Browse Submitted Names

This is a list of submitted names in which the usage is African; and a substring is a.
gender
usage
contains
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Babacar m Western African
Form of Abu Bakr used in parts of western Africa.
Babalola m Yoruba
Means "father is wealth" in Yoruba.
Babalwa f Xhosa
Means "blessed" in Xhosa.
Babatope m & f Yoruba
A responsible father.
Babatu m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.
Babiker m Northern African, Arabic
Sudanese name possibly derived from the given name Bakr or from Arabic بَكَرَ (bakara) meaning "first born" or "to be early, to rise early".
Baboucarr m Wolof, Western African
Variant of Boubacar in many Western African languages.
Babsie f South African
Short and familiar form of Barbara.
Babusi m Tswana
Means "leaders" in Setswana.
Bada m Yoruba
Possibly from Yoruba meaning "togerher with" and meaning "mix". It is likely a short form of another name.
Bade m Nigerian
The use of the name in Nigeria is likely due to the Bade Emirate, a traditional state in Yobe State, Nigeria, the home of the Bade people.
Badiambila m & f Luba
Means "let them speak among themselves" in Luba-Kasai.
Badigwala m & f Kassena
Means "they have defeated the slave raider" in Kasem.
Badinabi f Central African, Luba
Means "they have riches" in Luba-Kasai.
Badis m Berber (Rare)
The meaning of this name is unknown but several kings had this name.
Badra m & f Western African, Arabic
Possibly a variant of Badr.
Badumedi f Tswana
Means "believe" in Setswana.
Badúwaa f Akan
Means "tenth born" in Akan.
Bafana m Zulu
Derived from Zulu abafana, the plural form of umfana, meaning "boy, young man."
Bafiske f Tumbuka
Means "let them do as they please" in Tumbuka.
Bahaar f African
An African girl's name derived from "Bahar", meaning "Spring"
Bahari f & m Swahili
Means "sea" or "ocean" in Swahili.
Bahelwang m & f Tswana
Means "why give them?" in Setswana.
Bahru m Amharic
Means "the sea" in Amharic.
Bahta m Tigrinya
Meaning unknown.
Baitshephi m & f Tswana
Means "the just" or "the saints" in Setswana.
Baitumetse m Tswana
Means "they are happy" in Setswana.
Bajikijayi m & f Central African, Luba-Kasai
Means "finish" or "destroy them" in Luba-Kasai.
Bakaffa m Eastern African
Bakaffa (throne name Asma Sagad, later Masih Sagad Ge'ez መሲህ ሰገድ, "to whom the anointed bows") was nəgusä nägäst (May 18, 1721 – September 19, 1730) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty... [more]
Bakang m & f Tswana
Means "praise" in Tswana.
Bakery m Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
Bakhta f African, Arabic, Berber
Means "starry" in Berber.
Bakome m Lingala
Means “they are written” in Lingala.
Bale m Swahili
Means “yes, correct” in Swahili.
Baleba f Luba
Means "they have birthed" in Luba-Kasai, one of the Luba languages.
Balijekwao f Tumbuka
Means "they have no home" in Tumbuka.
Balima f & m Dagbani
Means "persuasion" in Dagbani.
Balinda m Swahili
Means “guard” in Swahili.
Balkissa f Western African
Form of Bilqis used in West Africa.
Balondemu m Ganda
Means “they choose” in Luganda.
Baloua m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Bamikole m Yoruba
BUILD ME A HOUSE, MEANING: CREATING A STRONG AND CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP AMONG PEOPLE AS A FAMILY
Banbangtaba m & f Dagbani
Means "those who know each other" in Dagbani.
Banga m Shona
Means "knife" or "sword" in Shona. Banga is the name of a Ngbandi god of water.
Bangbebu m & f Dagbani
Means "be careful" in Dagbani.
Bangda m & f Dagbani
Means "knowledgeable person" in Dagbani.
