Western African Submitted Names

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.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Sagtiti m & f Dagbani
This name means "Agree with us" or "Accept us"
Saha f & m Dagbani
Means "good luck" in Dagbani.
Saïdou m Western African
Form of Sa'id used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Sa'idu m Hausa
Hausa form of Sa'id.
Sainabou f Western African
Form of Zaynab used in Gambia.
Sakinah f Hausa
Means "tranquility, peace of mind" in Hausa.
Sakura m Western African (?)
Mansa Sakura, sixth mansa of the Mali Empire, was a famous bearer.... [more]
Sale m Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of Salih.
Salemite m Efik
Means "offspring of peace" in Efik.
Salimata f Western African
Form of Salima used in parts of western Africa.
Saliou m Western African
Form of Salih used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Sallan m Hausa
Means "born on a feast day" in Hausa.
Sallau m Hausa
From the Hausa sallā̀ meaning “prayer, religious holiday”.
Salpawuni m & f Dagbani
"Human is not God" denoting "man is not God"
Samb m Western African
Senegalese name
Samba m Western African, Fula
Senegalese Fula name used to denote a second-born son.
Sambala f Hausa
Feminine form of Sambali.
Sambali m Hausa
Means "tall, well-formed" in Hausa.
Sanama f Efik, Ibibio
Means "completely pure" in Efik and Ibibio.
Sando m Dagbani, Kusaal
Means "stranger" or "traveler" in Dagbani and Kusaal.
Ṣàngó m Western African
Yoruba spelling of Shango.
Sãngo f Bariba
Name traditionally given to girls born on a Sunday.
Sanusi m Indonesian, 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).
Saran f Western African, Manding, Jula
Means "joy" in Jula.
Saratu f Hausa
Hausa form of Sara.
Sarki m Hausa
Means "chief" in Hausa.
Saro m Ogoni
Means "first son" in Khana.
Sarraounia f Hausa
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".
Satou f Western African
Short form of Isatou.... [more]
Sayo f & m Yoruba
Means "make joy" in Yoruba.
Sega m Wolof, Manding
Unknown meaning, possibly related to the Wolof word ségg ("tiger, leopard").
Seiakumokumo f Ijaw
Means "do not take me in a bad way" in Ijaw.
Seihia f Tiv
The name Originates from Tiv and it means "Peaceful Bird" or "One of a kind"
Seko m & f Western African
child of the sun
Sekou m Fula
Fula form of the Arabic title Sheikh.
Seku m Fula
Older form of Sekou.
Sele f & m Ijaw
Means "judge or plan carefully" in Ijaw.
Seledebo m & f Ijaw
Means "the chosen one" in Ijaw.
Selekumo m Ijaw
Means "don't abound me" in Dagbani.
Sélom m Western African
Komi Sélom Klassou is Prime Minister of Togo.
Selom m & f Western African
A Western African name used for both genders.
Selorm m & f Western African, Ewe
Means "God loves me" or "divine love" in Ewe.
Semshak m African, Nigerian, Ngas
A common name used among the Jos Plateau people of Nigeria. Means "stay together".
Sena f & m Ewe
Means "destiny gives" in Ewe.
Sereba m & f Akan
Means "silver" in Akan.
Serval m Western African
Directly taken from the name of the African cat species.
Sesan m Yoruba
Means "God has avenged me" in Yoruba.
Sethina f Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. This name is predominantly used in Ghana.
Seyi f & m Yoruba
Short form of Oluwaseyi.
Seyni m Songhai, Western African
Meaning unknown.
Shadari m Hausa
Means "born during the cold season" in Hausa.
Shango m Western African
The name of a fire god in the traditional Yoruba religion.
Shanono m & f Hausa
Means "drink milk" in Hausa. This name is traditionally given to a child born when calves are being delivered.
Sharifiya f Hausa
Means "born during Ramadan" in Hausa.
