African Baby Names
157 African names with researched meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Explore 157 African baby names below. Every name links to a full page with its sourced meaning, origin, popularity chart, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it said correctly. Names are listed most-popular first.
African Girl Names
Alora#195 in the U.S.My dream; from the Bantu/Lesotho name Alora, reportedly meaning 'my dream'▶Nylah#504 in the U.S.Variant of Nyla, derived from Arabic Nā'ila meaning 'one who attains' or 'one who is successful▶Makenna#593 in the U.S.Variant of McKenna, from Irish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha meaning 'son of Cionaodh' (a personal name ▶Zaria#945 in the U.S.Derived from Slavic Zarya meaning dawn, aurora, or morning glow, and also used as a name connec▶Kenia#1015 in the U.S.Spanish form of Kenya; likely from Kikuyu Kirinyaga (the mountain) or a Bantu root; used as a g▶Kimora#1054 in the U.S.Possible African origin (Swahili/Yoruba region) or a creative blend; not definitively documente▶Kamari#1078 in the U.S.Moonlight; from African (possibly Swahili/Arabic-influenced) kamari (moon, moonlight)▶Kya#1083 in the U.S.Diamond in the sky; possibly from South African Zulu/Xhosa origin, or a creative variant of Kai▶Kamora#1094 in the U.S.Moonlight; a variant of Kamari, from Arabic qamar (moon)▶Zola#1106 in the U.S.Earth; from Zulu/Xhosa zola (to be still, to be calm, tranquil); also an Italian surname from L▶Zhuri#1178 in the U.S.Flower; possibly from Swahili or Zulu origin; exact etymology uncertain▶Shea#1187 in the U.S.Admirable; from Irish Gaelic Séaghdha (admirable, fine); or from the shea tree (Vitellaria para▶Khari#2390 in the U.S.kingly, princely, queenly▶Sena#3105 in the U.S.Grace of God or gift of God in Ewe (West African); also world or this world in Japanese; and ar▶Izara#3902 in the U.S.From Basque izar, 'star' (as in Izarra); also read in West African use as 'section of a tree/cl▶Nalah#4339 in the U.S.-ah spelling of Nala — Arabic na'ila, 'achiever, winner', or African ('gift'/'beloved') and Lio▶Temica#4951 in the U.S.Temica combines a Te- opening with the -mica ending seen in Tamika and Shamika; it is an invent▶Zala#5276 in the U.S.From Slovene Zala, 'beautiful, pretty' (a short form of Rozalija); also an African/Hausa name, ▶Nyara#5544 in the U.S.A modern name with a Ny- opening — echoing Nyah ('purpose', Swahili) and Nara ('happy; oak'); n▶Nyrobi#5545 in the U.S.Ny-spelling of Nairobi — the Kenyan capital, from Maasai Enkare Nairobi, 'the place of cool wat▶Nyani#5728 in the U.S.A modern name with a Ny- opening and -ani ending (echoing Nyah, 'purpose', Swahili, and Imani, ▶Adama#6614 in the U.S.Variously the Hebrew adamah, 'earth; ground; the red soil' (the root of Adam), and a West Afric▶Kumani#7142 in the U.S.Kumani is used as an African girl's name, often connected in name references to a sense of 'des▶Tanganyika#8142 in the U.S.Tanganyika is a place name borrowed as a first name, drawn from Lake Tanganyika and from Tangan▶Noni#8786 in the U.S.Variously the Shona/Zulu Noni, 'a gift of God; a jewel', and a modern pet name; routes uncertai▶Olanna#8793 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Olanna, 'the gold of the father; the father's gold/treasure'▶Zira#8915 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an African name (of uncertain meaning; a Lion King character) and a Za▶Akua#8936 in the U.S.From the Akan (Ghana) Akua — a day-name for a girl 'born on Wednesday'▶Amahle#8951 in the U.S.From the Zulu (South Africa) Amahle, 'the beautiful ones; the good/lovely ones'▶Numa#9367 in the U.S.Variously from the Arabic ni'ma, 'grace; a blessing; a favour', and an African name; also a cla▶Kafi#9477 in the U.S.Kafi is an African name best known in Akan (Ghanaian) tradition as a girl's name. The same shor▶Etosha#9562 in the U.S.Etosha most likely echoes the Etosha Pan, a vast salt flat and national park in Namibia whose n▶Kamina#9853 in the U.S.Variously an African name glossed 'a dancer' and a Congolese place-name; also read as a modern ▶Nyala#10036 in the U.S.From the southern African (Bantu) nyala, 'a spiral-horned antelope'; also a place-name (a town ▶Nzinga#10121 in the U.S.Nzinga is an African name most associated with Queen Njinga, also written Nzinga, the seventeen▶Candise#10253 in the U.S.Candise is a variant spelling of Candace (or Candice), from Kandake, the hereditary title of th▶Lashawndra#10358 in the U.S.Lashawndra stacks the La- prefix, the name Shawn from the Hebrew John meaning God is gracious, ▶Shanaye#10400 in the U.S.Shanaye pairs the very common Sha- prefix with a -naye ending, echoing names like Renee and Jan▶Ayanni#11206 in the U.S.A modern spelling near Ayana/Ayanna, tied variously to a Somali/African 'beautiful flower; brig▶Haby#11413 in the U.S.A short West African (Fulani/Senegalese) name, commonly used as a form of Habibah ('beloved; da▶Kadia#11566 in the U.S.A West African (Mandinka) form of Khadija, the name of the Prophet