Bangsim m & f Dagbani
"Knowledge" denoting "Intelligence"
Bangura m & f Mende
Means "strong" and "child of God" in Mende.
Banjaw m Amharic
Means "by his side" in Amharic.
Bankatametse f Tswana
Means "they are close to me" in Setswana.
Bankole m Western African, Yoruba
Means "build my house for me" in Yoruba.
Banyatsang f Tswana
Means "why do they doubt?" in Setswana.
Bapaki m Tswana
Means "those who give testimony" in Setswana.
Baragsen m Tuareg
From the Tuareg abarag meaning "pride".
Baraki m Amharic
Means "one who blesses" in Amharic.
Baridakara f & m Ogoni
Means "God answers prayer(s)" in Khana.
Baridilo m & f Ogoni
God is with me
Barikpoa m Ogoni
Means "God save" in Khana.
Bariledum m Ogoni (Modern)
Means "God is alive" in Khana.
Barinedum m & f Ogoni
Khana, Gokana, Ogani: "God give life".
Barisua f & m Ogoni
Means "God knows" in Khana.
Barre m Somali
A name that comes from the Somali word bare which means "teacher." Barre was the last name (meaning the first name of the grandfather of) Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali spelling: Maxamed Siyaad Barre). Siad Barre was the military ruler and president of Somali from 1969 until 1991.
Bartho m Dutch, Afrikaans
Short form of Bartholomeus. Notable bearers of this name include the Dutch actor Bartho Braat (b. 1950) and the South African writer Bartho Smit (1924-1986).
Baruk m Ethiopian
Variant of Biruk.
Barulaganye f Tswana
Means "they are in order" in Setswana.
Baruti m Tswana
Means "teacher" in Tswana.
Barwaaqo f Somali
Means "prosperity" in Somali.
Basadibotlhe f Tswana
Means "all women" in Setswana.
Basambilu f Tsonga
From the Xitsonga basa meaning "clean, white, pure" and mbilu meaning "heart".
Basani f Tsonga
Means "be clean, be white" in Xitsonga.
Bašankʼ-a m Sidamo
Means "sorghum" in Sidama.
Bašankʼe f Sidamo
Feminine form of Bašankʼ-a.
Baseleyos m Amharic
Amharic form of Basileus.
Basetsana f Sotho
Means "ladies" in Sotho.
Basetsanabotlhe f Tswana
Means "all girls" in Setswana.
Bashiir m Somali
Somali form of Bashir.
Basi m Berber
Meaning unknown.
Basireletsi m Tswana
Means "our protector" in Setswana.
Bassey m & f African
(Efik and Ibibio) origin meaning little god
Batamoyo m Shona
It means to “hold or touch the heart”.
Batanai m Shona
Means "be united" in Shona.
Batandwa m & f African
Batandwa was a used name reffering to followers in Christianity.
Bathusi m & f Tswana
Means "helpers" in Setswana.
Batifeori m Yoruba (Rare)
Means "how we want it to be" in Yoruba.
Batii f Oromo
Oromo name meaning "moon."
Batirai m Shona
Means “you must persevere” in Shona.
Batshegi f Tswana
Means "those who laugh" in Setswana.
Batsirai f Shona
Means "help" in Shona.
Batuulo f Somali
Somali form of Batul.
Baxsan f Somali
Means "escape" in Somali.
Bayenkhu f Tumbuka
Means "where will they go?" in Tumbuka.
Beauty f English, Popular Culture, South African
From the English word "beauty", ultimately derived from Latin bellus, "beautiful". See also Belle and Bella.
Bedalu m Amharic
Means "by His victory" in Amharic.
Bediako m Akan
Means "came to engage in wars" in Akan.
Beduna m Nigerian, Ngas
The name BEDUNA is from plateau state Nigeria which means "is it bad?" It's a question name, when someone utter a word that is not good and didn't come to pass then you can ask him BEDUNA "is it bad?"
