African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Nenaunir m & f Maasai, African Mythology
Of uncertain meaning, likely linked to rain. Nenaunir is the villainous god of rain in Maasai mythology, being depicted as a rainbow snake.
Neneh f Western African
Meaning unknown, possibly a variant of Nana 4 or Nnenne. It is borne by Swedish singer Neneh Cherry (1964-), who inherited the name from her Sierra Leonean paternal grandmother.
Nengimote f & m Ijaw
Ijaw name Meaning "OVERCOMER OR VICTORY" NENGI for short
Nenritdung f African, Ngas, Nigerian
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning "God is good"
Nenrot f & m African, Ngas, Nigerian
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning "God loves"
Neoyame m & f Tswana
Means "my gift" in Setswana.
Neoyaone f & m Tswana
Means "His (God's) gift" in Setswana.
Neqa-tibeb m Ge'ez
Means "wisdom is vigilant" in Ge'ez.
Nerutendo f Shona
Meaning "with belief" or "with thanks; with gratitude", another form of the name is Norutendo. It derives from the verb kutenda.
Neššo f Sidamo
Means "small statured" in Sidama.
Nesuha f Ethiopian
Possible from an Arabic root nasuh which means something like sincerity, often found in the religious context taubat-an-nasuha meaning sincere return or repentance.
Netsanet m Ethiopian
ethiopia.limbo13.com... [more]
Neway m Ge'ez
Means "vessel" in Ge'ez.
Nfamara m Manding, Wolof, Western African
Alternative spelling of the Manding name Famara closer to the original name of ruler Nfamara Mané.
N'famory m Western African
Possibly a variant of Nfamara. This name is primarily used in Guinea.
Ngale f Chewa
Means "jewel" in Chewa.
Ngalula m & f Luba
Variant of Tshiandanda.
Ngamia m Swahili
Means "camel" in Swahili.
Nganakani m Tsonga
From the Xitsonga nganakana meaning "prince".
Nganakati f Tsonga
Means "princess" in Xitsonga.
Ngao f Mwanga
A lioness
Ngcondebuku m & f Xhosa (Modern)
A combination of Ngconde, the name of a Xhosa clan, and Buku, a surname.
Ngeni m Swahili
Means "stranger" in Swahili.
Nghaminyigwe m Kaguru
Means "he who is unknown" in Chikaguru.
Nghenakwe m Kaguru
Means "one who sees on his own" Chikaguru.
Nghezimani m Tsonga
Means "be whiter, be clean" in Xitsonga.
Ngigi m Kikuyu
Means one born in the season of the locust or one of the locust ageset.In some communities for the last 'i' they put an 'e' but that does not change the meaning nor the pronounciation
Ngisaveni m Tsonga
"Be afraid".
Ngoebi m & f Ijaw
Means "money is good" in Ijaw.
Ngohide f Western African
my mother has returned. usually given to the first daughter born after the death of a mother
N'golo m Manding
This name means "I've largely procreated" (said by the newborn's father) in Bambara. It is traditionally given to the third-born son. ... [more]
Ngondala f Kongo
Feminine form of Ngonda.
Ngondu m & f Luba
Means "moon" in Luba-Kasai.
Ngoni m Shona
Ngoni means "Mercy or kindness".
Ngonidzashe f Shona
Means "God's mercy" in Shona.
Ngor m Dinka
Means "male child in a pair of twins" in Dinka.
Ngozichukwu f Western African, Igbo
Means "God's blessing", derived from Igbo ngozi "blessing" and Chukwu "God".
Nguluwe m Nsenga
Meaning warthog. This is the clan name. Daughters of Nguluwe are called Daka or Mbewe
Nguvayake f Shona
Means "in God's time" in Shona.
Ngwarai m Shona
Ngwarai means "Be diligent, wisen up, be on guard".
Ngweji m Luba
Means "warrior; powerful man" in Luba-Kasai.
Nhalahla f Zulu
Means "luck" in Zulu.
Nhamo f & m African
Means "Disaster" in Shona. It is the title character in A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer.
Nhamo m & f Shona
It means "suffering; woes; disaster".
Nhial m & f Nuer, African Mythology
The Nuer counterpart of Nhialic, the main creator god of Dinka mythology.
Nhiriri f Shona
Means "wild cat" in Shona.
Nhlakanipho f Zulu
From Zulu inhlakanipho meaning "wisdom".
