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.
SadefYoruba, English (Modern) Short form of Folasade. It was popularized in the mid-80s due to the Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu (born Helen Folasade Adu, 1959-) and her eponymous smooth jazz band Sade.
SanusimIndonesian, Malay, Nigerian, Fula, Hausa From Arabic سَنُوسِيّ (sannūsī), the name of a Sufi order and clan that existed in Libya and the Sudan region. The sect was named after its founder, Muslim theologian Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi (1787-1859).
SarraouniafHausa From the name of Sarraounia Mangou, a Nigerian chief or priestess who fought the French colonial troops of the Voulet–Chanoine Mission at the Battle of Lougou in 1899. According to Wikipedia, her name means "queen" or "female chief".
SiakamWestern African Siaka, meaning ''chief'', was the one who made the tribes in primarily West Africa. In old culture every family had to name at least one son Siaka.
SiendoumManding This name is originally from the Arabic name Said. Among West Africa's Manding people, mainly in Northern Cote d'Ivoire in places like Kong, Dabakala, Satama Sokura and Sokoro. A variant of the name in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea where the same Mande people with differing dialects live, Seydou... [more]
SihonmWestern African Masculine name often found in Burkina Faso & neighboring regions.
Síilenem & fBandial Means "they (cows) make (birds) fly" in Bandial.
SijuolafYoruba Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Somayinaf & mIgbo The name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."
SomtomIgbo The name Somto is a name with Igbo origin. In Igbo, Somto is a shortened form of Somtochukwu, which translates to "Join me in praising God" or "Rejoice with me in the Lord."
Tafam & fYoruba Means "belonging to the white oracle" in Yoruba, derived from ti meaning "belonging to", àlà meaning "white cloth; banner" and ifá meaning "divination; oracle". It is possibly used as diminutive of a longer name as well.
TaiomYoruba, Papuan Variant of Tayo. A famous bearer is British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz (1985-), born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, the son of a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother.
TegwolomIgbo An Igbo name from the YouTube channel House of Ajebo.
TejumolafYoruba Means "one who looks forward to better days" or "stare at wealth" in Yoruba, derived from tẹ meaning "press", ojú meaning "eyes, face", mọ́ meaning "onto" and ọlá meaning "wealth".
TiébilémWestern African Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Malian politician Tiébilé Dramé (b. 1955).
TiécoromWestern African Meaning as of yet unknown. Notable bearers of this name include the Malian soccer player Tiécoro Keita (b. 1994) and the Malian soldier Tiécoro Bagayoko (1937-1983), who was once the director of Mali's national security service.
TiémouémWestern African Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the French soccer player Tiémoué Bakayoko (b. 1994), whose family originates from Ivory Coast.
TiénamWestern African Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Malian politician Tiéna Coulibaly (b. 1952).
Tokunbom & fYoruba Means "returned from overseas". It is often given to children born abroad and brought home.
Tolam & fYoruba Means "prominent for success" in Yoruba, derived from tó meaning "as prominent as" and ọlá meaning "wealth, success, nobility". It is also a short form of longer names such as Omotola, Oyètọ́lá, Tọ́lání and Tọ́láṣe.
Tolulopef & mYoruba Means "to the Lord be Praise" in Yoruba.
Toyosim & fNigerian, Yoruba Means "something to rejoice about" in Yoruba, also used as a short form for other names ending in -toyosi including Olutoyosi or Oluwatoyosi.
Uchechukwum & fIgbo, African Based on the IGBO belief in a Supreme deity, Chukwu whose decision or will is final in the determination of human fate or destiny. It is a combination of two words of the Igbo (IBO), language, UCHE (WISH,WILL,THOUGHT) and CHUKWU (GOD)... [more]
UdumamIgbo The name means serenity, quietness. It's derived from the deity god of river, Uduma mmiri. A deity believed to be responsible for maintaining stillness of the waters in ohafia community in Igbo race.