African Submitted Names

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.

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+Gender

any masculine feminine unisex

-Usage, language or place

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the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name * is a wildcard that matches zero or more letters example: oo matches names which contain oo _ is a wildcard that matches exactly one letter example: __z matches names which have two letters and then z

+Meaning and keywords

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separate search terms with spaces search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes this field understands simple boolean logic force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign expand search to include grammatical forms: attempt to include grammatical forms of the meanings example: speak includes spoke expand search to include close synonyms: attempt to include synonyms of the meanings example: brave includes courageous expand search to include search narrower synonyms: attempt to include subclasses of the meanings example: reptile includes turtle
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the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name separate search terms with spaces search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes example: "lord of the rings" matches names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings' this field understands simple boolean logic force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus matches Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus ignore name meanings: keywords from the name meanings are ignored

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see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: lee matches names which end with the sound lee* _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation example: __z matches names which have two letters and then a z (s) matches exactly one syllable in the pronunciation example: (s)(s)ra matches names which have two syllables and then the sound rah (c) matches a consonant (k) matches a consonant or consonant cluster (v) matches a vowel (p) matches a plosive or stop consonant (f) matches a fricative consonant (n) matches a nasal consonant case sensitive: check this if you wish distinguish between unstressed lowercase sounds and stressed uppercase sounds
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.

Zegeye m Amharic
Means "he delayed" in Amharic.

Zeğiga f Kabyle
Possibly means "flower" in Kabyle.

Zeidane m Western African
Variant of Zaydan (chiefly Mauritanian).

Zeinabou f Western African
Variant of Zeinebou.

Zeine m Western African, Arabic (Maghrebi)
Western African (chiefly Mauritanian) and Maghrebi (chiefly Algerian) variant of Zayn.

Zeïnebou f Western African
Variant of Zeinebou based on French orthography.

Zeinebou f Western African
Western African elaboration of Zaynab (chiefly Mauritanian).

Zeituni f Eastern African
This name coincides with Swahili zeituni meaning "olive", a derivative of Arabic زَيْتُون‎ (zaytūn). This was borne by Zeituni Onyango (1952-2014), a Kenyan-born half-aunt of former American president Barack Obama.

Zekaryas m Ethiopian

Zelalem m & f Amharic
Amharic for "forever" or "eternity"

Zelleke m Amharic
Means "he surpassed" in Amharic.

Zenabu m Amharic
Means "the rain" in Amharic.

Zenani f South African

Zende m Swahili
Means "strong, firm" in Swahili.

Zennash f Amharic
Means "your fame" in Amharic.

Zenzele f Xhosa
Means "she will do for herself" in Xhosa.

Zenzile f South African
This is Miriam Makeba's first name. She was nicknamed Mama Africa and was a South African singer and civil rights activist.

Zephany f South African (Rare)
Feminine form of Zephania.

Zephne f Afrikaans

Zeray m Tigrinya, Ge'ez
Means "sower" in Ge'ez and Tigrinya.

Zerebruk m Ethiopian
Blessed generation or blessed family

Zeresenay m Eastern African

Zerezghi m Ethiopian

Zerihun m Ethiopian

Zethu f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "ours" or "belongs to us" in both Xhosa and Zulu within the Nguni language group. Notable South African name bearers include actor Zethu Dlomo and orchestral musician Zethu Mashika.

Zeudi f Tigrinya
Means "crown" in Tigrinya. It is the name of the famous 1970 Eritrean-Italian actress Zeudi Araya (1951-).

Zewditu f Eastern African, Amharic
Zewditu is an Amharic word meaning "the Crown". Although it was sometimes erroneously Anglicized as Judith, it's not a cognate.... [more]

Zhizha f Shona
Meaning “summer” in Shona.

Zibu f Zulu
Means "waterlily" in Zulu.

Zibulale m Xhosa
Meaning unknown.

Zibuseni m & f Ndebele
Means "rule yourself" in Ndebele.

Zibusiso f Ndebele
Means "blessings" in Ndebele.

Zigza m Berber
Means "green" from the root zgz.

Zillale m African
Bantu... [more]

Zimba f & m Shona
Means "to be principled" in Shona.

Zina f Amharic
Means "felicity" in Amharic.

Zina f & m Ogoni
Means "star" in Ogoni.

Zinachidiuto f & m Igbo (Modern)

Zindzi f South African
Diminutive of Zindziswa.

Zindziswa f South African, Xhosa

Zinhle f Zulu
Means "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.

