African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Ukoakpan m Ibibio
Means "brave first son" in Ibibio.
Ukpahyugoco m & f Agatu
Means "power of God" in Agatu.
Ukpong m & f Efik
Ukpono m & f Ibibio
Means "respect" in Ibibio.
Ukume f Nigerian
"Ukume" means "sound of rain in water/ river" in nigerian
Uloma f Igbo
Means "beautiful home" in Igbo.
Ultasila f Berber
Means "of the plains" in Tamazight.
Ulu f Igbo
Given for the second-born female.
Ulunji f & m Tumbuka
Means "righteousness, justice" in Tumbuka.
Uluthando m Ndebele, Zulu
Means "he is love" in Ndebele and Zulu.
Ulwazi m Zulu
Derived from Zulu ulwazi meaning "knowledge".
Umakoti f Zulu
Means "bride" in Zulu.
Umaler f Berber
Means "star of the peace" in Tamasheq, language of Tuareg people.
Umande f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "dew".
Umklomelo f Zulu
Means "prize" in Zulu.
Umoh m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.
Umoh m & f Efik
Means "born during a festival" in Efik.
Umoja f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "unity, harmony".
Unaithi f Zulu
Variant of Unathi. Meaning: "God is with us" or "God is our strength".
Unako m & f Xhosa
Means "ability" or "you can" in Xhosa.
Unashe m & f Shona
Means "God is with you" in Shona.
Undule m Nyakyusa
Means "you help me" in Nyakyusa.
Unetu m Amharic
Means "the truth" in Amharic.
Unisa m Western African
Borne by Unisa Bangura (1987-), a Sierra Leonean footballer.
Unkulunkulu m Zulu, African Mythology
Means "the old, old one" or "ancestor" in Zulu. This was the name of a mythic first ancestor in early Zulu mythology, who appeared, or was created from, breaking reeds. It may have also been used to denote any significant ancestor... [more]
Unwana m & f Ibibio
Means "light" in Ibibio.
Unwanaabasi m Efik
Means "Lord's light" in Efik.
Upenyu m Shona
Upenyu means "life". This may be given by a parent meditating over the circumstances of life.
Urenna f Igbo
Means "father's pride" in Igbo.
Urirasera f Central African, Bantu
Himba name of uncertain meaning.
Ursala f Eastern African
Ugandan variant of Ursula.
Usakteayda f Datooga
Means "one who was born in the morning" in Datooga.
Usaza m Nsenga
Meaning youthful or childhood. A person who looks much younger than his age
Usem m Berber
Means "lightning" in Tamazight.
Usen m Efik
Means "the day" in Efik.
Useni m & f Yao
Means "tell me" in Yao.
Ushindi m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "victory, triumph".
Usiku m Swahili
Swahili masculine name meaning "night".
Usorọ m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "festival" in Ibibio and Efik.
Ussen m Amharic
Amharic form of Husayn.
Usuman m Hausa
Hausa form of Osman.
Usumanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Uthman.
Utah m & f English (American, Rare), English (African, Rare), South African
Taken from the name of the US State of Utah. While a masculine name in the USA, in Nigeria and South Africa, it is sometimes used as a feminine name.
Utibe m Efik
Means "marvelous: wonderful" in Efik.
Utibeima f Ibibio
Means "wonderful love" in Ibibio.
Utin m & f Ibibio
Means "sun" in Ibibio.
Uukongo m Ovambo
Means "hunting" in Ovambo.
Uusiku m Ovambo
Means "night" in Ovambo. This name is traditionally given to children born during the night.
Uwa f Hausa
Means "mother" in Hausa.
Uwaila f & m Edo, Western African
Means "prosperity is never late" in Edo/Bini, from uwa (wealth/prosperity) and ila (has no delay)
Uwem m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "life" in Ibibio and Efik.
Uwemediemoh m & f Efik
Means "health is wealth" in Efik.
Uwemedimoh m & f Efik
Means "life is wealth" in Efik,
Uyai f Efik
Means "beauty" in Efik.
Uyobong m Efik
Means "God's voice" in Efik.
Uys m Afrikaans
Transferred use of the surname Uys. The Uys family played a significant role in South African history during the nineteenth century and made distinguished contributions to South African culture, politics and sports during the course of the twentieth.