Shekarau m Hausa
From the Hausa shḕkarà meaning “spend the year”.
Shibkan m Hausa
Means "beans in the sowing season" in Hausa.
Shima m & f Tiv
Shima means heart in Tiv language
Shitobu m Dagbani
Name of the founder of Dagbong Kingdom
Shola m & f Yoruba, African
Short form of names that end with "sola", such as Olusola or Adesola. R&B singer Shola Ama is a well-known bearer.
Siaka m Western 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.
Sibiri m Dagbani
"Saturday Born" Sibdoo
Siendou m Manding
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]
Sihon m Western African
Masculine name often found in Burkina Faso & neighboring regions.
Síilene m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) make (birds) fly" in Bandial.
Sijuola f Yoruba
Means "wealth opener" or "open the eyes of wealth" in Yoruba.
Simi f Yoruba
Short form of Simidele.
Simidele f Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba. ... [more]
Simileoluwa f & m Yoruba
I rest on the Lord
Sinmiloluwa f & m Yoruba
Means "rest in the lord" in Yoruba.
Sípimbore m & f Bandial
Means "they (cows) face each other" in Bandial.
Sira f Ogoni
Means "first daughter" in Khana.
Sirlord m Western African
Probably composed from the English words sir and lord.
Sitefanu m Yoruba (Rare)
Yoruba form of Stephen.
Sogo m & f Yoruba
Means "makes glory", a short form of Oluwasogo.
Somayina f & m Igbo
The name of Igbo origin means "I am not alone."
Somto m Igbo
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."
Somtochukwu f & m Western African, Igbo
Means "praise God with me" in Igbo.
Sona f Western African
Meaning unknown.... [more]
Sonomo f & m Ijaw
Means "seven" in Ijaw. It is typically given to a seventh child, or a child born prematurely in the seventh month.
Sope m & f Yoruba
Means "be grateful" in Yoruba.
Sordum f & m Ogoni
Means "time of life" in Khana.
Sorle f & m Ogoni
Khana for "there's time" (as in, you have time to do something)... [more]
Sorniabari f & m Ogoni
Means "when it pleases God" in Khana, (when it pleases God for him to do something, like "God's time")... [more]
Sotonte m Ijaw
Means "Heaven/God has decided"
Souleymanou m Western African
Form of Sulayman used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Soumaïla m Western African
Form of Isma'il used in parts of French-influenced western Africa (particularly Mali).
Sowunmi m Yoruba, African
Means "the sorcerer is attractive to me" in Yoruba.
Sroda f Western African
Means "respect".
Suanu f & m Ogoni
Means "wisdom, knowledge" in Khana.
Suara m Yoruba
Derived from Ash-Shu‘ara (The Poets), the name of the 26th chapter of the Quran.
Suglo m & f Dagbani
Means "patience" in Dagbani.
Sugrinongma m & f Mossi
Means "patience is sweet" in Mossi, spoken in Burkina Faso.
Suhidoo m & f Dagbani
Means "peace" in Dagbani.
Suhipelli m & f Dagbani
Means "happiness" in Dagbani.
Suhiyini m & f Dagbani
it literally means one heart, denoting `clean heart`
Sulaimanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Sulemanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Solomon.
Sulola f Yoruba
Of Yoruba origin, but the meaning of the name is yet unknown to me.
Sunebari m & f Ogoni
Means "give to God" in Khana.
Sunubai f & m Ijaw
Means "born on Sunday" in Ijaw.
Suoton f Ijaw
Means "as planned" in Ijaw.
Suoyo f & m Ijaw
Means "profit or gain" in Ijaw.
Swaa m Bariba
Means "road" in Bariba, this name is given to a child born on a journey.
Taali-mbo f & m Dagbani
Means "thank you so much" in Dagbani.
Tabi m Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tafa m & f Yoruba
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.
Tahama m & f Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Tahirou m Western African
Western African elaboration of Tahir.
