This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and the order is random.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Mixo m & f TsongaMeans "dawn, morning" in Xitsonga.
Nesuha f EthiopianPossible from an Arabic root
nasuh which means something like sincerity, often found in the religious context
taubat-an-nasuha meaning sincere return or repentance.
Lelosa f NigerianMeans "Follow God." in Benin; an ethnic group in Nigeria.
Jhené f EthiopianDerived from the Ethiopian word
Ghenet, meaning "paradise" or "garden of Eden."
Amefia m EweAmefia means 'people's king' in Ewe. Amefia is a surname that has significant transferred usage to a given name.
Lami f HausaFrom the Hausa
Àlhàmîs meaning “Thursday”.
Adunni f YorubaMeans "sweet to have" in Yoruba, from
dùn "sweet, pleasant" and
ní "obtain, have, possess".... [
more]
Loza f AmharicThe Amharic form of Luz, the name of a place in the Bible where it is believed Jacob saw his ladder.
Nzuzi m & f KongoMeans "second born twin" in Kikongo.
Kwanaya f ShonaMeaning “it has rained”, rain is seen as a symbol of new life as its waters are a source of nourishment for natural life.
Sulola f YorubaOf Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.
Tshala f LubaMeaning unknown. It comes from the Tshiluba language, spoken in DR Congo.
Nkosnathi m AfricanSouth African Zulu name translated into Emmanuel meaning gift of god.
Ememobong m & f EfikMeans "peace of the God" n Efek, derived from
emem meaning "peace" and
obong meaning "God".
Efuru f IgboMeans "daughter of heaven" in Igbo.
Adesoji m YorubaMeans "the crown has woken up" from Yoruba
adé meaning "crown" and
sọjí meaning "to arise, to awake".
Ado m & f YorubaPossibly derived from Yoruba
ádò meaning "medicine gourd". This is also the name of two cities in Nigeria, both with different etymology.
Ebifinidei f & m IjawMeans "good things have been opened to me" in Ijaw.
Ayanti m & f EfikMeans "will you remember me?" in Efik.
Seihia f TivThe name Originates from Tiv and it means "Peaceful Bird" or "One of a kind"
Tirivashe m & f ShonaMeans "We belong to the Lord". #This is a Christian name for believers declaring their loyalty to God".
Yeabsira f & m AmharicMeans "The Father's (God's) work" of Amharic origin, the official language of Ethiopia.
Nwoye m AfricanVery 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"
Beke m & f Ijaw, OgoniMeans "America" or "American" in Khana and "English" in Ijaw.
Adia f Igede, SwahiliMeans "queen" in Igede and "(valuable) gift" in Swahili, from Hausa
adia "gift".
Nzota m PareEtymology uncertain, this name is traditionally given to babies born during drought.
Yedder m Berber (Rare)Though this name symbolizes immortality, it indicates a sense of unbroken spirit or uncaptured soul.
Adeoye m Western African, YorubaFrom Yoruba adé oyè, which literally means "the crown of chieftancy", and is understood to mean "the crown given to me to celebrate my acquired chieftaincy title".
Shorai m & f Africanit delive from shona tribe name in Zimbabwe and it means criticise
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.
Nenaunir m & f Maasai, African MythologyOf uncertain meaning, likely linked to rain. Nenaunir is the villainous god of rain in Maasai mythology, being depicted as a rainbow snake.
Ajayi m & f YorubaMeans "fought to turn" in Yoruba, traditionally given to children born facing downwards or sideways.
Aketch f LuoMeans "born during a famine" in Luo.
Fana f EthiopianMeans “light” or “jungle” in various African languages.
Sijuola f YorubaMeans "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Otlile f South AfricanSouth African name meaning "She has come; she is here". Otlile "Oti" Mabuse is a professional dancer seen on Strictly Come Dancing.
Dzinashe m ShonaDzinashe means "It's with the Lord". One well known bearer of this name is Dzinashe Machingura.
Nhamo f & m AfricanMeans "Disaster" in Shona. It is the title character in A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer.
Betang m & f KenyangDerived from
bɛtaŋ meaning "power" in Kenyang.
Chimere m IgboSaid to be an Igbo (Nigerian) name meaning "God's deed", in part from
chi "god, spiritual being".
Somayina f & m IgboThe name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."
Jafari m African American (Rare), SwahiliSwahili version of, and elaboration of,
Jafar that came into popular usage in the 1970s due to many parents choosing Afrocentric names, in this particular case an Islamic name.
Sorniabari f & m OgoniMeans "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [
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Anike f YorubaMeans "had to cherish" in Yoruba, from
ní "to have, possess" and
kẹ́ "to care for, cherish".
Maita f ShonaA Shona (Zimbabwean) name that implies gratitude for something that has been done well. It may be spelt as Mayita or Mazvita depending on the area of origin of the speaker.... [
more]
Miriro f & m African, ShonaStarted in the early 1900's. Name was given to the second born daughter of the family. Name means "to be expected." Basically the one who was waited for.
Kouadio m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
jɔlɛ "Tuesday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Tuesday".
Pasipao f & m TumbukaMeans "their ground, earth" in Tumbuka, often given after repeated deaths in the family. Refers to the fact that the child will eventually also die and be buried in the earth.
Felagha f & m IjawMeans "death has not reached me" in Ijaw.
Aderinola f & m YorubaThe first part, Aderi, means "crown" or "royalty," the second part, Nola, means "wealth" or "riches." The name is interpreted as "crowned with wealth" or "royalty with riches".
Rangariro f & m ShonaIt means "recollection; remembrance", from the verb
kurangarira.
Shermake m SomaliMeans "someone who is really lucky and brings good fortune along with them" in Somali.
Sade f Yoruba, English (Modern)Short form of
Folasade. It was popularized in the mid-80s due to the Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu (born Helen Folasade Adu, 1959-) and her eponymous smooth jazz band Sade.
Mahado f SomaliPossibly from the Somali
mahad meaning "thanks".
Arachie m & f IgboPossibly means "to have chosen a portion ahead of another; to supplant" in Igbo.
Eperulo m & f BandialMeans "to scream at the top of one's voice" in Bandial.
Batandwa m & f AfricanBatandwa was a used name reffering to followers in Christianity.
Osazuwa m Bini, AfricanOrigin from Edo State of Nigeria, West Africa..it means God has chosen wealth for me
Chikwendu m Igbo, AfricanMeans "God agrees to life", taken from the Igbo phrase
o buru na chukwu kwe ndu ga-adi "if god agrees there will be life".
Auwal m Western African, HausaDerived from Arabic أول
('awwal) meaning "first". This name is commonly given to the first of multiple children with the same name.
Xola m & f XhosaMeans "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.
Ovuvuevuevue m African (Rare)Extremely rare name, seemingly used exclusively in Africa. A popular bearer of the name is the memestar Ovuvuevuevue Enyetuenwuevue Ugbemugbem Osas. The meaning of the name is practically impossible to comprehend.
Blessed f & m English (Puritan), AfricanFrom the English word "blessed" meaning "having divine aid, or protection, or other blessing; held in veneration; revered", ultimately from Old English
blētsian,
blēdsian "to consecrate (with blood)".
Alouette f English (Modern, Rare), Dutch (Rare), Afrikaans (Rare), Spanish (Mexican, Rare)Derived from French
alouette "lark, skylark".
Alouette is a popular Quebecois children's song, commonly thought to be about plucking the feathers from a lark. Although it is in French, it is well known among speakers of other languages as many US Marines and other Allied soldiers learned the song while serving in France during World War I and took it home with them, passing it on to their children and grandchildren.... [
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