in Benin; an ethnic group in Nigeria.
Lemogang m Tswana, SothoA known bearer is South African actor Lemogang Tsipa (1991-), who was born to a Pedi father and a Tswana mother.
Lemta f BerberEtymology unknown. This is the name of the mythological mother of the Tuaregs.
Lené f AfrikaansI've heard a suggestion that the meaning of the name might be "pool" or another body of water of some kind, but this is difficult to confirm as there is no reference to a language from which it originates, or it could be the short form of
Magdalene or
Helene with an acute on the last e, a popular stylisation among Afrikaans people.
Liban m Arabic, SomaliThe name Liban, meaning persevere in ancient arabic is prodominatley used in the northern region of Somalia (now Somaliland). Usually given to boys who are seen as handsome at birth.
Liel m KongoLiel means intelligence in Kikongo
Linda m ZuluMeans "wait!" in Zulu (note that this is the imperative singular form of
-linda).
Lineo f SothoMeans "gifts, grants, talents" in Lesotho.
Liyabona f & m XhosaMeans "it sees" or "you see" in Xhosa, sometimes taken from the phrase
liyabona igama le Nkosi meaning "the name of the eye of God".
Liyema f & m XhosaMeans "to stop" or "to stand, to be standing" in Xhosa, often taken from the phrase
liyema ikhaya "the home is standing" to indicate stability in the family.
Lomana m Central AfricanTrésor Lomana LuaLua (/ˈtrɛzɔr ləˈmɑːnə luːˌɑːluːˈɑː/; born 28 December 1980) is a Congolese footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Akhisar Belediyespor and the Congo DR national team.
Lotambii'n m IgboUsed by the Igbo fiction charachter Uzochi Lotambii'n Ihejirika, and has no meaning.
Lounès m KabyleMeans "companion" or "to keep company" in Kabyle, possibly of Arabic origin.
Loza f AmharicThe Amharic form of Luz, the name of a place in the Bible where it is believed Jacob saw his ladder.
Luchulumancolwenkosi f XhosaThis name is a scared name. Taken from words the Ancient King of the AmaMpondomise clan King Vukuzumbethe. He used to say “ lulo uchulumanco lwenkosi” which meant “this is God’s happiness”... [
more]
Luchumo m & f XhosaPossibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.
Lulia f Tigrinya, VariousSaid to mean "Diamond" in Tigrinya. Of Eritrean origin, this name gained some popularity around the world.
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Lutalo m GandaFamous bearer is Lutalo Muhammad (born 1991) a British taekwondo athlete.
Luwi m & f LundaMeans "mercy, kindness" in Lunda.
Luyando m & f TongaMeans “To Love” in Tonga. Related to the Tongan name Yandwa.
Lyndall f & m English, South AfricanTransferred use of the surname
Lyndall. This was (first?) used as a given name by the South African author, political activist and feminist Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) for the heroine in her most famous novel,
The Story of an African Farm (1883)... [
more]
Maaouya m Western AfricanA known bearer is Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (1941-), a Mauritanian military officer who served as the president of Mauritania from 1984-2005.
Maax m SomaliMaax (pronounced "Mah-ah") is a Somali name. It is not one of the most common names but is still recognized within the Somali community. Somali names often have meanings tied to culture, nature, or qualities.
Mabasen m & f KhoekhoeName mainly used by damara speaking people in Namibia.The name means "stand for yourself" used to encourage and teach an individual independance.
Mabior m Dinka, African MythologyMeans "white bull" in Dinka. The white bull is the most prized and is sought after for sacrifices in celebration.
Mabvuto m & f NsengaName given to a child born when there was trouble/problem in the family or community. For instance war, drought, pestilence
Machanda m & f NyoroMachanda is the Bunyoro month where sesame seeds are planted and sown.
Machar m DinkaMeans "black bull" in Dinka. Black bulls are the second most important for sacrifices.
Machiveyi f Shona"What do you seek or covert?" Situational name given in circumstance where family has covetous neighbours or kin.
Madaya f Guanche, Berber (Archaic)From Guanche
*madăyya, meaning "beautiful thing to see". Besides the Canary Islands, this name was also used in Northern Africa.
Madhil m DinkaMeans "born on the way" in Dinka. This name is given to a male that’s born on the way, for example while the mother is traveling and gives birth on the way to her destination.