Xhosa Submitted Names

Xhosa names are used by the Xhosa people of South Africa.

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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.

Abongile m & f Xhosa
Means "thankfulness" or "grateful" in Xhosa.

Akahlulwa m & f Xhosa (Modern)
Means "undefeated, unbeatable", possibly taken from the title of the gospel song ‘Akahlulwa lutho uuJesu’.

Amandla f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "power, strength" in Xhosa and Zulu.... [more]

Andisiwe f & m Xhosa
Means "expanded, increased" or "extension" in Xhosa.

Aphelele m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "complete, whole, all present" in Xhosa and Zulu. Often given to the last child to be born in a family.

Asavela f & m Xhosa
Means "they still appear" in Xhosa. A famous bearer is South African actress Asavela Mngqithi.

Awonke m & f Xhosa
Means "united" or "we are all here" in Xhosa, often given to the last-born child in a family.

Axhoba m Xhosa
Means "they are armed".

Ayakha f & m Xhosa
Means "they build" in Xhosa.

Bongi f Xhosa, Southern African
Short 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... [more]

Buchule m & f Xhosa
Means "intelligence, skill" in Xhosa.

Cebisa f & m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "to suggest, to give advice" in Xhosa.

Esihle f & m Zulu, Xhosa, Southern African
Means "beautiful, good" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Gugu f Zulu, Xhosa
From Zulu igugu meaning "precious, valuable" or "treasure".

Halimnye m Xhosa
Means “not one” in Xhosa.

Hlomla m & f Xhosa
Means "to comment on something" in Xhosa.

Kanyisa f Xhosa
Means "giving light to the future" in Xhosa.

Khanyiso m Xhosa
Means "to light, to illuminate" in Xhosa.

Khanyizile f Xhosa
Variant of Khanyisile.

Lihle f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "beautiful" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Lilitha f Xhosa
Means "light" in Xhosa.

Liyabona f & m Xhosa
Means "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 Xhosa
Means "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.

Lubabalo m Xhosa
Means "it is grace" or "grace of God" in Xhosa.

Luchulumancolwenkosi f Xhosa
This 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”... [more]

Luchumo m & f Xhosa
Possibly means "expanding, flourishing" or "prosperity" in Xhosa.

Luphelo m Xhosa
Means "the end, the last" in Xhosa, often given to the last child to be born in a family.

Luphumlo m Xhosa
Means "to rest" or "our relief" in Xhosa.

Luthando m & f Southern African, Xhosa
Means "it's love" in Xhosa.

Luya f Xhosa
Diminutive form of Luyanda.

Luyanda m & f South African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "it is growing, increasing" in Zulu and Xhosa, referring to love or the child’s family.

Makaziwe f & m Xhosa
Means "let him/her be known" in Xhosa.... [more]

Makhozana f South African, Xhosa

Mandela m & f African American, Xhosa
Transferred use of the surname Mandela given in honour of Nelson Mandela, South African revolutionary hero and statesman... [more]

Mandisa f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Derived from Xhosa and Zulu mnandi meaning "sweet" or "nice, pleasant".

Mbulelo m Zulu, Xhosa
Means "thank you" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Mbuyiseli m Xhosa
Means "one who returns or restores" in Xhosa.

Mesuli m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "wiper (of tears)" in Xhosa, suggesting someone who brings an end to sorrow.

Mogamat m South African, Xhosa
Variant of Mohammed.

Mpilo m & f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "health" or "life" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Mqibalo m South African, Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly derived from Mgqibelo, meaning "Saturday" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Msamaniso m South African, Xhosa
Possibly related to Masamanisi.

Mthakathi m Zulu, Xhosa
Means "witch," from 'thakatha' meaning "to bewitch" in Xhosa or "to practice witchcraft" in Zulu.

Mthobeli m Xhosa
Means "the obedient one" in Xhosa.

Mthuthezeli m South African, Xhosa
Variant spelling of Mthuthuzeli.

Mthuthuzeli m Southern African, Xhosa
Means "comforter, one who comforts" in Xhosa.

Mxolisi m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "peace maker" or "(one who) asks for forgiveness" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Mzi m Xhosa
Diminutive of Mzingayi.

Mzingaye m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "there is a home because of him" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Mzingayi m Xhosa
Variant spelling of Mzingaye.

Mzwandile m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "the house has expanded" in Xhosa, idiomatically referring to a growing family.

Nambitha f Xhosa
Means "to savour, to enjoy" in Xhosa, encouraging the child to savour life.

Nangamso f & m Xhosa
Means "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.

Ngcondebuku m & f Xhosa (Modern)
A combination of Ngconde, the name of a Xhosa clan, and Buku, a surname.

Nkosi m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "chief, king, lord" in Xhosa.

Nkuli f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Diminutive form of Nonkululeko and Nkululeko.

Nkululeko m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Nokhanyo f Xhosa
Means "light, shine" or "enlightenment" in Xhosa.

Nokuzola f Xhosa
Apparently means "quiet", "calm" or "peace" in Xhosa.

