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
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Elikya f & m Lingala
A Lingala word meaning "hope".
Elizette f Afrikaans
Diminutive of Elize.
Elizma f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elizabeth Maria.
Elkaissa f Berber (Rare)
Possibly means "the pause" from Kabyle Berber.
Elleni f Amharic
Amharic form of Helen.
Elmarie f Afrikaans, English (Rare)
Perhaps a contraction of Elma and Marie.
Elna f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elisabeth and Helena.
Elo f Esan
Means "face, eye" in Esan.
Elochukwu m & f Igbo
"elo" means plan while "chukwu" means God. "Elochukwu" means the plan of God or God's plan.
Eloghosa m & f Edo
Possibly means "it's not hard for God" in Edo. It could be the older name of Benin City, the capital of Edo State in Nigeria.
Elombe m Lingala
Means "brave one" in Lingala.
Elonga f Lingala
Means "victory" in Lingala.
Elsabe f Afrikaans
Afrikaans variation of Elizabeth.
Elsabet f Amharic
Amharic form of Elizabeth.
Elsina f Dutch (Rare), English (American, Rare), Afrikaans
Dutch diminutive of Elisabeth as well as a feminine form of Ale 2.
Elyas m Amharic, Judeo-Anglo-Norman
Amharic form and Judeo-Anglo-Norman variant of Elias.
Elzabé f Afrikaans
Variant of Elsabe.
Elze f Dutch, German (East Prussian), Afrikaans
Dutch variant spelling and East Prussian German and Afrikaans form of Else.
Elzette f Afrikaans
Contraction of Elizette and diminutive of Elze.
Ema m & f Efik
Emaobong f Efik
Means "love of God" in Efik, derived from ema meaning "love" and obong meaning "God".
Ḓembe m & f Venda
Means "miracle" in Tshivenda.
Emebet f Ethiopian, Amharic
Derived from Amharic ’əmäbēt "royal lady", this (former) honorific is nowadays used as a given name.... [more]
Emechebe m & f Igbo
Means "when it’s done then it’s thought about" in Igbo.
Emekan f Efik
Means "endurance supercedes everything" in Efik.
Emekemeabasi m & f Efik
Means "the Lord is able" in Efik.
Emeleakpo f Ijaw
Means "good life" in Ijaw.
Ememabasi m & f Efik
Means "peace of the Lord" in Efik, derived from emem meaning "peace" and abasi meaning "Lord".
Emembong m & f Ibibio
Means "peace of god" in Ibibio.
Ememobong m & f Efik
Means "peace of the God" n Efek, derived from emem meaning "peace" and obong meaning "God".
Eme-obong f Efik
Means "precious one of God" in Efik.
Eminotun m African
Title of High Chief in Ijebu part of OWO in ONDO
Emiya f Amharic
Means "bliss" in Amharic.
Emmanuela f Greek (Modern, Rare), Italian (Rare), Provençal, Western African
Provençal feminine form of Emmanuèl and Italian variant of Emanuela, as well as an alternate transcription of Greek Εμμανουέλα (see Emmanouela).
Emmanuelina f English (African), Eastern African
Feminine form of Emmanuel, particularly used in Tanzania and Uganda.
Emmarentia f Afrikaans
Variant of Emerentia influenced by Emma.
Emmsdan m & f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "excellence of God's Salvation" in Igala (a language in the Yoruboid branch, common to Nigeria), from Igala emms "excellence" and dan "God Our Salvation".
Emnet f Amharic
Means “faith, belief” in Amharic.
Emomu f & m Ijaw
Means "follow me home" in Ijaw.
Enanela f Zulu
Means "rejoice" in Zulu.
Endai m Shona
Meaning "go, depart" or "proceed, progress"; it is the plural of enda.
Enderline f Nigerian (Modern, Rare)
Of unknown meaning.... [more]
Endlani m & f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga endla meaning "make, create, do".
Ene f Idoma
Means "mother" in Idoma.
