African Names

[olufemi_baina_ayo]

ABENA f African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.

ABENI f Yoruba
Means "we asked for her, and behold, we got her" in Yoruba.

ABIDEMI m Yoruba
Means "born during father's absence" in Yoruba.

ABIMBOLA m Yoruba
Means "born wealthy" in Yoruba.

ABIODUN m & f Yoruba
Means "born on a festival" in Yoruba.

ABIOYE m Yoruba
Means "born into royalty" in Yoruba.

ACHIENG f African
Feminine form of OCHIENG

ADAEZE f Igbo
Means "king's daughter" in Igbo.

ADANNA f Igbo
Means "father's daughter" in Igbo.

ADANNAYA f Igbo
Means "her father's daughter" in Igbo.

ADEBOWALE m & f Yoruba
Means "my crown has come home" in Yoruba.

ADEGOKE m Yoruba
Means "the crown has been exalted" in Yoruba.

ADETOKUNBO m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown came from over the sea" in Yoruba.

ADHIAMBO f African
Feminine form of ODHIAMBO

ADISA m Yoruba
Means "one who is clear" in Yoruba.

ADJOA f African
Variant of ADWOA

ADWOA f African
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.

AFIA f African
Variant of AFUA

AFOLABI m Yoruba
Means "born into wealth" in Yoruba.

AFUA f African
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

AKINYI f African
Means "born in the morning" in Luo.

AKOSUA f African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

AKUA f African
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.

ALABA f Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.

AMA f African
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.

AMADI (1) f Igbo
Means "rejoicing" in Igbo.

AMADI (2) m Yoruba
Means "seemed destined to die at birth" in Yoruba.

AMAKA f Igbo
Short form of CHIAMAKA

ANAN (1) m & f African
Means "fourth born child" in Akan.

ASHA (2) f African
Means "life" in Swahili.

ATIENO f African
Feminine form of OTIENO

AWITI f African
Means "thrown away" in Luo, possibly used for a child born prematurely.

AWOTWI m & f African
Means "eighth born child" in Akan.

AYO f & m Yoruba
Means "joy" in Yoruba.

AYODELE m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has come home" in Yoruba.

AYOKUNLE m Yoruba
Means "joy has filled the home" in Yoruba.

AYOMIDE f & m Yoruba
Means "my joy has arrived" in Yoruba.

AYOTUNDE m & f Yoruba
Means "joy has returned" in Yoruba.

AZUBUIKE m Igbo
Means "the past is your strength" or "your back is your strength" in Igbo.

BAAKO m & f African
Means "first born child" in Akan.

BABAJIDE m Yoruba
Means "father has returned" in Yoruba.

BABATUNDE m Yoruba
Means "father has returned" in Yoruba.

BABIRYE f African
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

BAMIDELE m Yoruba
Means "follow me home" in Yoruba.

BERKO m African
Means "first born" in Akan.

BOIPELO m & f African
Means "proud" in Tswana.

BOITUMELO f & m African
Means "joy" in Tswana.

BOLANLE f Yoruba
Means "finds wealth at home" in Yoruba.

BONGANI m African
Means "be grateful" in Zulu.

BOSEDE m African
Means "born on Sunday" in Tiv.

CHIAMAKA f Igbo
Means "God is beautiful" in Igbo.

CHIBUEZE m & f Igbo
Means "God is the king" in Igbo.

CHIBUZO m & f Igbo
Means "God is the leader" in Igbo.

CHIDI m Igbo
Means "God exists" in Igbo.

CHIDIEBERE m & f Igbo
Means "God is the merciful" in Igbo.

CHIDIMMA f Igbo
Means "God is wonderful" in Igbo.

CHIDUBEM m Igbo
Means "guided by God" in Igbo.

CHIEMEKA m Igbo
Means "God has performed great deeds" in Igbo.

CHIKA (1) f Igbo
Means "God is the greatest" in Igbo.

CHIKE m Igbo
Means "the strength of God" or "God's creation" in Igbo.

CHIMA m Igbo
Means "God knows" in Igbo.

CHINAZA f Igbo
Means "God answers" in Igbo.

CHINEDU m & f Igbo
Means "God leads" in Igbo.

CHINWE m & f Igbo
Means "God owns" in Igbo.

CHINWENDU m & f Igbo
Means "God owns life" in Igbo.