Uzima f & m Swahili
Life
Uzo f & m Nigerian
Short form of Uzoamaka.
Uzoaku f Igbo
Means "a way to wealth" in Igbo.
Uzoamaka f Igbo, African
Means "a good path" in Igbo.
Uzoamani f Igbo
Means "the road to aspirations" in Igbo.
Uzoechina m & f Igbo
Means "let the road not be closed" in Igbo.
Uzondu m Igbo
Means "way of life; road of life" in Igbo.
Uzuru m & f Shona
Meaning “a higher place; sky; paradise; heaven”.
Valmarie f English (American), Afrikaans
Variant of Valmai influenced by Marie as well as a combination of Valerie and Marie.
Valsero m Western African
Created from Serval by inverting the order of syllables.... [more]
Varaidzo m Shona
Varaidzo means "One who keeps company". This is given to acknowledge your child as one with whom you keep company. It is common to give this name to a child born in your later years.
Varney m & f English (Rare), English (African), Western African
Transferred use of the surname Varney. It is mainly used in Liberia.
Vasti f Biblical Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Biblical Dutch, Afrikaans, Biblical Spanish, Biblical Italian, Biblical Finnish
Finnish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Vashti and Dutch variant of Wasti.
Veliana f Kongo
Veliana means youthful in Kikongo
Velile m & f Xhosa, South African
Means "appeared, arrived" in Xhosa.
Velim f Dagbani
Means "beauty" in Dagbani.
Vemvane f Zulu
Means "butterfly" in Zulu.
Venecia f English (Rare), Spanish (Caribbean), Spanish (Mexican), South African (Rare), Jamaican Patois (Rare)
Variant of Venetia. As a Spanish name it could be a variant of Benecia or taken from the Spanish place name (see Venecia).
Vernube m African
A TIV NAME FROM NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA,BENUE PRECISELY
Vhonani m & f Venda (Modern)
Vhonani meaning is "watch or look"... [more]
Vimbainashe f Shona
Means "have faith in God" in Shona.
Vimbayi f Shona
Means "have faith" in Shona.
Vimbo f Shona
Means "faith, trust" in Shona.
Violett f English (Modern), Norwegian (Rare), Swedish (Rare), Hungarian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
English variant and Swedish form of Violet as well as a Hungarian borrowing of French Violette. This name coincides with the Swedish word violett "purple (the color)".
Viriola f Eastern African (Rare), Ancient Roman (?)
Attia Viriola was a client of the ancient Roman lawyer and statesman Pliny the Younger (61-113), whose legal case he described in his Epistles.
Visolela f & m Central African
From a proverb, meaning "good judgement". Origin is from the Ovimbundu of Angola. Ovisolela violomupa; vi pungula viopongala. English: Longing are Waterfalls; those you pick over are of the drying trays.
Vitani f African
It's Swallihi and Kwhailli it means "war" and "demon of war" it is used in lion king two for one of the outsiders.
Vivette f French (Rare), English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Possibly a diminutive form of Vivienne (see also Viviette), but it could also be an independent name that is ultimately derived from Latin vivus "alive" or Latin vividus "full of life, lively, spirited".
Vonani m & f Tsonga
Means "behold" in Xitsonga.
Vongai f Shona
Means "Be thankful". This name is both a call to be thankful and an expression of gratitude.
Vukona f Tsonga
Means "presence" in Xitsonga.
Vukosi m Tsonga
Means "royalty, chiefdom" in Xitsonga.
Vulombe f Tsonga
Means "honey" in Xitsonga.
Vushemadzoro m Shona
The name comes from Shona tribes in which KingShip was prevalent. This name was usually given to the chosen next bearer of the throne. The name means the Kingship turnover, i.e. the practice of succeeding a leader... [more]
Vusumuzi m Zulu
Means "builder of the home" in Zulu.
Vutivi f Tsonga
Means "knowledge" in Xitsonga.
Vutlhari m & f Tsonga
Means "wisdom" in Xitsonga.
Vutomi m & f Tsonga
Means "life" in Xitsonga.
Vutshila m & f Tsonga
Means "art" in Xitsonga.