Eneikedi f & m Ijaw
Means "look after your own" in Ijaw.
Enelo f Tsonga
Possibly from the Xitsonga enela meaning "enough".
Enemo f & m Ijaw
Means "endurance" in Ijaw.
Engai m Eastern African, African Mythology, Maasai
Engai is a deity from Maasai Mythology. His name means “god” in the Maasai language.
Eni m & f Yoruba
Short form of Eniola.
Enibraye f & m Ijaw
Means "my own" in Ijaw.
Eniye f Nigerian, Ijaw
Means "my child" in Ijaw.
Enku f Amharic
This feminine name means "pearl" in Amharic.
Eno m & f African
gift, to give, of (Efik and Ibibio) origin
Enoabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "gift of god" in Ibibio.
Enoba f Idoma
Means "mother of my husband" or "mother-in-law" in Idoma.
Eno-obong m & f Efik
Means "gift from God" in Efik.
Enyonyam f Western African
Means "it is good for me" in Ewe.
Enzi f & m Swahili
Means "powerful" in Swahili.
Eperulo m & f Bandial
Means "to scream at the top of one's voice" in Bandial.
Epie m African
Bakossi Cameroonian Coastal Bantu
Erco m West Frisian (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare)
Variant spelling of Erko, which is most likely a diminutive of Erk. Also compare Ercken and Herko, which is a variant of Herke.
Erebi f Ijaw
Means "the beauty of womanhood" in Ijaw.
Eremiemi f & m Ijaw
Means "my name shall survive" in Ijaw.
Erhuanga m Nigerian (Rare)
It is from Ozalla village
Eriayomi f Yoruba
My testimony of joy, "Ayomi" being "my joy."... [more]
Erin m & f Yoruba
Means "smile" in Yoruba.
Erinayo m & f Western African, Yoruba
Notable bearer is Erinayo Wilson Oryema, Uganda's first African Inspector General of Police.
Eriya m Shona
Shona form of Elijah.
Eromosele m Esan
Means "prayer has been answered" in Esan.
Esasa f Zulu
Means "be happy" in Zulu.
ʿEsato f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "fire" in Amharic.... [more]
Ese f Esan
Means "gift" in Esan.
Esegiël m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Ezekiel.
Eseimokumo m Ijaw
Don't talk bad of me
Esengo m & f Lingala
Means "joy" in Lingala.
Eseoheose f Esan
Meaning: Free Gift of God
Eseose f Esan
Means: Gift of God
Eseose f Esan
Means "gift of God".
Eshu m African, Yoruba
A god of the Yoruba of West Africa.
Esias m Medieval Romansh, Afrikaans
Medieval Romansh and Afrikaans form of Isaiah via Esaias.
Esihle f & m Zulu, Xhosa, Southern African
Means "beautiful, good" in Zulu and Xhosa.
Esikumo f & m Ijaw
Means "don't be afraid" in Ijaw.
Esitala f Nyakyusa
Nyakyusa form of Esther.
Eskedar f Ethiopian
Means "until the night" in Amharic.
Eskinder m Amharic
Amharic form of Alexander. This name is borne by Ethiopian journalist and dissident Eskinder Nega (1969-).
Esmarie f Afrikaans
Possibly a combination of Esme and Marie.
Esosa m & f Western African, Edo
Means "God's gift" in Edo language.
Esra m Biblical German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian (Rare), Icelandic, Faroese, Afrikaans
German, Afrikaans and Scandinavian form of Ezra.
Esset-ab f Amharic
means gift of god or persetion of God.
Essien f Akan
Variant of Nsia.
Essien m Efik
Means "outside" in Efik.
Essien m Nigerian
Name of Nigerian origin, meaning "favorite one", "beloved".
Estia f Greek Mythology (Italianized), Greek (Rare), Afrikaans
Modern Greek and Italian form of Hestia.
Estifanos m Amharic
Amharic form of Stephen.