Befeqadu m Amharic
Means "by His will" in Amharic.
Behati f Afrikaans
Possibly an Afrikaans variant of Beata. It is the name of Namibian fashion model Behati Prinsloo (b. 1989).
Bekeara f Ijaw
Means "Englishwoman" in Ijaw.
Bekezela f Ndebele
Means "be patient" in Ndebele.
Bekhta f Berber
Variant of Bakhta. Bekhta Rabah-Mazari is a well-known bearer.
Bekunda m African
It is used by the people of the switzerlan of uganda.... [more]
Belayneh m Eastern African, Amharic
It is an Amharic expression, which means "the new child is above all others". From the Amharic elements በላይ (belay) meaning "above" and ነህ (Neh) means "you".... [more]
Belendia m Amharic
Means "say it out loud" or "do it right" in Amharic.
Benesha f Zulu
Means “they are new” in Zulu.
Bereketab m Ge'ez
Means "blessing of the Father" in Ge'ez.
Beritda m Ngas
BERITDA in Ngas language of plateau state means."""it turns out to be good?... [more]
Berlina f Indonesian, South African, Filipino, Dutch (Rare)
Clearly feminine form of Berlin or a simplified form of Berlinda.
Berna f Hungarian, German (Bessarabian), Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Afrikaans
Short form of Bernadett and Bernadetta as well as a Dutch and Afrikaans short form of names beginning with the element Bern-.
Bersabeh f Armenian, Amharic
Armenian and Amharic form of Bathsheba.
Betabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "wait for god" in Ibibio.
Betami f Amharic
Means "lovely" in Amharic.
Betang m & f Kenyang
Derived from bɛtaŋ meaning "power" in Kenyang.
Betserai f Shona
Meaning "help, aid, or give assistance", another form of the name is Etserai or Batsirai.
Beya m Zulu
Means “they go” in Zulu.
Beydaan f Somali
Somali feminine name taken directly from the ordinary vocabulary word for "almond", which is perhaps ultimately from Persian بادام (bâdâm) "almond".
Beza f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means "payment, redemption" in Amharic.
Bezawit f Amharic
Means "saviour" in Amharic.
Bhekani m Zulu, Ndebele
Means "look" in Zulu and Ndebele.
Bhekisisa f Zulu
Means "to be careful, cautious" in Zulu.
Bhekithemba f Zulu
Means "look for hope" in Zulu.
Bhekizifundiswa m Zulu
Means "watch the educated ones" in Zulu.
Bibuwa m Swahili
Means “boss” in Swahili.
Bigaŋ m & f Dagbani
"Not discriminated" denoting "I will not discriminate"
Binta f Hausa
From the Arabic بِنْت‎ (bint) meaning "daughter".
Birabiro f Amharic
Means "butterfly" in Amharic.
Biria f Shona
Means "gathering" in Shona.
Biruktawit f Amharic
Originated from the Bible which means 'blessed' and is of Amharic origin
Bishisha f Rwandan
Means “they hide” in Kinyarwanda.
Bismack m Central African, English (African)
Possibly a variant of Bismarck. This is borne by Congolese basketball player Bismack Biyombo (1992-).
Boammaruri m Tswana
Means "truth" in Setswana.
Boatametse m Tswana
Means "His kingdom drew near" in Setswana.
Bobolayefa f Ijaw
Means "nothing can be compared to my own" in Ijaw.
Bobomiegha f Ijaw
Means "I didn't do it on my own" in Ijaw.
Boikaego m Tswana
Means "someone to lean on" in Setswana.
Boikanyo m & f Tswana
Means "trustworthy" in Setswana.
Bokamoso m & f South African, Sotho
Means "future".
Bokang f Sotho
Means "praise" or "rejoice" in Sotho.
Bokidara m & f Ibibio
Means "accept with joy" in Ibibio.