Vuyi f South African
Short form of Vuyiswa.
Vuyiseka f Xhosa
Means "be happy, rejoice" or "makes happy" in Xhosa.
Vuyisile m & f Xhosa
Means "bringing joy" in Xhosa.
Vuyiswa f South African
vuyiswa is a Zulu word meaning "rejoice".
Vuyo m Xhosa
Means "happiness, joy" in Xhosa. Sometimes used as a short form of names beginning with Vuyo-.
Vuyokazi f Xhosa
Means "great joy" in Xhosa, a variant of Vuyo using the feminine or augmentative suffix -kazi.
Waabberi m Somali
Meaning: Waabberi generally means "dawn" or "daybreak."... [more]
Waaberi m Somali
Means "dawn" in Somali.
Waaq m Oromo (Latinized, Archaic), Somali (Latinized, Archaic)
Waaq is a name for the ancient Cushitic sky god. He was the supreme creator and god to the indigenous religions of several Cushitic peoples before the advent of the Abrahamic religions in the Horn of Africa... [more]
Waasila f South African
Probably derived from Arabic وَسِيلَة (wasīla) "means, medium; tool, instrument; measure, step provision".
Wachikondi m & f Chewa
Means "friendly" in Chewa.
Wacuka f Kikuyu
Means "cotton fabric one" in Kikuyu.
Wada f Oromo
East african (Kushitic, Oromo) meaning "Promise".
Wadiya m & f Luo (Archaic)
Found mainly in the Suba regions. Name believed to have Bantu origins.
Wadzanai m & f Shona
Means "be in cordial fellowship" in Shona.
Wafuletbo f Bandial
Means "there is nothing there" in Bandial.
Wagaye f Amharic
Means "my sense of value" or "my price" in Amharic.
Wagguten m Berber (Rare)
It means ‘one who will proliferate’ and reflects the abundance of life.
Waibodei m & f Ijaw
Means "has returned again" in Ijaw.
Waitherero f Kikuyu
Means "of down river" in Kikuyu.
Wakai m Shona
Meaning “build”.
Waliko f & m Tumbuka
Means "God is there" in Tumbuka.
Walshak m Ngas
WAL means "cry", shak means "one another". Which Literally means Feel for one another
Walumbike f Chewa
Means "praise" in Chewa.
Wamwema m & f Swahili (Modern, Rare)
A Christian surname with swahili origin that mean belonging to the one that is good. Belonging to God who is the only one that is good.
Wandile f & m Zulu, South African
Means "you are extra" in Zulu.
Wandisile m Xhosa
Means "he has been added" in Xhosa.
Wandoo m & f Tiv
Means "a child is good" in Tiv.
Wangũ f Kikuyu
Means "of firewood" in Kikuyu.
Wangũi f Kikuyu, African Mythology
Variant of Wangũ, meaning “of firewood”. A famous bearer of the name was one of the daughters of Kikuyu and Mumbi, the first man and woman in Kikuyu Mythology.
Wangwiro m & f African
chewa name southern africa meaning "perfect"
Wanhija f Kaguru
Means "they run off" in Chikaguru.
Wanja f Kikuyu
Means "the one from outside" in Kikuyu.
Wanjĩra f Kikuyu
Means "of the road" in Kikuyu.
Wanjiru f Kikuyu
Njiru means black thus meaning one that comes from black or dark matter mainly in reference to skin colouration
Wankumbu m Bemba
Means "He (God) is merciful" in Bemba.
Wararni m Berber
Means "without victor, without conqueror" in Amazigh.
Wari m Amharic
Means "midnight" in Amharic.
Wariboko f Ijaw
Derived from the Ijaw word wari meaning "house" and boko meaning "harbinger of riches".
Waridabo m & f Ijaw
Means "lord of the household" in Ijaw.
Waridi f Swahili
Swahili feminine name meaning "rose", ultimately from the Arabic Warda.
Warigia f Kikuyu
Means "the last one" in Kikuyu.
Waris f African, Somali
Means "desert flower" in Somali.
Warmaksan m Berber (Rare)
Means ‘without enemies; undefeatable" in Berber.