Estomihi m Eastern African, Indonesian
The name is derived from the name of the sunday 50 days before easter. The Latin words Esto mihi are the first two words of Psalm 31:3 and mean "Thou art to me".
Esu m & f Efik
Esulu m & f Ndebele
Means "clouds" in Ndebele.
Eta m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from ɛ́tá meaning "father" in Kenyang.
Eteakamba m Efik
Efik origin, meaning, Great grand father,
Eteimowei m Ijaw
A man who saves
Ethmane m Western African
Variant of Uthman (chiefly Mauritanian).
Ethuka f Zulu
Means "surprise" in Zulu.
Ethulo f Zulu
Means "gift" in Zulu.
Ethwasa f Zulu
Means "start anew" in Zulu.
Etido f Efik
Means "good character" in Efik.
Etienne m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Étienne.
Etim m Efik, Ibibio
Means "to care for; to prepare for" in Ibibio and Efik.
Etok m Efik
Means "small" in Efik.
Etom m & f Nigerian
Etom means "life" it is from the people of cross river state in Nigeria
Eton m & f Efik
Etoro f Efik
Means "praise" in Efik.
Eucabeth f African
Kenyan name for Jochebed
Eucharis f & m Ancient Greek, Literature, Nigerian (Rare)
Derived from the Greek adjective εὔχαρις (eucharis) meaning "charming, gracious". It consists of Greek εὖ (eu) meaning "good, well" combined with the Greek noun χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness" (see Chares).... [more]
Evaleni f Jagham
This name originates from the Legbo, a language spoken by people from Ekoi tribe in Cross River. It means "God's gift".
Evangelique f Afrikaans (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Cognate of Évangélique, which is usually used in non-francophone regions and countries.
Evangelise f & m African American, African
Possibly an invented name, a combination Evangeline and Elise. Another possibility is that it's taken from the British spelling of 'evangelize', which is the English word meaning "to preach the gospel".
Evbu f Edo
This name means "misty". Misty refers to objects with misty colors. One other possibly meaning is "dew" referring to a baby born during a dewy morning.
Everhard m Dutch, Afrikaans, German
Dutch, Afrikaans and German form of Everard.
Evioghene f & m Isoko, Urhobo, Nigerian
It is a name beared by the isoko uhrobo language speaking people in Delta state, Nigeria.... [more]
Ewnetu m Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "truth" in Amharic.
Ewostatewos m Ge'ez
Ge'ez form of Εὐστάθιος (Eustathios) (See Eustathius). This was the name of an Ethiopian religious leader of the Orthodox Tewahedo during the early period of the Solomonic dynasty of the Ethiopian Empire.
Eyasu m Amharic
Amharic form of Joshua.
Eyerusalem f Amharic
Amharic, meaning Jerusalem
Eyitemi m & f Western African (Rare)
An Itsekiri name, Meaning " this is my own ".
Eyong m & f Jagham, Kenyang
Derived from ɛyɔŋ meaning "word, voice" in Jagham and Kenyang.
Eyram m African
Ghanian name.
Eyranam f Ewe
The name Eyranam means God blesses me always.
Ezana m Ethiopian
Ezana or Ezanas (c.303– c.350 CE/AD) was king of Aksum, now Ethiopia. Ezana was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity. Ezana is a Geʽez (an ancient Ethiopian Semitic language) name of unknown meaning... [more]
Ezenwa m Igbo (Rare)
The name Ezenwa is an Igbo name meaning King, Prince, or Son of King
Ezeuzo m Igbo
Means "king of the road" in Igbo.
Ezikiel m Southern African
Malawi variant of Ezekiel.
Ezinne f Igbo
Means "true mother", from the Igbo eziokwu meaning "truth", "honesty", "integrity", and nne meaning "mother".
Ezinwanne m Igbo
nwanne, nwanneka"good companion or relative" igbo, african
Ezrom m South African
Likely a variant of Hezron.
Faaduma f Somali
Strickly Somali form of Faduma.