Bola f Yoruba
Short form of Bolanle, meaning "wealth coming". It is composed of bo ("come, coming") plus ǫlà ("riches, wealth").
Bolade m & f Yoruba
Means "comes with wealth" in Yoruba.
Boluwaji m & f Yoruba
Means "wakes up with the lord" in Yoruba.
Boluwatife f Yoruba
Means "as god wishes, one who follows the will of god" in Yoruba.
Boma m & f Swahili
Meaning "fort or enclosure". The word actually originates from Swahili and is traditionally known as an enclosure, a stockade or fort used to protect people's livestock (usually sheep and cattle).
Bomani m Yao
Means "warrior" in Yao.
Bompaka m & f Kongo
Means "old age" in Kikongo
Bonaking m Igbo
"Bonaking is a name that signifies leadership, translating to 'born to rule'. It reflects a powerful presence and an innate ability to lead others.
Bonduwa f Lingala, African Mythology
Bonduwa was Lonkundo’s first wife in the Mongo mythology complex.
Bonga m Mbundu
Means "he who is looking" in Mbundu.
Bongai f Shona
Means "be thankful" in a Shona dialect.
Bonna f Bariba
Name traditionally given to the second born daughter.
Bootaan m Somali
The name Bootaan is of Somali origin and carries a powerful and positive meaning. In Somali, Bootaan is often associated with characteristics like strength, courage, and dignity. It's a traditional Somali name that reflects qualities admired in Somali culture, particularly in relation to leadership, bravery, and standing firm in the face of challenges.... [more]
Boragane f Tswana
Means "small red-billed quelea" in Setswana.
Boukazi m & f Ijaw
Means "a child born in a bush" in Ijaw.
Bozoma f Western African
From Ghana.
Brahima m Western African
Form of Ibrahim used in parts of western Africa.
Buang f Sotho
Means "speak" or "chat" in Sesotho.
Buboupakumo f Ijaw
Means "don't grow alone" in Ijaw.
Bukata m & f Bemba
Means "God's glory" in Bemba.
Burabari f & m Ogoni
Means "God's will" in Ogoni.
Burhaan m Somali, Arabic
Means "charisma" in Somali and "proof" in Arabic.
Buronya m & f Akan
Means "Christmas" in Akan. This may be given to children born around this time of year.
Busara f Swahili
Means "wisdom" in Swahili.
Busayo m & f Yoruba
Means "added joy" in Yoruba.
Busola m & f Yoruba
Means "added wealth" in Yoruba.
Buyan f Berber
Meaning unknown.
Bvumai m Shona
Bvumai means "Admit". This may be a name given to say to adversary admit that you were wrong, you were defeated or that you committed the offence
Bwami m Shona
Meaning "emperor", another form of the name is Hwami.
Bwerani m Chewa
Means "come" or "come back" in Chewa.
Byamugisha m Kiga
Means "things of luck" in Rukiga.
Byénáama m Kiga
Means "things of secrets" in Rukiga.
Caa'isha f Somali (Rare)
Somali variant of Aisha.
Cabaas m Somali
Somali form of Abbas.
Cabdi m Eastern African, Somali
Somali form of Abdi.
Cabdille m Somali
Somali form of Abdullah.
Cabdinasir m Somali
Somali form of Abd an-Nasir.
Cabdinuur m Somali
Somali form of Abd an-Nur.
Cabdisamad m Somali
Somali form of Abd as-Samad.
Cabdullahi m Somali
Somali form of Abdullahi.
Cabh'a f Kabyle
Possibly means "beautiful" in Kabyle.
Cacile f Ndebele
Means "clear" in Ndebele.
Cadnaan m Somali
Somali form of Adnan.
Calvinia f South African
Feminine form of Calvin.
Cámad m Afar
Afar form of Hamad.
Canab f Somali
Means "grape" in Somali.