Taio m Yoruba, 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.
Tamaha f & m Dagbani
Means "hope" in Dagbani.
Tamaralaifa f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "there's none like God" in Ijaw.
Tamuno-imim m Ijaw
Means "there is God" in Ijaw.
Tamunonemi m Nigerian
Means "wisdom of God" in Kalabari, spoken in Nigeria.
Tamunotonye m & f Western African, Ijaw
Means "God's will" or "God's favour" in Ijaw.
Tanko m Hausa
Name given to a boy born after many girls.
Tarana f Hausa
Given for females who are born during the day.
Tari f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "love" in Ijaw.
Taribi m & f Ijaw
Means "ask for or seek love" in Ijaw.
Tariere f Ijaw
Means "the loved woman" in Ijaw.
Tarimbele m & f Ijaw
Means "love is sweet" in Ijaw.
Tariperedei m & f Ijaw
Means "love has been given to me" in Ijaw.
Tasalla f Hausa
From the Hausa ta meaning “of” and sallā̀ meaning "prayer, religious holiday”.
Taweh m Western African
Means "go there!" in Vai, spoken in Liberia.
Tawia f Western African (Archaic)
Tawia mean "born after twins"
Tayo m & f Yoruba
Means "worth joy" in Yoruba. It is often used as a short form of names ending in tayo, such as Olatayo.
Teawa m & f Akan
Means "the slim one" in Akan.
Tegwolo m Igbo
An Igbo name from the YouTube channel House of Ajebo.
Tejumola f Yoruba
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".
Tekena f & m Ijaw
Means "hear my plea" in Ijaw.
Temidire m & f Yoruba
This Nigerian name means "Mine has turned to blessings" in Yoruba.
Temilola f Yoruba
Means "mine is wealth" in Yoruba.
Temiloluwa m & f Yoruba
Means "God is mine" in Yoruba.
Temitayo f & m Yoruba
Means "mine is worthy of joy" in Yoruba.
Tenabaabi m & f Akan
Means "just stay at a place" in Akan.
Teniayo f Yoruba
Means "foundation of joy" in Yoruba.
Tersoo m Tiv
Tersoo means "the father,like"
Tiaraoluwa f Yoruba
Supposedly means "from the body of God" in Yoruba.
Tidiane m Western African
From a French word used to refer to a follower of Tijaniyyah, a Sufi order that originated in Northern Africa.
Tidiya m & f Dagbani
It means "we have won"
Tiébilé m Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Malian politician Tiébilé Dramé (b. 1955).
Tiécoro m Western 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.
Tiécoura m Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown; it might possibly be related to Tiécoro.... [more]
Tiekuromo f & m Ijaw
Means "let's stand firmly" in Ijaw.
Tiéman m Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Malian politician Tiéman Coulibaly (b. 1967).
Tiémoko m Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown, but likely of Senufo origin.... [more]
Tiémoué m Western 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.
Tiéna m Western African
Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Malian politician Tiéna Coulibaly (b. 1952).
Tienepre f Ijaw
Stand for me
Tijani m & f Arabic (Maghrebi), Hausa, Western African, Nigerian
From Arabic تِيجَانِ (tījāni) meaning "crowns".
Tima m Efik
Means "remember love" in Efik.
Timidi m Ijaw
Means "live to see" or "witness" in Ijaw.
Timieri m & f Ijaw
Means "live to see" in Ijaw.
Timtooni m & f Dagbani
it literally means move forward denoting prosper
Tinnie f & m Igbo
Used for very small children.
Tinu m Yoruba
Diminutive of names beginning with tinu- such as Tinuade, Tinubu, Tinuke, Tinuola, Tinuosho, Tinuoso and Tinuoye... [more]
Tipagya f & m Dagbani
Means "we thank God" in Dagbani.
Tiri f & m Western African, Ijaw
Means "outsider" in Ijaw.