Nhlalala f Tsonga
Means "honey bird" in Xitsonga.
Nhlamulo m & f Tsonga
Means "answer, solution" in Xitsonga.
Nhlayiseko m & f Tsonga
Means "safety" in Xitsonga.
Nhlohlotelo m & f Tsonga
Means "influence" in Xitsonga.
Nhlonipho m Ndebele
Means "respect" in Ndebele.
Nhluvuko m & f Tsonga
Means "development, progress" in Xitsonga.
Nhoro m Shona
Means "antelope" in Shona.
Nhwireng f Akan
Means "flower" in Akan.
Niara f Eastern African, Swahili
Means of high purpose
Nicasius m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Dutch (Rare), African (Rare)
Latinized form of Nikasios. This was the name of several martyrs and saints, such as Nicasius of Die (4th century AD) and Nicasius of Rheims (5th century AD).... [more]
Nicolene f English, Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans, South African
Variant of Nicoline. Known bearers of this name include the South African race walker Nicolene Cronje (b. 1983) and the South African field hockey player Nicolene Terblanche (b... [more]
Nicus m Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans
Short form of Dominicus. In rare cases, this name can also be a latinization of Nico or Niek.
Nielas m German (Modern, Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
German and Afrikaans borrowing of Nilas.
Nifemi f Yoruba
Means "love me" in Yoruba.
Nigesa f Swahili
Means "born during the harvest season" in Swahili.
Nimo f Somali
Somali version of the Arabic names Nima 1 and Nimat meaning "blessing."
Niniola f Yoruba
Meaning "Having wealth" of West-african, Yoruba origin
Nirlim f & m Dagbani
Means "kindness" in Dagbani.
Niyasung f & m Dagbani
Means "good intention" in Dagbani.
Niyogushima f Rundi
Means "God should be thanked" in Kirundi.
Niyokuri f & m Rwandan
Feminine and masculine name, perhaps honorific after famed professor of agriculture Aristide Niyokuri.
Nizigiyimana f Rundi
Means "I hope in God" in Kirundi.
Njabulo f Zulu
Means "happy" in Zulu.
Njabulu f Zulu
Means "happiness" in Zulu.
Njalwuni m & f Dagbani
Literally means "Given my life to God" "Leaning on God"
Njau m Kikuyu
Meaning "young bull".
Njeinwei m Central African (Rare)
Rare first name from Cameroon.
Njelama f Nsenga
Crystal clear waters
Njere m & f Shona
It means “wisdom”.
Njeredzanhasi m Shona
Meaning “the wisdom of today” and/or “the modern wisdom”.
Njiba m & f Luba
Means "stream, lake" in Luba-Kasai.
Njive f Shona
Means "dove" in Shona.
Njoki f Kikuyu
Means "the one who resurrected" in Kikuyu.
Njoroge m Kikuyu
Means "genet" in Kikugu.
Njozi f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "dream".
Nkaeguo m & f Akan
Means "saying it for nothing" in Akan.
Nkanga m Central African
Kikongo for "eagle".
Nkanyezi m Zulu, Southern African
Means "star" in Zulu.
Nkanyiso m Zulu
Means "light" in Zulu.
Nkateko m & f Tsonga
Means "blessing" in Xitsonga.
Nkechika f Igbo
The one God gave me is the best.
Nkeirouka f Igbo (Russified), Obscure
Variant of Nkiruka borne by Nkeirouka 'Kira' Ezekh (1983-), a Russian curler whose father is of Nigerian Igbo descent, while her mother is Chuvash.
N’kelian m Kongo
N’Kelian means take care in Kikongo
Nkem m & f Igbo
Nkemakolam f Igbo
Means "let me not lose mine" in Igbo.
Nkeoma f & m Igbo
Means "that which is good" in Igbo.
Nkhangweleni m Venda
Means "forgive me" in Tshivenda.
Nkhetheleng f Sotho
Means "choose for me" in Sotho.
Nkhumbudzeni m & f Venda
Means "remember me" in Tshivenda.
Nkhumbwizhya m & f Nsenga
Meaning admire for a while. Name given to a baby after his/her siblings die as babies.
Nkongho m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Means "follower, pursuant" from the Kenyang and Jagham root koŋó meaning "to follow".
Nkonkoni f Zulu
Means "champion" in Zulu.
Nkopane m African
Lesotho and Orange Free State
Nkosenye m Zulu
Means “another one” in Zulu.