Faadumo f Somali
Somali form of Fatima.
Faako m & f Dagbani
Means "mercy" in Dagbani.
Faatuma f Afar
Afar form of Fatima.
Faayy-a m Sidamo
Means "beautiful" in Sidama.
Faayy-o f Sidamo
Feminine form of Faayy-a.
Faderera f African
Meaning"God's Crown"
Fadha f Somali
Possibly from Arabic فِضَّة (fiḍḍa), meaning "silver" or فَضَاء (faḍāʔ), meaning "empty space".
Fadhma f Kabyle
Kabyle form of Fatima.
Fadimata f Western African
Variant of Fatimata, especially used in Mali.
Fadma f Berber
Variant of Fadhma used in Morocco.
Fadziso f Shona
Means "one who brings happiness" in Shona.
Faf m Afrikaans (Rare)
Afrikaans diminutive of François. A notable bearer is South African rugby player Faf de Klerk (1991-), whose given name is François.
Fahari m & f Swahili
Means "fame, honour, splendour" in Swahili.
Fahmo f Somali
Means "understanding" in Somali directly from the Arabic root f-h-m (see Fahim).
Fa'idah f Hausa
Means "benefit, advantage" in Hausa.
Fa'iqah f Hausa
Means "surpassing, excellent" in Hausa.
Faisa f Swahili
Swahili/Arabic, meaning successful/victorious
Faithful m & f English (Archaic), English (Puritan), Literature, Nigerian
Virtue name meaning "loyal" or "having faith (in God)" that has been in use since the 16th century, initally mostly for boys, later also for girls.... [more]
Fa'izah f Hausa
Means "victorious" in Hausa.
Fakulera f Haya
Means "just raise her" in Haya.
Falala f Western African, Fula
Means "born into abundance" in Fula.
Fallou m Western African, French (African)
This name is of Senegalese origin.
Fally f English, African
Diminutive of Eliphal.
Famandha m Tsonga
Means "give power" in Xitsonga.
Famara m Manding, Wolof, Western African
From the name of the Manding ruler Famara Mané (or Nfamara Mané), who lead a revolt in the kingdom of Kaabu in 1865. It is mostly used throughout Senegal and The Gambia.
Fana f Ethiopian
Means “light” or “jungle” in various African languages.
Fanaka f & m Swahili
Means “nice” in Swahili.
Fanendo m Nigerian
A known bearer of this name is Nigerian soccer player Fanendo Adi (1990-).
Fanie m Afrikaans
Diminutive of Stephan and Stephanus.
Fanus m Afrikaans
Short form of Stefanus.
Fanyana m Zulu
From Zulu umfanyana, abafanyana meaning "little boy".
Fara m & f Shona
Meaning "happy" or "joyous".
Faraja f & m Swahili
Means "consolation, comfort" in Swahili.
Fardowsa f Somali
Somali form of Firdaus.
Farhanatou f Western African
Form of Farhana used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Farhia f Somali, Arabic
Fariha "happiness" From the Arabic word for happy
Farhiya f Swahili, Somali
Variant transcription of Fariha.
Farijika f Swahili
Means “be relieved” in Swahili.
Farisai f Shona
Means "be very happy" in Shona.
Fasasi m Yoruba
The name Fasasi originates from the Yoruba culture, in Nigeria, West Africa. It is commonly associated with Muslims than Christians or traditionalists.
Fasika m Amharic
Means "Easter" in Amharic.
Fasingha m & f Ijaw
Means "a name never dies" in Ijaw.
Fassil m Amharic
Means "Ethiopian king" in Amharic.
Fatimoh f Thai (Muslim), Nigerian
Form of Fatimah used in Thailand and Nigeria.
Fatouma f Western African
Form of Fatimah used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Fatoumia f Comorian
Comorian form of Fatima.
Faven f Tigrinya
Means "light"
Fayssal m Western African, Arabic
Variant transcription of فيصل (see Faysal).