Warona f & m African
Means 'ours/belonging to us"
Warsame m Somali
Means "good news", derived from Somali war meaning "information, news" and same "good, positive".
Warsan f Somali
Means "good news", derived from Somali war meaning "news" combined with the Somali feminine name suffix -san, itself a derivative of Somali wanaagsan meaning "good". A notable bearer of this name is Warsan Shire (1988-), a British writer, poet, editor and teacher of Somali descent.
Warũgũrũ f Kikuyu
Means "the one from the west" in Kikuyu.
Waseme f Swahili
Means "let them talk" in Swahili.
Watidaishe f Shona
Means "the Lord has loved us" in Shona.
Watipaso m & f Tumbuka
Means "he (God) has given us again" in Tumbuka.
Watna m Western African
Means "let's go" in Balanta, spoken in Guinea Bissau.
Wawira f Kikuyu
Means "the worker" in Kikuyu.
Wawuda f Eastern African
Means "one who is satisfied" in Taita.
Wedzerai f Shona
Means "add onto" in Shona.
Weheliye m Somali
Means "companion" in Somali.
Weldab m Eastern African
Eritrean given name of uncertain meaning. It might possibly be a variant or alternate transcription of Woldeab.
Wenikado f & m Ijaw
Means "I have worked too much" in Ijaw.
Wenyasha m & f Shona
Means "merciful" in Shona.
Wenzile m Zulu
Means “he did” in Zulu.
Weransia f Chaga
Means "hope" in Chagga.
Werede m Amharic
Means "he descended" in Amharic.
Werik'i f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "gold" in Amharic.
Werunako f Shona
Meaning "of beauty; a girl or woman of beauty".
Wessie f & m Southern African, English (American, Rare)
Possibly a unisex diminutive of Wesley.
Wetati f Amharic
Means “youthful” in Amharic.
Wibi f Amharic
Means "elegant" in Amharic.
Wicus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewicus.
Widdineh m Amharic
Means "you are dear" in Amharic.
Widi f Amharic
Means "precious" in Amharic.
Wiha f Amharic
Means "water" in Amharic.
Wikus m Afrikaans
Short form of Lodewikus.
Willanie f Afrikaans
Willanie is a female compound name. The "Will" is derived from "Willem" (German variant of William) which means determination and will. The "anie" is derived from the name Stephanie which means crown, victorious... [more]
Willene f English (American), American (South), Haitian Creole, Afrikaans
Feminine elaboration of Willie using the common name suffix lene, or perhaps a contraction of names such as Wilhelmina, Wilmadeene, and Willodean.
Wilmarie f Afrikaans, South African, Spanish (Caribbean), English (Rare)
Either a combination of names beginning with Wil-, such as Wilma, Willem or Wilfredo, and Marie or a feminine form of Wilmar... [more]
Wina f African, Nigerian
means gift of God
Winaruz m Berber
Means "hope" in Tamazight.
Winta f Amharic, Tigrinya
Means "desire, dream gift" in Amharic and "need" in Tigrinya.
Wisani f Tsonga
Means "rest" in Xitsonga.
Wisi m & f Punu, African
Means "dawning" in Punu.
Wisliane m Kongo
Rich in Gold
Witness m English (African), South African
From the English word, witness, "one who has personal knowledge of something".
Wiwurgh m Berber
Means "golden" in Tamazight.
Wodaje m Amharic
Means "my friend" in Amharic.
Woldeab m Eastern African, Tigrinya
Eritrean given name, of which the meaning is as of yet unknown.... [more]
Woldemariam m Amharic
Means "child of Mary" in Amharic. A notable bearer of this name is Yosef Wolde-Mariam, a member of the Norwegian musical duo Madcon.
Wole m Yoruba
“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.
Wolete Nagache f Ge'ez
Means "daughter of the King" in Ge'ez.
Wondim m Amharic
Means "brother" in Amharic.
Wondimagegnenu m Amharic
Means "I have found a brother" in Amharic.
Wongel f Amharic
Amharic word for "gospel," commonly chosen by Christian families
Worb-a m Sidamo
Means "brave" in Sidama.
Woubishet m Amharic
Means "beautiful young grain" in Amharic.
Woyengiemi m & f Ijaw
Means "God is alive" in Ijaw.