Nkosi m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "chief, king, lord" in Xhosa.
Nkosingimele f & m Zulu
Means "God is on my side" or "stand for me" in Zulu.
Nkosingiphile f African, Zulu
Means "the Lord gave me" in Zulu.
Nkosiphendule m Zulu
Means "God has answered" in Zulu.
Nkosiyabo m African, Ndebele, Zulu
Means "their king" in Zulu.
Nkosnathi m African
South African Zulu name translated into Emmanuel meaning gift of god.
Nkpoikankeabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "nothing is hard for god" in Ibibio.
Nkrumah m Akan
Means “ninth born” in Akan.
Nkuba m Haya
Means "thunder" in Haya.
Nkuli f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Diminutive form of Nonkululeko and Nkululeko.
Nkululeko m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Nkunim f & m Akan
"Victory"
Nmachi f Igbo, African
The name means "beauty of God" in Igbo.
Nnaemeka m Igbo
God the father has done great also related to chukwuemeka
Nnamso m & f Ibibio
Means "What have I done?" in Ibibio.
Nnebuogor f Igbo
Means "mother is a gift" in Igbo.
Nnedi f Igbo
Diminutive of Nnedimma.... [more]
Nneoma f Igbo
"Good mother"
Nnete f Tswana
Means "truth" in Setswana.
Nnyawedzeni m & f Venda
Means "let me rest" in Tshivenda.
Nnyeyam m & f Dagbani
"I have learnt my lesson"
Nnyinamukari f Kiga
Meaning unknown.
Noag m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Noah 1.
Nobhalela f Zulu
Means "the one who writes" in Zulu.
Nobuhle f Zulu
Means “beauty” in Zulu.
Nobukhosi f African
Zulu name for Royality
Nṱoḓeni m & f Venda
Means "look for me" in Tshivenda.
Nofeesat f Yoruba
Nofeesat Ololade is a Purpledazzle event
Noham m Tigrinya
Means "comfort" in Tigrinya.
Nokhanyo f Xhosa
Means "light, shine" or "enlightenment" in Xhosa.
Nokulunga f Zulu
Means "thankfulness" in Zulu.
Nokutenda m & f Shona
Means "with gratitude (associated with faith in God)" in Shona.
Nokuthula f Zulu
Means "peace and tranquillity" in Zulu.
Nokuzola f Xhosa
Apparently means "quiet", "calm" or "peace" in Xhosa.
Nolwandle f Zulu
Means "mother of oceans" in Zulu.
Nolwazi f Zulu (Rare)
Means "knowledgeable" in Zulu.
Nomagugu f Zulu
Means "the precious one" in Zulu.
Nomalanga f Ndebele
Means "mother of sunshine" in Ndebele.
Nomandla f Zulu
Means "mother of strength" in Zulu.
Nomaqhawe f Ndebele
Means "heroine" in Ndebele.
Nomasonto f Zulu
Means "mother of Sundays" in Zulu.
Nomathamsanqa f Xhosa
Feminine form of Thamsanqa.
Nomathemba f Ndebele, Zulu
Means "hope" in Ndebele and Zulu.
Nombuyiselo f Xhosa
Means "she who gives back" or "mother of restoration" in Xhosa, a feminine form of Mbuyiseli.
Nomnikelo f South African, Xhosa
Means "offering" in Xhosa.
Nomthandazo f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "a prayer" in Xhosa.
Nomthimba f Zulu
Means "wedding" in Zulu.
Nomvula f South African, Zulu
Means "after the rain" in Zulu. This is given to babies born after a storm.
Nomzamo f African, Zulu
Means "struggle" in Zulu.
Nonhlanhla f African, Zulu
Means "luck" in Zulu.
Nonjabulo f Zulu
Means "happiness" in Zulu.
Nonkululeko f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, South African
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Nordi m Central African
The given name of the French (with Congolese descendency) professional football player Nordi Mukiele.
Norutendo f Shona
Meaning "with belief" or "with thanks; with gratitude".
Nosa m Western African, Edo
Means "what God says" in Edo language.
Nosaghare f & m African
Nigerian
Nosakhele f Zulu
Means "build for us" in Zulu.
Nothando f Zulu
Means "mother of love" in Zulu.
Noumidia f Berber (Rare), Arabic (Maghrebi, Rare)
A modern coinage derived from the name of the Ancient Berber kingdom and later Roman province Numidia.... [more]
Novuyo f Xhosa
Feminine form of Vuyo.
