Central African names include those from Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. See also about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Agborm & fJagham, Kenyang Means "he/she has fallen" in Jagham and Kenyang, spoken in Nigeria and Cameroon. It derives from the Jagham root gbɔ̌ meaning "to fall" maybe referred to God's blessings falling from above.
Akomam & fCentral African, African Mythology Akoma is the creator god of Pahuin mythology. His name Means “creator” in Pahuin, a common language in parts of São Tomé and Principe, southern Cameroon, much of northern Gabon, and mainland Equatorial Guinea.
AnuaritefCentral African (Rare) Of uncertain origin, allegedly meaning "one who laughs at war". This is best known as the name of the Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta (1939-1964), a Congolese nun who was killed at the age of 24 during the Congo Crisis; she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Ashum & fKenyang, Jagham From Kenyang sǒ meaning "wash, clean, clear." Alternatively it could stem from the verb sǔ in Ejagham which has the same meaning.
Atemf & mJagham, Kenyang Means "friends" in Jagham and Kenyang as it's the plural of ǹ-tèm meaning "friend".
BenkosmCentral African, Manding, Afro-American (Slavery-era) Benkos Biohó (died 1621), also known as Domingo Biohó, was said to have been born in either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola, where he was seized by the Portuguese slaver Pedro Gomez Reynel, sold to businessman Juan Palacios, and later, after transportation to what is now Colombia in South America, sold again to the Spaniard Alonso del Campo in 1596, in Cartagena de Indias... [more]
Betangm & fKenyang Derived from bɛtaŋ meaning "power" in Kenyang.
Beteckm & fKenyang From bɛtɨk meaning "work" in Kenyang.
DibafLuba Means "sun" in Tshiluba language spoken in Democratic Republic of Congo.
DikembemCentral African From Dikembe Mutombo (born June 25, 1966) a Congolese American retired professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Outside basketball, he has become known for his humanitarian work.
DimenafLingala Means “to be close, to be nearby” in Lingala.
IlánkakafLingala, African Mythology Ilankaka means ‘the sun maiden’. She is one of the main characters in the Mongo mythology complex. She is the estranged wife of Lonkundo.
KabangamLuba Means "the second-born or youngest twin" in Luba.
KagingamCentral African, Lega Kaginga is both the spiritual incarnation of evil and the villainous deity of bad luck in Lega mythology. His name does not have a well known meaning.
KatumamLuba Derived 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.
KenganimKongo Kengani is an African language, that belongs to Bantu people, designated from Congo kingdom in area that now is called Angola(Uige province).Which is used for Kings, liders, Boss, or heroes.... [more]
KenkungamCentral African, Lega Kenkunga is the deity of reassembling and reconstruction in Lega mythology. His name doesn’t have a well known meaning.
LomanamCentral African Trésor Lomana LuaLua (/ˈtrɛzɔr ləˈmɑːnə luːˌɑːluːˈɑː/; born 28 December 1980) is a Congolese footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Akhisar Belediyespor and the Congo DR national team.
LonkundomLingala Lonkundo is the mythical founder and culture hero of the Mongo Nkundo peoples of the Congo basin in DRC, Central Africa. He is one of the major characters in the Mongo-Nkundo mythology complex.
MobutumCentral African Mobutu Sese Seko (1930-1997), born Joseph-Desiré Mobutu, was the military dictator and President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which Mobutu renamed Zaire in 1971) from 1965 to 1997. He also served as Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity in 1967-1968.
NsambanzarymMbundu, Central African Nsambanzary means strength, power. From Kimbundu the second-most-widely spoken Bantu language in Angola. It is concentrated in the north-west of the country including the Luanda Province, the Bengo Province, the Malange Province, and the Kwanza Norte Province.
Nsimbam & fCongolese, Kongo, Ngombe, Mboma Means "first-born twin" in Kongo and other Congolese languages. It is referred to the first-born child in a set of twins.
Nsongof & mLingala Nsongo means ‘the sword’. It is the name of Lianja’s sister in the Lingala and Mongo-Nkundo mythology complex.
NsukafKongo Means "last born; youngest child" in Kongo.
Nzuzim & fKongo Means "second born twin" in Kikongo.
ObasimJagham, Kenyang Derived from ò-βàsì meaning "God" in Jagham, Kenyang and various Ekoid languages.
OmbemCentral African, Lega Ombe is a hidden darkness/underworld deity in Lega mythology, itself derived from ombe meaning ‘the Hidden one’, in the Lega language.
RomelumCentral African (Modern, Rare) This name is best known for being the name of the Belgian professional soccer player Romelu Lukaku (b. 1993), who is the eldest son of the Congolese professional soccer player Roger Menama Lukaku (b... [more]
Visolelaf & mCentral African From a proverb, meaning "good judgement". Origin is from the Ovimbundu of Angola. Ovisolela violomupa; vi pungula viopongala. English: Longing are Waterfalls; those you pick over are of the drying trays.
Yendembem & fLingala Yendembe means ‘he is free’ and is the childhood name of Lonkundo in the Nkundo mythology complex. It also means “Take No Orders”.
ZaïremKongo Zaïre means the river that never swallows in Kikongo
ZambomCentral African, Eastern African Is a popular given name for boys in many West Central African nations. Also the name of an Italian Safari crime drama film and the duology of jungle themed Bollywood mad scientist films that inspired the Captive Wild Woman series.