Titi f Yoruba
Means "forever" in Yoruba and is typically a short form for names starting with Titi such as Titilayo.
Titilola f & m African, Yoruba
Means "wealth is forever" in Yoruba.
Tiyamiyu m Yoruba
Mans "my mother is the dearest" in Kwa.
Tiyumba m & f Dagbani
Means "let's love them" in Dagbani.
Tiyumtaba m & f Dagbani (Modern)
Meaning: "Let's love one another"
Toba m Yoruba
Short form of Oloruntuba.
Tobechukwu m Igbo
Means "praise God" in Igbo.
Tobi m & f Yoruba
Short form of Olutobi, Oluwatobi or Oluwatobiloba.
Tofunmi m & f Yoruba
a strong desire for success and all the amenities of affluence.
Tokoni f Ijaw
Means "praise" in Ijaw.
Toks m Nigerian (?)
Means "carefree person".
Tokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "returned from overseas". It is often given to children born abroad and brought home.
Tola m & f Yoruba
Means "prominent for success" in Yoruba, derived from 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.
Tolulope f & m Yoruba
Means "to the Lord be Praise" in Yoruba.
Toluwanimi m & f Yoruba
Means "I belong to the lord" in Yoruba.
Tomi m Nigerian
Means "the people" in Kalarbari, spoken in Nigeria.
Tomi f Nigerian
Nigerian for "sufficient"
Tomisin m & f Nigerian
Originated from yoruba culture in Nigeria,
Tonye m & f Ijaw
Short form of Ayibatonye.
Tor m Tiv
Means "king" in Tiv.
Toroabasi m & f Ibibio
Means "thank god" in Ibibio.
Tosin m & f Western African, Yoruba
Short form of Oluwatosin.
Touré f & m Western African (Gallicized, Rare)
From the surname Touré, possibly a French form of Soninke tùùré "elephant".
Toyosi m & f Nigerian, Yoruba
Means "something to rejoice about" in Yoruba, also used as a short form for other names ending in -toyosi including Olutoyosi or Oluwatoyosi.
Tsofo m Hausa
Means "old" in Hausa.
Tuburuode m Western African, Ijaw
Means "they have moved northward" in Ijaw.
Tunau m Hausa
Means "remember" in Hausa.
Tuntum m Akan
Means "the black" in Akan.
Turai f Hausa
Name given to a girl born on a Tuesday.
Tutu m & f Western African, South African
Means "cliff dweller".
Ubonemem m & f Efik (Modern)
Means "offspring of peace" in Efik.
Ubong m & f Efik
Means "my glory" in Efik.
Uchechea m Igbo
Means “think about it” in Igbo.
Uchechukwu m & f Igbo, 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]
Udemeobong m Efik
Means "my share from God" in Efik.
Udo m Efik
Means "second son" in Efik.
Udofia m Efik
Means "fourth son" in Efik.
Udofia m Ibibio
Means "third son" in Ibibio.
Udofot m Efik
Means "fourth son" in Efik.
Udoh m Efik
Means "second son" in Efik.
Udoh-udoh m Efik
Means "third son" in Efik.
Udoka m Nigerian, Igbo
Allegedly an Igbo name meaning "peace is above all else"; compare Udo 2.
Udom m Efik
Means "right" in Efik.
Udonna m Igbo
Means "Father's Peace" in Igbo.
Udonne f Igbo
Means "Mother's Peace" in Igbo.
Uduakabasi m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "will of God" in Ibibio and Efik.
Uduma m Igbo
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.
Ufot m Efik
Means "third son" in Efik.
Ugo m & f Igbo
Means "eagle" in Igbo. It is also a short form of names containing the element ùgó.
Ugonna m Igbo
Meaning "eagle of the father" or "father's glory" in Igbo.
Ugwu m Igbo
From Igbo Ùgwù meaning "respect; reverence; dignity" or Úgwú meaning "hill, mountain; highland" or also "north". ... [more]
Uke m & f Igbo
Short form of names beginning with or containing Uke-.
