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.
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 & m Xhosa, Swazi
From Xhosa uzenzile meaning "you brought this on yourself". This was the first name of the South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), full name Zenzile Miriam Makeba... [more]
Zeray m Tigrinya, Ge'ez
Means "sower" in Ge'ez and Tigrinya.
Zerebruk m Ethiopian
Blessed generation or blessed family
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.
Zié m Western African
Likely means "first" in one of the Senufo languages, as the name is traditionally given to the first-born son.... [more]
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.
Zinabu f Western African
Western African form of Zaynab.
Zinhle f Zulu
Means "they (the girls) are beautiful" in Zulu.
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.
Zithembe m Zulu
Means "trust yourself" in Zulu.
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.
Zohari m Kongo
Sunrise
Zolana f Kongo
Lover of hearts
Zolani f Kongo
Zolani means loving in Kikongo
Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.
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.
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 Xhosa
Xhosa name, said to mean "received with both hands". (In this culture it is considered impolite or unappreciative to accept a worthy gift with one hand; to show appreciation and respect to the giver, you use both hands to accept a gift.)
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.
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]
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.
Zwelethu m & f Ndebele
Means "our nation" in Ndebele.