CHIOMA f & m Igbo
Means "God is good" in Igbo.

CHIPO f African
Means "gift" in Shona.

CHIUMBO m African
Means "small" in Mwera.

CHIZOBA m & f Igbo
Means "God protect us" in Igbo.

CHUKWUEMEKA m Igbo
Means "God has done something great" in Igbo.

DADA f Yoruba
Means "curly hair" in Yoruba.

DAKARAI m African
Means "rejoice" in Shona.

DAYO f Yoruba
Means "joy arrives" in Yoruba.

DESTA f & m African
Means "joy" in Amharic.

DIKELEDI f African
Means "tears" in Tswana.

DUBAKU m & f African
Means "eleventh born child" in Akan.

EBELE f Igbo
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.

EFUA f African
Variant of AFUA

EKENE m & f Igbo
Means "praise" in Igbo.

EKENEDILICHUKWU m & f Igbo
Means "all praise to God" in Igbo.

EKUA f African
Variant of AKUA

EKUNDAYO f & m Yoruba
Means "sorrow becomes joy" in Yoruba.

EKWUEME m Igbo
Means "he says, he does" in Igbo.

EMEKA m Igbo
Means "great deeds" in Igbo... [more]

ENIOLA f & m Yoruba
Means "person of wealth" in Yoruba.

ENITAN m Yoruba
Means "person of story" in Yoruba.

ENU m & f African
Means "fifth born child" in Akan.

ENYINNAYA m Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.

ESHE f African
Means "life" in Swahili.

ESI f African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

FARAI m & f African
Means "rejoice" in Shona.

FARAJI m African
Means "consolation" in Swahili.

FEMI m Yoruba
Short form of OLUFEMI

FOLAMI m Yoruba
Means "respect and honour me" in Yoruba.

FUMNANYA f Igbo
Means "love me" in Igbo.

FUNANYA f Igbo
Means "love" in Igbo.

FUNGAI m African
Means "think" in Shona.

FURAHA f African
Means "joy, happiness" in Swahili.

GBEMISOLA f Yoruba
Means "carry me into wealth" in Yoruba.

GWANDOYA m African
Means "met with misery" in Luganda.

IDOWU m & f Yoruba
Means "born after twins" in Yoruba.

IFE f Yoruba
Means "love" in Yoruba.

IGE f Yoruba
Means "born feet first" in Yoruba.

IMAMU m African
Means "spiritual leader" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic [ch1573][ch1605][ch1575][ch1605] (Imam).

IMANI f African
Means "faith" in Swahili.

ISINGOMA m African
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

ITUMELENG m & f African
Means "joy" in Tswana.

JELANI m African
Means "mighty" in Swahili.

JENGO m African
Means "building" in Swahili.

JUMAANE m African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Swahili.

KAGISO f African
Means "peace" in Tswana.

KAMARIA f African
Means "like the moon" in Swahili.

KATLEGO m & f African
Means "success" in Tswana.

KATO m African
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

KAYIN m & f Yoruba
Means "celebrated child" in Yoruba.

KAYODE m Yoruba
Means "he brought joy" in Yoruba.

KEFILWE m & f African
Means "I was given" in Tswana.

KGOSI m African
Means "king, chief" in Tswana.

KHAMISI m African
Means "born on Thursday" in Swahili.

KIBWE m African
Means "blessed" in Swahili.

KIRABO m & f African
Means "gift" in Luganda.

KOBE m African
Either "tortoise" (Swahili) or else derived from the name of an African tribe.

KOBINA m African
Variant of KWABENA

KOFI m African
Means "born on Friday" in Akan.

KOJO m African
Variant of KWADWO

KUNTO f African
Means "third child" in Akan.

KWABENA m African
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.

KWADWO m African
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.

KWAKU m African
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.

KWAME m African
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.

KWASI m African
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.

KWEKU m African
Variant of KWAKU



KWESI m African
Variant of KWASI

LEKAN m Yoruba
Short form of OLAMILEKAN

LERATO f African
Means "love" in Sesotho.

LESEDI f African
Means "light" in Tswana.

LINDIWE f African
Means "have waited" in Zulu.

LUMUSI f African
Means "born face down" in Ewe.

LUNGILE f African
Means "the good one" in Zulu.