Ukeme f Efik
Means "ability" in Efik.
Ukeme m Ibibio
Means "strength" in Ibibio.
Ukoakpan m Ibibio
Means "brave first son" in Ibibio.
Ukpahyugoco m & f Agatu
Means "power of God" in Agatu.
Ukpong m & f Efik
Ukpono m & f Ibibio
Means "respect" in Ibibio.
Ukume f Nigerian
"Ukume" means "sound of rain in water/ river" in nigerian
Uloma f Igbo
Means "beautiful home" in Igbo.
Ulu f Igbo
Given for the second-born female.
Umoh m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means "wealth" in Ibibio.
Umoh m & f Efik
Means "born during a festival" in Efik.
Unisa m Western African
Borne by Unisa Bangura (1987-), a Sierra Leonean footballer.
Unwana m & f Ibibio
Means "light" in Ibibio.
Unwanaabasi m Efik
Means "Lord's light" in Efik.
Urenna f Igbo
Means "father's pride" in Igbo.
Usen m Efik
Means "the day" in Efik.
Usorọ m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "festival" in Ibibio and Efik.
Usuman m Hausa
Hausa form of Osman.
Usumanu m Hausa
Hausa form of Uthman.
Utibe m Efik
Means "marvelous: wonderful" in Efik.
Utibeima f Ibibio
Means "wonderful love" in Ibibio.
Utin m & f Ibibio
Means "sun" in Ibibio.
Uwa f Hausa
Means "mother" in Hausa.
Uwaila f & m Edo, Western African
Means "prosperity is never late" in Edo/Bini, from uwa (wealth/prosperity) and ila (has no delay)
Uwem m & f Ibibio, Efik
Means "life" in Ibibio and Efik.
Uwemediemoh m & f Efik
Means "health is wealth" in Efik.
Uwemedimoh m & f Efik
Means "life is wealth" in Efik,
Uyai f Efik
Means "beauty" in Efik.
Uyobong m Efik
Means "God's voice" in Efik.
Uzo f & m Nigerian
Short form of Uzoamaka.
Uzoaku f Igbo
Means "a way to wealth" in Igbo.
Uzoamaka f Igbo, African
Means "a good path" in Igbo.
Uzoamani f Igbo
Means "the road to aspirations" in Igbo.
Uzoechina m & f Igbo
Means "let the road not be closed" in Igbo.
Uzondu m Igbo
Means "way of life; road of life" in Igbo.
Valsero m Western African
Created from Serval by inverting the order of syllables.... [more]
Varney m & f English (Rare), English (African), Western African
Transferred use of the surname Varney. It is mainly used in Liberia.
Velim f Dagbani
Means "beauty" in Dagbani.
Wafuletbo f Bandial
Means "there is nothing there" in Bandial.
Waibodei m & f Ijaw
Means "has returned again" in Ijaw.
Walshak m Ngas
WAL means "cry", shak means "one another". Which Literally means Feel for one another
Wandoo m & f Tiv
Means "a child is good" in Tiv.
Wariboko f Ijaw
Derived from the Ijaw word wari meaning "house" and boko meaning "harbinger of riches".
Waridabo m & f Ijaw
Means "lord of the household" in Ijaw.
Watna m Western African
Means "let's go" in Balanta, spoken in Guinea Bissau.
Wenikado f & m Ijaw
Means "I have worked too much" in Ijaw.
Wina f African, Nigerian
means gift of God
Wole m Yoruba
“God has come home, God has entered, wealth has come home”.
Woyengiemi m & f Ijaw
Means "God is alive" in Ijaw.
Woyinbode f & m Ijaw
Means "God has come" in Ijaw.
Woyinkule m Ijaw
Means "thank God" in Ijaw.
Wumda f & m Dagbani
Means "obedient one" in Dagbani.