Woyinbode f & m Ijaw
Means "God has come" in Ijaw.
Woyinkule m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.
Wumda f & m Dagbani
Means "obedient one" in Dagbani.
Wumpini m & f Dagbani
Means "God's gift" in Dagbani.
Wundeiya m & f Dagbani
"God has accepted"
Wuninmi m & f Dagbani
Means "God knows" in Dagbani.
Wunintira m & f Dagbani
Means "it is God who gives" in Dagbani.
Wunko m & f Dagbani
Means "only God" in Dagbani.
Wunnam m & f Dagbani
Means "God's creation" in Dagbani.
Wuntia m & f Dagbani
Means "God has given" in Dagbani.
Wuntima f & m Dagbani
Means "God has given me" in Dagbani.
Wunzalgu m & f Dagbani
Means "God's plan" in Dagbani.
Wura f Yoruba
Means "gold" in Yoruba.
Wuraola f Yoruba
Means "gold of wealth" or "shining treasure of wealth" in Yoruba.
Wynand m Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), West Frisian (Rare), East Frisian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Medieval Dutch form of Wijnand, Frisian variant of Winand and South African form of Winand.... [more]
Wynanda f Medieval Dutch, Dutch (Rare), West Frisian (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Medieval Dutch form of Wijnanda, Frisian variant of Winanda and South African form of Winanda.
Xaabsade m Somali
Means "keeper" in Somali.
Xaadsan f Somali
Means "cute" in Somali.
Xaaji m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Haji.
Xaawa f Somali
Variant of Xaawo.
Xabiso m Xhosa
Means "value, price" in Xhosa.
Xaliimo f Somali
Somali form of Halima.
Xalwo f Somali
Means "sweet" in Somali. It is the name of a Somali dessert.
Xamida m Berber
Berber form of Hamid 1.
Xamse m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Hamza.
Xamza m Somali
Somali form of Hamza.
Xanaan f Somali
Somali form of Hanan 2.
Xandulle m Somali
Xandulle is a Somali name
Xareed m Somali
Means "rain" in Somali.
Xasna f Somali
Somali form of Hasna.
Xassan m Somali
Variant of Xasan.
Xawa f Somali (Rare)
Variant of Xaawo.
Xawo f Somali
Variant of Xaawo.
Xetsa f Ewe
Means "twin" in Ewe.
Xiavelo f Tsonga
Means "share" in Xitsonga.
Xichavo f Tsonga
Means "respect" in Xitsonga.
Xiddig f Somali
Means "star" in Somali.
Xidig m Somali
Means "star" in Somali.
Xihlamariso f Tsonga
Means "surprise, marvel" in Tsonga.
Xikombiso m & f Tsonga
Means "proof, example" in Xitsonga.
Xiluva f Tsonga
Means "flower" in Xitsonga.
Ximphephani f Tsonga
Means "the saved" in Tsonga.
Xirsi m Somali
This Somali name means "safeguard." The word xirsi also means "safeguard." The x in Somali is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, a throaty sound that is not present in English. Somalis outside of Somalia may spell the name as HIRSI or HERSI.
Xisomisani m & f Tsonga
Means "dry seasons" in Xitsonga.
Xisungulo m & f Tsonga
Means "beginning" in Xitsonga.
Xitshembhiso m & f Tsonga
Means "promise" in Xitsonga.
Xitsundzuxo m & f Tsonga
Means "reminder" in Xitsonga.
Xola m & f Xhosa
Means "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Xolisile f South African, Zulu
Means "(we are) sorry" in Zulu.
Xolo m & f Xhosa
Possibly related to Xhosa uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from -xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".
Xuseen m Somali
Somali form of Husayn.
Xusen m Somali
Variant of Xuseen.
Yaabari m & f Ogoni
Means "thank God" in Khana.
Yaasmiin f Somali
Somali form of Yasmin.
Yabaal m Somali
Meaning: Yabaal generally means "one who is ambitious" or "strives for success."... [more]
Yabets m Amharic
Means “sorrowful, born in pain” in Amharic.
Yacob m Ethiopian
Form of Jacob used in Ethiopia.
Yacquub m Somali
A Somali form of Yaqub.