These
name are used by speakers of Nguni languages.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abafile f & m ZuluMeans "they are not dead" or "undead" in Zulu.
Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.
Amile m Zulusomething keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.
Andisiwe f & m XhosaMeans "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.
Anele m & f ZuluMeans "be enough; be sufficient; be adequate" in Zulu.
Aphelele m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Asavela f & m XhosaMeans "they still appear" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is South African actress Asavela Mngqithi.
Awonke m & f XhosaMeans "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.
Bafana m ZuluDerived from Zulu
abafana, the plural form of
umfana, meaning "boy, young man."
Bheki m Zulu"The person that's broadminded, able to think further about future needs and wants".
Bhekumbuso m Zulu (Rare)Means "look after the kingdom", from Zulu
bheka "look after" and
umbuso "kingdom, dominion".
Bongi f Xhosa, Southern AfricanShort form of
Sibongile. This was borne by South African singer and songwriter Angela Sibongile "Bongi" Makeba (1950-1985), the only child of singer Miriam Makeba... [
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Bongiwe f Zulu (Modern)Sibongile A Zulu name meaning "Appreciated" usually given to a first born girl child or after great difficulty of not being able to conceive a girl for a long time.
Cetshwayo m ZuluMeans "advised" in Zulu. This was the name of a Zulu King,
Dela f Zulu (Rare)Dela. in Zulu it means to become whole, to feel complete and satisfied.
Fanyana m ZuluFrom Zulu
umfanyana,
abafanyana meaning "little boy".
Gedleyihlekisa m Southern African, ZuluIn the case of former South African president Jacob Zuma (1942-), the name means "the one who smiles while causing you harm" in Zulu. His middle name was invented by his father, who based it on the phrase
ngeke ngithule umuntu engigedla engihlekisa meaning "I won't keep quiet when someone deceives me with a beautiful smile while he is doing damage to me".
Ghakarhi m ZuluThe meaning of this name is fierce warrior. A person not accepting defeat as an option.
Gugu f Zulu, XhosaFrom Zulu
igugu meaning "precious, valuable" or "treasure".
Hlomla m & f XhosaMeans "to comment on something" in Xhosa.
Ijuba f ZuluCommonly it is meaning Dove or Peace. Less common in means storm or fighting. It also means freedom in some local tribes. It is said many years ago a great war loomed. Fighting had started but one warrior championed the cause of peace and unity... [
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Inyoni f ZuluDerived from Zulu
inyoni meaning "bird".
Jabu f ZuluThe name's origin meaning is "It is the shortened form of the name Jabulani which means joy or to rejoice"
Khanyokulhe f ZuluMeans "guide on the way" in Zulu from the word
khanyo meaning "guide" and
kuhle meaning "way".
Khwezi m & f ZuluMeans "bright morning star" in Zulu.
Langa m ZuluFrom Zulu
ilanga "sun, sunshine, day".
Linda m ZuluMeans "wait!" in Zulu (note that this is the imperative singular form of
-linda).
Liyabona f & m XhosaMeans "it sees" or "you see" in Xhosa, sometimes taken from the phrase
liyabona igama le Nkosi meaning "the name of the eye of God".
Liyema f & m XhosaMeans "to stop" or "to stand, to be standing" in Xhosa, often taken from the phrase
liyema ikhaya "the home is standing" to indicate stability in the family.
Luchulumancolwenkosi f XhosaThis name is a scared name. Taken from words the Ancient King of the AmaMpondomise clan King Vukuzumbethe. He used to say “ lulo uchulumanco lwenkosi” which meant “this is God’s happiness”... [
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Luchumo m & f XhosaPossibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.
Luphelo m XhosaMeans "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.
Maveletiveni m SwaziA famous bearer is Maveletiveni Dlamini, son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Mbalienhle f Ndebele, ZuluMeans "beautiful flower" in Zulu and Ndebele, from
mbali "flower, flowers" and
enhle "something that is beautiful of nice".
Mesuli m & f Xhosa, ZuluMeans "wiper (of tears)" in Xhosa, suggesting someone who brings an end to sorrow.
Mnotho m & f ZuluMeans "economy" or "rich, wealthy" in Zulu.
Mswati m SwaziTwo famous bearers of this name are Mswati II (1825-1868) and Mswati III (1968 -), Kings of Swaziland. Mswati is not their birth name but their name as monarchs.
Mthakathi m Zulu, XhosaMeans "witch," from 'thakatha' meaning "to bewitch" in Xhosa or "to practice witchcraft" in Zulu.
Mzwandile m Xhosa, ZuluMeans "the house has expanded" in Xhosa, idiomatically referring to a growing family.
Nambitha f XhosaMeans "to savour, to enjoy" in Xhosa, encouraging the child to savour life.
Nandi f ZuluMeans "sweet" in Zulu. This was the name of the mother of
Shaka, famed warrior king of the Zulus in colonial South Africa (though her grave is marked
Nindi).
Nangamso f & m XhosaMeans "future" or "even tomorrow" in Xhosa, figuratively "thank you". Often intended as being part of a phrase such as
ungadinwa nangomso meaning "don’t be tired tomorrow". Meant to convey gratitude, and the hope for more of the same in the future.
Nokhanyo f XhosaMeans "light, shine" or "enlightenment" in Xhosa.
Nokuzola f XhosaApparently means "quiet", "calm" or "peace" in Xhosa.
Ongezwa f XhosaMeans "addition, one who was added" in Xhosa.
Qondiwe f XhosaPossibly related to
qonda, meaning "to understand".
Rolihlahla m Xhosa, Southern AfricanMeans "pulling the branch of a tree" in Xhosa, colloquially "stirring up trouble" or "troublemaker". This was the given name of Nelson Mandela (Rolihlahla Mandela) and is now typically attributed to him as a middle name.
Samkeliso m SwaziIn Swazi culture this means, a gift has been given. In Swaziland, the meaning of names is determined by the circumstances around the birth.
Sandisiwe f XhosaMeans "increased" or "we have been added to" in Xhosa.
Shumise f Xhosa10 shillings or 10 bob, created by the father of Alice Jean Shumise Madinga.... [
more]
Sicalo m SwaziA famous bearer is Sicalo Dlamini (1987-) son of Mswati III, King of Eswatini and his first wife Queen laMatsebula.
Simdingile m & f Xhosa, ZuluPossibly means "we need this", derived from Xhosa and Zulu
dinga meaning "to need, to require".
Simphiwe m & f ZuluMeaning "we have been given him/her" in Zulu.
Sinenhlanhla f ZuluMeans "we have luck" in Zulu, from
sine "we have" and
inhlanhla "luck".