MAKENA f & m African
Means "happy one" in Kikuyu.

MANYARA f African
Means "you have been humbled" in Shona.

MARJANI f African
Means "coral" in Swahili.

MASAMBA m African
Means "leaves" in Yao.

MASEGO f African
Means "blessings" in Tswana.

MASOZI m & f African
Means "tears" in Tumbuka.

MBALI f African
Means "flower" in Zulu.

MCHUMBA f African
Means "sweetheart" in Swahili.

MELISIZWE m African
Means "leader of the nation" in Xhosa.

MIREMBE f African
Means "peace" in Luganda.

MOJISOLA f Yoruba
Means "wake up to wealth" in Yoruba.

MONIFA f Yoruba
Means "I am lucky" in Yoruba.

MOSI m African
Means "first born child" in Swahili.

MUDIWA f & m African
Means "beloved" in Shona.

MUNASHE m & f African
Means "with God" in Shona.

MWANAJUMA f African
Means "born on Friday" in Swahili.

MWENYE m African
Means "owner, lord" in Swahili.

NAKATO f African
Means "second of twins" in Luganda.

NDIDI m & f Igbo
Means "patience" in Igbo.

NEO (1) f & m African
Means "gift" in Tswana.

NGOZI m & f Igbo
Means "blessing" in Igbo.

NIA (2) f African
Means "purpose" in Swahili.

NKECHI f Igbo
Means "God gave me a blessing" in Igbo.

NKEMDILIM m & f Igbo
Means "forever mine" in Igbo.

NKIRU f Igbo
Short form of NKIRUKA

NKIRUKA f Igbo
Means "the best is still to come" in Igbo.

NKOSANA m African
Means "prince" in Xhosa.

NKOSAZANA f African
Means "princess" in Xhosa.

NKRUMA m & f African
Means "ninth born child" in Akan.

NNAMDI m Igbo
Means "my father is alive" in Igbo... [more]

NOMUSA f African
Means "merciful" in Ndebele.

NONTLE f African
Means "mother of beauty" in Xhosa.

NOSIZWE f African
Means "mother of the nation" in Xhosa.

NSIA m & f African
Means "sixth born child" in Akan.

NSONOWA m & f African
Means "seventh born child" in Akan.

NTHANDA m & f African
Means "star" in Tumbuka.

NTOMBI f African
Means "lady" in Zulu.

NYAH f African
Variant of NIA (2)

NYARAI f African
Means "be humble" in Shona.

OBI m Igbo
Means "heart" in Igbo.

OCHIENG m African
Means "born when the sun shines", derived from Luo chieng meaning "sun".

ODHIAMBO m African
Means "born in the evening" in Luo.

OGECHI f Igbo
Short form of OGECHUKWUKAMA

OGECHUKWUKAMA f Igbo
Means "God's time is the best" in Igbo.

OLABODE m Yoruba
Means "wealth returns" in Yoruba.

OLAMIDE f Yoruba
Means "wealth has arrived" in Yoruba.

OLAMILEKAN m Yoruba
Means "my wealth is increased" in Yoruba.

OLANREWAJU m Yoruba
Means "my wealth is the future" in Yoruba.

OLAYINKA f Yoruba
Means "wealth surrounds me" in Yoruba.

OLUBUNMI f Yoruba
Means "gift of God" in Yoruba.

OLUCHI m & f Igbo
Means "God's work" in Yoruba.

OLUFEMI m Yoruba
Means "God loves me" in Yoruba.

OLUFUNKE m & f Yoruba
Means "God has cared for" in Yoruba.

OLUFUNMILAYO f & m Yoruba
Means "God gave me joy" in Yoruba.

OLUFUNMILOLA f & m Yoruba
Means "God gives me wealth" in Yoruba.

OLUJIMI m Yoruba
Means "given by God" in Yoruba.

OLUKAYODE m Yoruba
Means "God brings happiness" in Yoruba.

OLUMIDE m Yoruba
Means "God arrives" in Yoruba.

OLUWAFUNMILAYO f & m Yoruba
Variant of OLUFUNMILAYO

OLUWASEGUN m & f Yoruba
Means "God has been victorious" in Yoruba.

OLUWASEUN m & f Yoruba
Means "we thank God" in Yoruba.

OLUWASEYI f & m Yoruba
Means "God made this" in Yoruba.