Nomathamsanqa f Xhosa
Feminine form of Thamsanqa.

Nombuyiselo f Xhosa
Means "she who gives back" or "mother of restoration" in Xhosa, a feminine form of Mbuyiseli.

Nomnikelo f South African, Xhosa
Means "offering" in Xhosa.

Nomthandazo f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "a prayer" in Xhosa.

Nonkululeko f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, South African
Means "freedom" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Novuyo f Xhosa
Feminine form of Vuyo.

Ntombhekya f South African, Xhosa
Means "girl of the house" in Xhosa, from ntombi "girl" and khaya "home, household".

Ntombifikile f Xhosa
Means "a girl has arrived" in Xhosa.

Ntombntombi f Xhosa
Means “little girl” in Xhosa.

Ntomboxolo f Xhosa
Means "girl of peace" in Xhosa.

Ongezwa f Xhosa
Means "addition, one who was added" in Xhosa.

Phila m & f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu
Means "to live" or "get well, be healthy" in Nguni languages.

Qondiwe f Xhosa
Possibly related to qonda, meaning "to understand".

Rolihlahla m Xhosa, Southern African
Means "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.

Salmoora f Xhosa

Sandisiwe f Xhosa
Means "increased" or "we have been added to" in Xhosa.

Sfiso m Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele, Xhosa, Southern African
Variant of Sifiso.

Shumise f Xhosa
10 shillings or 10 bob, created by the father of Alice Jean Shumise Madinga.... [more]

Silindile f Xhosa, Zulu
Means "we are waiting" in Xhosa and Zulu.

Simdingile m & f Xhosa, Zulu
Possibly means "we need this", derived from Xhosa and Zulu dinga meaning "to need, to require".

Sinazo f Xhosa
Means "we have it" in Xhosa.

Sindiswa f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi
Means "saved" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Siphosomzi m Xhosa

Sisipho f Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
Means "it is a gift" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Sivuyile m South African, Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.

Siyamthanda f & m Xhosa
Means "we love him/her" in Xhosa.

Siyavuya m Xhosa
Means "we are happy" in Xhosa.

Skhumbuzo m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "reminder, remembrance" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Solomzi m Xhosa
Means "eye of the home" in Xhosa, figuratively "guardian of the family".

Solonzi m Xhosa (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Solomzi.

Sonwabile m Xhosa
Means "we are content" or "we are happy" in Xhosa.

Thamsanqa m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "luck, fortune" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Unako m & f Xhosa
Means "ability" or "you can" in Xhosa.

Velile m & f Xhosa, South African
Means "appeared, arrived" in Xhosa.

Vuyiseka f Xhosa
Means "be happy, rejoice" or "makes happy" in Xhosa.

Vuyisile m & f Xhosa
Means "bringing joy" in Xhosa.

Vuyo m Xhosa
Means "happiness, joy" in Xhosa. Sometimes used as a short form of names beginning with Vuyo-.

Vuyokazi f Xhosa
Means "great joy" in Xhosa, a variant of Vuyo using the feminine or augmentative suffix -kazi.

Wandisile m Xhosa
Means "he has been added" in Xhosa.

Xabiso m Xhosa
Means "value, price" in Xhosa.

Xola m & f Xhosa
Means "be at peace" or "to forgive" in Xhosa.

Xolo m & f Xhosa
Possibly related to Xhosa uxolo "peace, pardon", itself from -xola "to be calm, at peace, happy; to forgive".

Yibanathi m & f Zulu, Xhosa
Means "be with us" in Zulu and Xhosa.

Yolani f & m South African, Xhosa (?)
Likely from Xhosa yolani meaning "you all, be pleasant", itself the imperative plural form of yoli ("to be pleasant").

Yolisa f Xhosa
Means "exciting" in Xhosa.

Yomelela m Xhosa
Measn "be strong" in Xhosa.

Yonelani f Xhosa
Means "be satisfied" in Xhosa.

Zenzele f Xhosa
Means "she will do for herself" in Xhosa.

Zenzile f & m Xhosa, Swazi
From Xhosa uzenzile meaning "you brought this on yourself". This was the first name of the South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), full name Zenzile Miriam Makeba... [more]

Zethu f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "ours" or "belongs to us" in both Xhosa and Zulu within the Nguni language group. Notable South African name bearers include actor Zethu Dlomo and orchestral musician Zethu Mashika.

Zibulale m Xhosa
Meaning unknown.

Zindziswa f South African, Xhosa

Ziyanda f Xhosa
Means "increase within daughters" in Xhosa.

Zolani m South African, Xhosa
Variant of Xolani.

Zoleka f Xhosa
Means "humble" in Xhosa.

Zoliswa f Xhosa
Means "one who calms" in Xhosa.

Zozibini f Xhosa
Xhosa name, said to mean "received with both hands". (In this culture it is considered impolite or unappreciative to accept a worthy gift with one hand; to show appreciation and respect to the giver, you use both hands to accept a gift.)

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