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.
Adeiza f NigerianName of Nigerian origin, meaning "giver (father) of good things" or "giver (father) of wealth".
Ozoemena m IgboMeans " let what has happened before not happen again" in Igbo.
Danismo m Southern AfricanThe meaning of Danismo is "Jubilant and Content with one's life and experiences." Commonly used to describe someone who has had good fortune recently.
Safari f & m Swahili, Bantu, American (Modern, Rare)Means "journey" in Swahili, from Arabic سَفَر
(safar). It is commonly used by Eastern Bantus in Kenya, given to babies born when traveling or given in reference to a lot of traveling by a relative... [
more]
Anekwe m IgboMeans "let the gods not agree to bad things" in Igbo.
Yao m BaouléDerived from Baoulé
ya "Friday", referring to the day of the week on which the child was born and hence to be understood as "born on Friday".
Sarafina f SwahiliApparently means "bright star" in Swahili. The name might be best known from the South African musical "Sarafina!" Also, the name is often easily confused with the Hebrew name
Seraphina, but despite looking similar in appearance, both names clearly have completely different etymologies.
Ganau m HausaFrom the Hausa
ganī meaning "see". This name is traditionally given to boys born on the night of a full moon.
Arukubu f & m IjawMeans "a child born in a canoe" in Ijaw.
Ayamba f & m Jagham, KenyangMeans "he/she opened the way" in Ejagham, used for the first of twins.
Simbo m ChagaMeans "harvest, divine gift" in Chagga.
Aduke f YorubaMeans "one (people) struggle(d) to care for" in Yoruba.
Irorezi f NigerianA feminine Nigerian name. The meaning is loosely translated to "good thoughts". This name could also be a diminutive of the Nigerian name Orezi, meaning "precious".
Zivanai f & m Shona"Know each other". Meant for relatives to keep in touch.
Pumbaa m Popular Culture, SwahiliMeans "to be foolish, silly, weak-minded, careless, negligent" in Swahili. This is the name of the warthog in Disney's 'The Lion King' (1994).
Dambuzgho f TumbukaMeans "troublesome" in Tumbuka, often given to babies whose mothers were unwell during pregnancy.
Namori m Western AfricanUsed in Ivory Coast. A famous bearer is Namori Meite (born 1988) a French-born Côte d'Ivoirean basketball player currently member of the Côte d'Ivoire national basketball team.
Diba f LubaMeans "sun" in Tshiluba language spoken in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Luyando m & f TongaMeans “To Love” in Tonga. Related to the Tongan name Yandwa.
Ássuma m & f BandialMeans "the nice one" or "the unselfish one" in Bandial.
Alazidei m IjawMeaning "I have given birth to royalty" in Ijaw.
Lemogang m Tswana, SothoA known bearer is South African actor Lemogang Tsipa (1991-), who was born to a Pedi father and a Tswana mother.
Bejide m YorubaMeans "(one that) come(s) with rain" in Yoruba.
Mairiga m HausaFrom the Hausa
mài meaning "possessing" and
rī̀gā meaning "gown".
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Lotambii'n m IgboUsed by the Igbo fiction charachter Uzochi Lotambii'n Ihejirika, and has no meaning.
Jesubori f YorubaMeaning "Jesus is the winner" or "Jesus overcomes" in Yoruba
Ayinde m & f YorubaMeans "we gave praises and he came" in Yoruba.
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.
Minkah m AfricanPossibly means "Justice". This is the given name of an NFL player, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Osebo m AkanOsebo is a LEOPARD in the ancient stories of Ananse, the "Spider Man". He was PHYSICALLY STRONG.
Makanaka f ShonaMakanaka means "You are good". #This name is usually given in praise of God".
Ajani m YorubaMeans "one (we) fought to have" in Yoruba.
Ndakaitei f ShonaMeans "What did I do?"
This name is an expression of regret by a parent. Usually given by a single mother whose partner does not take responsibility of the child born.
Jabu f ZuluThe name's origin meaning is "It is the shortened form of the name Jabulani which means joy or to rejoice"
Yeuko f & m ShonaMeaning "remembrance", it derives from the verb
kuyeuka.
Murtala m NigerianWest African variant of
Murtada. This was borne by Murtala Muhammed (1938-1976), a Nigerian Army general who became fourth Head of State of Nigeria.
Jilele m TumbukaMeans "rear yourself" or "be self reliant" in Tumbuka. Can be given to orphans, or to children expected to be independent early in life.
Ntswaki f SothoMeans "girl amongst boys" or "girl with many brothers" in Sotho.
Raviro f ShonaMeans "promise, oath or pledge" in Shona.
Roeh m African (Modern, Rare)Bassa African pronunciation of the hebrew word "Rapha," meaning "heals." Native to Ghana and Monrovia Liberia.
Atsen m AfizereAtsen which means"Visitor" is a male given name among the Afizere people of Nigeria. who are predominantly in Jos Plateau and Bauchi State Nigeria.
Adunni f YorubaMeans "sweet to have" in Yoruba, from
dùn "sweet, pleasant" and
ní "obtain, have, possess".... [
more]
Katuma m LubaDerived from the Luba word
kàtùmà meaning "last-born of triplets", ultimately from the word
tùmà meaning "to send". Superstition suggests that third-born children with this name, because of their name, should not be sent on errands or deliveries.
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.
Umoh m & f EfikMeans "born during a festival" in Efik.
Sarudzai f ShonaMeans "Be selective or discriminate". #Depending on circumstances the name may be a call to be selective in what you do or maybe blaming someone for being discriminating"
Tharja m Berber (Rare)Derived from the Berber word
ⵜⵓⵔⵣⴰ or
ⵜⴰⵔⵊⴰ for the "Apple of Sodom", (scientific name: Calotropis procera), a plant native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region.