OLUWATOYIN m & f Yoruba
Means "God is worthy to be praised" in Yoruba.

OLUWAYEMISI f & m Yoruba
Means "God honours me" in Yoruba.

OMOBOLANLE f & m Yoruba
Means "a child who met wealth at home" in Yoruba.

OMOLARA f Yoruba
Means "a child is family" in Yoruba.

ONI f Yoruba
Possibly means "born in sacred abode" in Yoruba.

ONYEKA f Igbo
Short form of ONYEKACHUKWU

ONYEKACHUKWU f & m Igbo
Means "who is greater than God?" in Igbo.

OPEYEMI m Yoruba
Means "I should give praise" in Yoruba.

OTIENO m African
Means "born at night" in Luo.

PAKI m African
Means "witness" in Xhosa.

RAMLA f African
Means "prophetess" in Swahili.

REFILWE m & f African
Means "we were given" in Tswana.

RUDO m & f African
Means "love" in Shona.

RUFARO f African
Means "happiness" in Shona.

RUMBIDZAI f African
Means "praise" in Shona.

RUTENDO f & m African
Means "faith" in Shona.

SAUDA f African
Means "dark complexion" in Swahili.

SEFU m African
Means "sword" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic [ch1587][ch1610][ch1601] (sayf).

SEKAI f African
Means "be humourous" in Shona.

SETHUNYA f African
Means "bloom, flower" in Tswana.

SIBONAKALISO f African
Means "sign" in Zulu.

SIMBA m African
Means "lion" in Swahili.

SIMISOLA f Yoruba
Means "rest in wealth" in Yoruba.

SIPHO m African
Means "gift" in Xhosa.

SITHEMBILE f & m African
Means "we trust" in Zulu.

SIZWE m African
Means "nation" in Xhosa.

SSANYU f African
Means "joy" in Luganda.

SUBIRA f African
Means "patience" in Swahili.

TAFADZWA m & f African
Means "we are pleased" in Shona.

TAFARI m African
Possibly means "he who inspires awe" in Amharic... [more]

TAONGA f & m African
Means "we are thankful" in Tumbuka.

TAPIWA f African
Means "given" in Shona.

TARIRO f African
Means "hope" in Shona.

TATENDA m & f African
Means "thank you" in Shona.

TAU m African
Means "lion" in Tswana and Sesotho... [more]

TEMITOPE f Yoruba
Means "enough to give thanks" in Yoruba.

TENDAI f African
Means "be thankful" in Shona.

TENDAJI m African
Means "makes things happen" in Swahili.

THABO m African
Means "joy" in Tswana.

THANDIWE f African
Means "loving one" in Xhosa.

THEMA f African
Means "queen" in Akan.

THEMBA m & f African
Means "trust" in Zulu.

THULANI m African
Means "be quiet, be comforted" in Zulu.

THULILE f African
Means "is quiet" in Zulu.

TICHAONA m African
Means "we will see" in Shona.

TINASHE m & f African
Means "God is with us" in Shona.

TITILAYO f Yoruba
Means "eternal happiness" in Yoruba.

TSHOLOFELO f African
Means "hope" in Tswana.

TUMELO m & f African
Means "faith" in Sesotho and Tswana.

UDO (2) f & m Igbo
Means "peace" in Igbo.

UNATHI m & f African
Means "God is with us" in Xhosa.

UZOCHI m Igbo
Means "God's way" in Igbo.

UZOMA m & f Igbo
Means "follow the right road" in Igbo.

WASSWA m African
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.

WEKESA m African
Means "born during harvest" in African.

WORKNESH f African
Possibly means "you are like gold" in Amharic.

YAA f African
Means "born on Thursday" in Akan.

YAW m African
Means "born on Thursday" in Akan.

YEJIDE f Yoruba
Means "image of the mother" in Yoruba.

YEWANDE f Yoruba
Means "mother has returned" in Yoruba.

ZOLA (2) f African
Means "quiet, tranquil" in Zulu.

ZUBERI m African
Means "strong" in Swahili.

ZURI f African
Means "beautiful" in Swahili.

[Simba Nerevu]

This is a nice list. We do need to be wary of the Arabic names. This is a trap that I and far too many of us fall into while finding our way on the path to SankOfa.

SN