Carelia f Afrikaans, Spanish (Mexican), Spanish (Latin American), Danish (Archaic)
Afrikaans feminine form of Carel and Spanish and Danish variant of Karelia.
Caria f English (Rare), South African
Possibly a variant of Carrie or Cara, or from the ancient place name Caria... [more]
Carike f Afrikaans
Feminine form of Carel.
Cartan m Somali
The name Cartan may be linked to terms or concepts in Somali language that emphasize strength or steadfastness, though its exact root is difficult to pinpoint. Many Somali names are descriptive, referring to virtues or traits that parents hope their child will embody, such as courage or leadership.
Cashile f Zulu (Rare)
Possibly derived from cashisa meaning "conceal, hide."
Caster f South African
Possibly a variant of Castor.
Caweys m Somali
Means "night" in Somali.
Cawil m Somali
A name that means "replacement." A family may give the name to a male whose father or older brother has died.
Cawo f Somali
A name that comes from the Somali word cawo which means "luck." Outside of Somalia, Somalis may spell it as Awo.
Caydiid m Somali (Rare)
Derived from the Somali words cay, meaning "insult," and diid, meaning "to reject," interpreted as "rejects insults".
Caynaanshe m Somali
Means "cotton" in Somali.
Cebisa f & m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "to suggest, to give advice" in Xhosa.
Čʼena m Sidamo
Means "little" in Sidama.
Cetshwayo m Zulu
Means "advised" in Zulu. This was the name of a Zulu King,
Cézanne f & m English, Afrikaans
From the French artist, Paul Cézanne. This name is sometimes used as a feminine name by Afrikaners in South Africa due to its similarity to Suzanne.
Chalpang f Dagbani
Means "forgive" in Dagbani.
Chaltu f Eastern African, Oromo
Means "being the best of the best" in Oromo.
Chamirai m Shona
Means "be focused and diligent" in Shona.
Chamsia f Eastern African
Possibly a Comorian form of Shams. A notable bearer is Comorian singer Chamsia Sagaf (1955-).
Chamu m Southern African
Short form of Chamunorwa. This is the nickname of Zimbabwean cricketer Chamu Chibhabha. His real name is Chamunorwa.
Chan m Dinka
Means "male child in the first pair of twins" in Dinka.
Chanez f Northern African
In Algeria, Chanez is frequently used as a variant of Shahnaz.... [more]
Chanique f African American (Rare), Afrikaans
Variant of Shanique, the spelling perhaps influenced by Chanel.
Chaniya f Swahili
Means "wealthy" in Swahili.
Chapanjira f Chewa
Means "of the road, of the journey" in Chewa.
Chapansi f & m Nsenga
Child born after many miscarriages
Chapasi f & m Tumbuka
Means "earth, dirt, belongs to earth" in Tumbuka, often given after other children in the family have died.
Charl m Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Charles.
Charle m Afrikaans, Norman
Cotentinais Norman and Afrikaans form of Charles.
Chat f Nigerian
F, Bajju name from nigeria; it means, love or like
Chausiki f Swahili
Means "born at night" in Swahili.
Chawanangwa m Tumbuka
Means "blessing, gift" in Tumbuka.
Chawanzi m & f Nsenga
Meaning gift or freely given
Cheikha f Arabic (Maghrebi, Rare), Western African (Rare)
Feminine form of Sheikh (chiefly Algerian and Mauritanian).
Cheja f Kaguru
Means "we came" in Chikaguru.
Chemutai f Kalenjin
Derives from the East African tribe, the Kalenjins. Like many other Kalenjin names, the first part of the name relates to the gender of the person and the second part is how, when, or where they were born... [more]
Chengetai m & f African, Shona
To protect/to take care of
Chenjerai m Shona
Chenjerai means "Be on guard, wisen up". Chenjerai Hunzvi the Zimbabwean Freedom Fighter is one bearer of this name.
Chenzira m & f Southern African, Shona
Means "born on a journey" in Shona.