Zinta f Afrikaans

Zintwezinhle f Zulu
Means "beautiful things" in Zulu.

Ziola m & f Ijaw
Means "the last born" in Ijaw.

Ziona f Hebrew, Jewish, English, Afrikaans
Feminine form of Zion.

Ziperela f & m Ijaw
Means "born to meet wealth" in Ijaw.

Ziphozonke m & f Zulu
Means "all the gifts" in Zulu.

Zira f Berber
Feminine of Ziri.

Zirk m Afrikaans

Zithembe m Zulu
Means "trust yourself" in Zulu.

Zitto m Eastern African

Zivai m Shona
Means "know" in Shona.

Zivaizvinodababa m & f Shona
Means "know what the father wants" in Shona.

Zivanai f & m Shona
"Know each other". Meant for relatives to keep in touch.

Ziyanda f Xhosa
Means "increase within daughters" in Xhosa.

Zobuhle f Zulu
Means "of beauty" in Zulu, from the possessive form of ubuhle.

Zodwe f South African, Zulu
Diminutive of Ntombizodwa.

Zohari m Kongo
Sunrise

Zolana f Kongo
Lover of hearts

Zolani f Kongo
Zolani means loving in Kikongo

Zolani m South African, Xhosa
Variant of Xolani.

Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.

Zolie f South African (Rare), American (South, Rare, Archaic)

Zoliswa f Xhosa
Means "one who calms" in Xhosa.

Zondai f & m Shona
"You may hate me." A situational name where a family is telling it's enemies you may hate me all you want.

Zondwa f South African

Zonja f English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Variant of Sonja.

Zonkizizwe m Zulu
Means “all nations” in Zulu.

Zooli f & m African (?)
Meaning "freedom lover", but origins are not clear.

Zoosim m & f Dagbani
Means "abundance" or "greatness" in Dagbani.

Zoreka m & f Kiga, Nkore, Tooro
Meaning “the show off” in Kiga.

Zorle m Ogoni
Means "wealth is here" in Ogoni.

Zororo f & m Shona
Rest. "May be speaking of a time of rest or peacefulness experienced by family around time of child's birth".

Zoubo f & m Ijaw
Means "a traveller" in Ijaw.

Zozibini f South African
There is not much known about the name sadly, only that it was born in South Africa and the name Zozibini means "'Received with both hands' In this culture it is considered impolite, unappreciative to accept a worthy gift with one hand... [more]

Zuba m Swahili
Means "jump" in Swahili.

Zubairu m Hausa
Hausa form of Zubair.

Zubeidat f Avar, Nigerian
Avar form of Zubaida also used by Nigerian Muslims.

Zugsung m & f Dagbani
Means "good luck" or "good fortune" in Dagbani.

Zuhri m Swahili
Means "good looking" or "handsome" in Swahili.

Zuko m South African, African
Means "harmony, someone with a good heart, loving, appreciative and calm" in Nguni.

Zula m & f Tigrinya
Means "brilliant" in Tigrinya.... [more]

Zulu m & f African

Zumaridi f Swahili
Means "emerald" in Swahili.

Zuna f Lingala
Means "to be sweet" in Bangi, the main lexical source of Lingala.

Zuo m & f Ijaw
Means "protection" in Ijaw.

Zuva f Shona
Means "day; daylight; sun; sunlight" in Shona.

Zuvarashe f & m Shona
Means the "lord's sun"

Zuwa m & f Shona
Meaning “sun”, it is also synonymous with Zuva.

Zuwena f Swahili
Means "small and beautiful" in Swahili.

Zvanaka f Shona
Means "it is well" in Shona.

Zvichanzii m & f Shona
Means "what is it?" in Shona.

Zvido m & f Shona
It means "desires".

Zvidzai m Shona
Means "despise, look down upon" in Shona.

Zvikomborero f Shona
Means "blessings" in Shona.

Zvipo m & f Shona
Meaning "gifts".

Zviyo m & f Shona
It is the plural of Chiyo. It means "grains". This is a name that symbolizes the smallness of grains which when planted and in their own season and time, grow and are harvested for multitudes and nations... [more]

Zvose m & f Shona
Meaning "the all; everything".

Zwatie m Swahili
Means "people of language" in Swahili.

Zwelabo m South African

Zwelethu m & f Ndebele
Means "our nation" in Ndebele.

Zweli m South African

Zwelibanzi m South African

Apply this search to the main name collection