Nozibusiso f Zulu
Means "mother of blessings" in Zulu.
Nqobani m Zulu
Means "you must conquer" in Zulu.
Nsambanzary m Mbundu, Central African
Nsambanzary means strength, power. From Kimbundu the second-most-widely spoken Bantu language in Angola. It is concentrated in the north-west of the country including the Luanda Province, the Bengo Province, the Malange Province, and the Kwanza Norte Province.
Nsantu m & f Luba
Means "saint" in Luba-Kasai.
Nseobong f & m Ibibio, Nigerian
Means "I look up to God" or "when all hope is lost, you must look up to God" in Ibibio.
Nshimirimana f Rundi
Means "I thank God" in Kirundi.
Nshubemuki f Haya
Means "what can I repeat" in Haya.
Nsidibe m Nigerian
It mean nothing can be hidden from God. The name of many Nigerian Princes.
Nsidibeabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "What is hidden before God?" in Ibibio.
Nsimba m & f Congolese, Kongo, Ngombe, Mboma
Means "first-born twin" in Kongo and other Congolese languages. It is referred to the first-born child in a set of twins.
Nsofwa f & m Bemba
Nsofwa is a Bemba name originating from a landlocked /landlinked country Zambia, located in the southern end of the African Continent. The name comes from a Bemba name for 'Elephant,' 'Nsofu' one of the largest land mammals known to man... [more]
Nsoma f Tsonga
Means "anchor" in Xitsonga.
Nsongo f & m Lingala
Nsongo means ‘the sword’. It is the name of Lianja’s sister in the Lingala and Mongo-Nkundo mythology complex.
Nsovo m & f Tsonga
Means "grace" in Xitsonga.
Nsuka f Kongo
Means "last born; youngest child" in Kongo.
Nsuku m & f Tsonga
Means "gold, golden" in Xitsonga.
Nsulo f Tsonga
Wipe away the tears and bring joy
Nsuukidem m & f Ibibio
Means "humility" in Ibibio.
Nsṍwaa f Akan
Means "seventh born" in Akan.
Ntakuseni m & f Venda
Means "help me up" in Tshivenda.
Ntambwa m Luba
Means "lion" in Luba-Kasai.
Ntanda m & f Southern African, Bemba
Means "star" in Bemba.
Ntando m & f Ndebele
Means "will" in Ndebele.
Ntare m Rwandan
Meaning "lion" in Kinyarwanda and Kirundi. Famous people with that name includes five kings of the Kingdom of Burundi: Ntare I Rushatsi Cambarantama, Ntare II Kibogora, Ntare III Kivimira Semuganzashamba, Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba and Ntare V Ndizeye and american actor Ntare Mwine.
Ntebogeng m & f African
Tswana name meaning: thanking me
Ntfombi f Swazi
Swazi form of Ntombi.
Nthabi f Sotho
Means "make me happy" in Sotho.
Nthabiseng f Sotho
Means "make me happy" in Sotho.
Nthati f Sotho
Means "one to love me" in Sotho.
Nthuseni m & f Venda
Means "help me" in Tshivenda.
Ntimi m Eastern African, Swahili (?)
From southern Tanzania, Mbeya region meaning a pastor.
Ntinu m Kongo
King
Ntirelang f Tswana
Means "do it for me" in Setswana.
Ntlakuso f Tsonga
Means "elevation, high position" in Xitsonga.
Ntokozo f African, Zulu
Means "happiness" or "joy" in Zulu.
Ntombenhle f Ndebele
Means "beautiful girl" in Ndebele.
Ntombhekya f South African, Xhosa
Means "girl of the house" in Xhosa, from ntombi "girl" and khaya "home, household".
Ntombifikile f Xhosa
Means "a girl has arrived" in Xhosa.
Ntombikayise f Zulu
Means "father's girl" in Zulu.
Ntombiyesizwe f Zulu
Means "girl of the earth" in Zulu.
Ntombiyezulu f Zulu
"girl of heaven" in Zulu
Ntombizanele f African, Zulu
Means "enough girls" in Zulu, from ntombi meaning "lady".
Ntombntombi f Xhosa
Means “little girl” in Xhosa.
Ntomboxolo f Xhosa
Means "girl of peace" in Xhosa.
Ntsakisi f Tsonga
Means "source of happiness" in Xitsonga.
Ntsako m & f Tsonga
Means "joy, happiness" in Xitsonga.
