Western African names include those from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. See also about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
MaaouyamWestern African A known bearer is Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (1941-), a Mauritanian military officer who served as the president of Mauritania from 1984-2005.
Mabayojem & fYoruba Means "do not destroy joy" in Yoruba.
MalidomamWestern African According to the Burkinabé writer Malidoma Patrice Somé (1956-2021), his name means "he who befriends the enemy" or "friend of the stranger" in the Dagaare language.
Mansam & fManding, Akan Title for "king" or "ruler", now also used as a name. Can also mean "third daughter" in Twi, which is in the Akan language family.
MansurahfHausa Means "supporter, victorious" in Hausa.
MantaumHausa From the Hausa mântā meaning "forget".
ManthiamWestern African Manthia Diawara (born December 19, 1953) is a Malian writer, filmmaker, scholar, cultural theorist, and art historian. Meaning unknown.
MaÿroumfamSonghai, Western African Meaning unknown. It was the name of an Askia dynasty member of the Dendi Kingdom straddling what are now Benin and Niger.
Megafum & fIgbo Means "do for all to see" in Igbo.
MeissafWestern African, Astronomy Variant of Maïssa; from Arabic maḥīṣ meaning "shining, glittering". This is also the traditional name of Lambda Orionis, a star in the Orion constellation.
MmoatiafAkan This is a FAIRY from the stories about Ananse (from Ghana). She was the fairy that "no man sees". This explains why Ananse had to perform a complex trick to lure her to him.
MobiisolafYoruba meaning- literal translation "i gave birth to her in wealth" basically this child was born into a wealthy family,one highly esteemed in society. though the name is not gender selective, it is almost always used for females
MoradekefYoruba Means "I have gotten something precious to pamper" in Yoruba.
Moráyọ̀f & mYoruba A unisex name meaning "I have found joy" or "I have joy". Morayo Afolabi-Brown, a Nigerian media personality, is a bearer of this name.
MuogboomIgbo Means "let the spirits intervene or settle the matter" in Igbo.
MurtalamNigerian West African variant of Murtada. This was borne by Murtala Muhammed (1938-1976), a Nigerian Army general who became fourth Head of State of Nigeria.
NamorimWestern African Used 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.
NenehfWestern African Meaning unknown, possibly a variant of Nana 4 or Nnenne. It is borne by Swedish singer Neneh Cherry (1964-), who inherited the name from her Sierra Leonean paternal grandmother.
Nengimotef & mIjaw Ijaw name Meaning "OVERCOMER OR VICTORY" NENGI for short
NenritdungfAfrican, Ngas, Nigerian A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning "God is good"
Nenrotf & mAfrican, Ngas, Nigerian A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Meaning "God loves"
NgohidefWestern African my mother has returned. usually given to the first daughter born after the death of a mother
N'golomManding This name means "I've largely procreated" (said by the newborn's father) in Bambara. It is traditionally given to the third-born son. ... [more]
NkeiroukafIgbo (Russified), Obscure Variant of Nkiruka borne by Nkeirouka 'Kira' Ezekh (1983-), a Russian curler whose father is of Nigerian Igbo descent, while her mother is Chuvash.
NwankwomIgbo Means "born on Nkwo market day" in Igbo. Nwankwo Obiora is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Académica de Coimbra as a defensive midfielder.
Odum & fYoruba A name from the Yoruba language of Nigeria, possibly meaning "womb" but more likely meaning "mystery", in particular to refer to the sacred mystery of God. ... [more]