Febechi f Nigerian
It's of African origin. It means, "worshipper of God"
Fechukwu m & f Igbo
Worship God
Fedens f African
Meaning unknown. This was the name of Tatiana Rusesabagina's sister-in-law, portrayed by Leleti Khumalo in 'Hotel Rwanda' (2004).
Fedude m & f Ijaw
Means "death has ended" in Ijaw. ... [more]
Feker f Amharic
Means "love, affection" in Amharic.
Fela m Yoruba, Nigerian
Diminutive of Olufela
Felagha f & m Ijaw
Means "death has not reached me" in Ijaw.
Felleke m Amharic
Means "he glittered" in Amharic.
Felleng f Sotho
Means "beyond the end" in Sotho.
Fenuku m & f Ewe
Means "year seed" in Ewe.
Fenure m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means "we have riches" in Urhobo.
Fenyang m Tswana
Means "conqueror" in Tswana.
Ferede m Amharic
Means "he judged" in Amharic.
Fessehaye m Tigrinya
Means "eternal happiness" in Tigrinya.
Fetene m Amharic
Means "he is swift" in Amharic.
Fetera f Amharic
Means "creative" in Amharic.
Fetle-work f Ge'ez
Means "thread of gold" in Amharic.
Fewesi f & m Amharic
Means "to heal" in Amharic.
Feyi f Ewe
Means "a year has passed" in Ewe.
Fhaṱuwani m & f Venda
Means "be careful, aware" in Tshivenda.
Fhulufhedzani m & f Venda
Means "be hopeful" in Tshivenda.
Fhulufhelo m & f Venda
Means "hope" in Tshivenda.
Fiba f African
This is name for a woman born on Friday. The name may mean mild and gentle. It's derived from the Akan name Afua with the same meaning and shows contamination from the Christian name Phoebe which has a similiar pronunciation... [more]
Fifi m Akan
variant of Kofi
Fikile f Tsonga
Means "arrived" in Tsonga.
Fikiri f Amharic
Means "love" in Amharic.
Fikre f Ethiopian, African
Meaning "my love" or "love."
Fikru m Amharic
Means "his love" in Amharic.
Filittene f Bandial
Means "it (the womb) learns" in Bandial.
Filsan f & m Somali (Rare)
The best of her/his age. ... [more]
Firesembet m Ge'ez
Means "seed of the Sabbath" in Ge'ez.
Firew m African
Amharic name originated in Ethiopia. meaning 'the seed'.
Firipi m Shona
Shona form of Philip.
Fisayo m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means "add to my joy" in Yoruba.
Fisseha m Ge'ez
Means "joy" in Ge'ez.
Fitsum m & f Amharic
Means "absolute" in Amharic.
Fɨnyuyn f Central African
Means "bird" in Kom.
Foday m Western African
Unknown meaning, possibly from the Temne or Loko languages, spoken in Sierra Leone.... [more]
Folaoluwashade f Yoruba
Means "the wealth of god is my crown" in Yoruba.
Folarin m & f Yoruba
Means "walks with wealth" in Yoruba.
Folasade f Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "honour confers a crown" or "rule with nobility" in Yoruba.
Folashade f Yoruba, Nigerian
Variant transcription of Folasade.
Folayan f Yoruba, African
means "to walk in dignity"
Folorunsho m & f Yoruba
Means "under God's protection" in Yoruba.
Folorunso m & f Yoruba
Variant of Folorunsho.
Foluke m & f African, Nigerian
means Placed in God's hands
Foosi m Somali
Meaning: The name Foosi generally means "prosperous" or "successful" in Somali.... [more]
Fortunate f African (Rare)
From the English word Fortunate, "favoured by or involving good luck; lucky."
Fourou m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Fowoke f Yoruba
Means "girl who is pampered with money" in Yoruba.
Foyinsola f Yoruba
Means "add honey to its wealth" in Yoruba.
Francois m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of François.
Franselle f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Frans.
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