Ntsebo f Sotho
Means "whispers" in Sotho.
Ntsetselelo m & f Tsonga
Means "mercy" in Xitsonga.
Ntshephang m & f Tswana
Means "trust me" in Setswana.
Ntshuxeko m & f Tsonga
Means "freedom" in Xitsonga.
Ntsoaki f Sotho
Means "girl amongst boys" in Sotho, often given to a daughter with many brothers.
Ntsu m Sotho
Means "eagle" in Sesotho.
Ntsumi f Tsonga
Means "angel" in Xitsonga.
Ntswaki f Sotho
Means "girl amongst boys" or "girl with many brothers" in Sotho.
Ntui m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from the Jagham and Kenyang word ntûfâm meaning "chief".
Nturu m Chaga
Means "forest" in Chagga.
Ntuthuko f Zulu
Means "prosperity" in Zulu.
Ntwali m Rwandan
Means "hero" in Kinyarwanda. People with this name includes rapper Ntwali and the football midfielder Evode Ntwali.
Ntwanano m & f Tsonga
Means "understanding" in Xitsonga.
Ntwenhle f Zulu
Means "beautiful thing" in Zulu.
Nua f Ogoni
Means "second daughter" in Khana,... [more]
Nubari f & m Ogoni
Khana for "God's thing"... [more]
Nuhu m Hausa, Swahili
Hausa and Swahili form of Noah 1.
Nukunu f & m Ewe
Meaning miracle or wonder
Nula f Swahili
Variant of Nola and Nala 2.
Nuname m African, Ewe
Means Gift. Used by the Ewe tribe of Ghana, Togo and Benin of West Africa.
Nṱungufhadzeni m & f Venda
Means "make me sad" in Tshivenda.
Nunurai m & f Shona
Means "rescue" or "save us" in Shona.
Nuong f Western African, Dagarti
Means "sweet; bloom" in Dagarti, spoken in Ghana.
Nusesi m & f Ewe
Means "the powerful hand" in Ewe.
Nusetor m Ewe
The Mighty One
Nuusiku f Ovambo
Feminine form of Uusiku.
Nuux m Somali
Somali form of Noah 1.
Nwaaku f Igbo
Means "child of wealth" in Igbo.
Nwaamaka f Igbo (Rare)
Allegedly means "child is good".
Nwaanyiabia f Igbo
Means "a woman has come" in Igbo.
Nwabudike m African, Swahili
A name in the Swahili language, which means "the son is the father's power," or "the strength of a father comes from his son."... [more]
Nwabueze m Igbo
Means "child is king" in Igbo.
Nwabugo f Igbo
Means "child is glory" in Igbo.
Nwachukwu m Igbo
Means "child of God" in Igbo.
Nwakaego f Igbo
Means "child surpasses money" in Igbo.
Nwakanma f Igbo
This feminine name means "Child is better" in Igbo.
Nwakauba m & f Igbo
Means "a child is more valuable than wealth" in Igbo.
Nwankasiobi m & f Igbo
Means "child of consolation" in Igbo.
Nwankwo m Igbo
Means "born on Nkwo market day" in Igbo. Nwankwo Obiora is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Académica de Coimbra as a defensive midfielder.
Nwaokocha m Igbo
Means "son of a fair man" in Igbo.
N'wayitelo f Tsonga
Means "smile" in Xitsonga.
Nweke m Igbo
Means “alone” in Igbo.
Nwinuamene m & f Ogoni
Child bring riches/wealth
Nwoye m African
Very uncommon, but mostly used by the Igbo people. Means "boy born on Orie" to the Igbo people. A less popular meaning it's thought to have is: "His mother's pride"
Nwoyi m & f Western African, Yakö
Means "he/she knows" in Yakö language.
Nxalati f Tsonga
Means "happiness" in Xitsonga.
Nǃxau m Khoekhoe
Meaning unknown. Notable bearer of this name is Nǃxau ǂToma, a Namibian bush farmer and actor (1944-2003).... [more]
Nya f Swahili
Derived from the Swahili word "Nia," meaning "purpose."
Nyabeel f Nuer
Means "girl of the corn" in Nuer.
Nyaboke f Gusii
From Ekegusii oboke "honey"
Nyachero f Alur, African Mythology
Likely meaning ‘Tomorrow’ in Alur, Nyachero is a character in Alur Mythology, a princess of her kingdom.