Muhammad's first wife, an ho▶Kasiya#11587 in the U.S.From the Chewa (Malawi) word Kasiya, glossed 'departure' or 'it stayed at home,' and separately▶Lakeeta#11621 in the U.S.Lakeeta joins the La- prefix to a -keeta ending, a phonetic spelling of Lakita; it is an invent▶Sala#11932 in the U.S.A short name with layered routes: linked to Arabic salah ('prayer') and salaam ('peace'), and u▶Kemba#12012 in the U.S.Kemba is a name of African, specifically Bakongo/Central African, association, taken up in Afri▶Adanya#12212 in the U.S.Adanya is best read as an Igbo-influenced name or a modern American coinage. It echoes the Igbo▶Miata#12225 in the U.S.Miata is a genuine West African girl's name, well attested in Liberia among Kpelle and other co▶Azania#12312 in the U.S.Azania is an old place name applied to parts of southeastern Africa, revived as a poetic and as▶Azina#12315 in the U.S.Azina reads as a rare name whose root is uncertain. It appears as a Shona (Zimbabwean) name, an▶Takenya#12320 in the U.S.Takenya joins the popular Ta- prefix to Kenya, the East African country whose name became a fav▶Ayona#12331 in the U.S.Ayona is a modern girl's name close to Ayanna, an African American name sometimes glossed as be▶Shacoya#12432 in the U.S.Shacoya is a modern African American coinage, built from the very productive Sha- prefix and a ▶Aiyannah#12517 in the U.S.Aiyannah is an expanded, decorative spelling of Aiyana or Ayanna. Aiyana is often popularly lin▶Tonga#12726 in the U.S.Tonga is the name of the Polynesian island kingdom in the South Pacific, where it is often read▶Masoka#12941 in the U.S.A name found in African (Malawi/Zambia, from Chichewa/Tumbuka roots, linked to 'gift; thanks') ▶Deshonda#13124 in the U.S.Deshonda combines the fashionable De- prefix with Shonda, itself a coined name; it is an invent▶Asanti#13643 in the U.S.A modern name echoing the Ashanti (Asante) people of Ghana and the Swahili asante ('thank you')▶Kenitra#14065 in the U.S.Kenitra reads as a modern African American coinage built on a Ke- opening and a flowing -itra e▶Makita#14293 in the U.S.Makita reads as a modern coinage, most likely a reshaping of Nakita or Nikita, and is used as a▶Afrika#14541 in the U.S.Afrika is the name of the continent Africa written with a K, the spelling favored in Kiswahili ▶Masai#14591 in the U.S.Masai is used in the U.S. mostly as a boy's name, and it is also a common spelling of Maasai — ▶Keaundra#14593 in the U.S.Keaundra is a modern African American coinage, pairing a Ke-/Keaun- opening with the -dra endin▶Mawa#14600 in the U.S.Mawa is used in several African and diaspora communities, but we have not found a single secure▶Mbene#14614 in the U.S.Mbene is used as a personal name in parts of Africa and the diaspora. We have not found a secur▶Nataki#14677 in the U.S.Nataki is a name embraced in African American Afrocentric naming and generally glossed as Swahi▶Ashantia#14715 in the U.S.Ashantia builds on Ashanti, the name of the Ashanti or Asante people and their historic Akan ki▶Tabia#14811 in the U.S.Tabia comes from the Swahili word tabia, meaning 'talents', 'good qualities' or 'character'. It▶Donnesha#15015 in the U.S.Donnesha blends the familiar Don- or Donna sound with the -esha ending that shaped many late tw▶Deondria#15109 in the U.S.Deondria is a modern African American coinage, joining the popular element Deon/Deondre with th▶Nicosha#15157 in the U.S.Nicosha is a modern African American coinage, pairing a Ni- or Nikko- opening with the fashiona▶Tahesha#15166 in the U.S.Tahesha combines the popular Ta- prefix with the -esha ending found in names like Keisha and La▶Tashanda#15215 in the U.S.Tashanda combines the Ta- prefix with the Shan element and a -da ending, close in sound to Shan▶Rashaunda#15280 in the U.S.Rashaunda stacks the Ra- prefix, the name Shaun from the Hebrew John meaning God is gracious, a▶Lanitra#15450 in the U.S.Lanitra combines the popular La- prefix with a -nitra ending; it is an invented African America▶Nkenge#15896 in the U.S.Nkenge is a genuine Central African name from the Kongo (Bakongo) peoples of the Congo region. ▶Demika#15979 in the U.S.Demika combines the fashionable De- prefix with a -mika ending echoing names like Tamika; it is▶Canesha#16214 in the U.S.Canesha combines the Ca- sound with the -nesha suffix that shaped many American names of its er▶Jerusalema#16286 in the U.S.A given-name use of Jerusalem, the holy city sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Hebrew▶Kasai#16340 in the U.S.Two genuine and unrelated routes. The Kasai is a major tributary of the Congo River, flowing th▶Kenyana#16496 in the U.S.Kenyana lifts the place name Kenya, the East African nation, into a given name and adds the gra▶Tanishia#16653 in the U.S.Tanishia is a spelling variant of Tanisha, a name of debated origin sometimes tied to a Hausa w▶Mlasi#16859 in the U.S.Mlasi is a rare name of likely East African (Swahili) background. A firm single documented mean▶Ashantie#17075 in the U.S.Ashantie is a spelling variant of Ashanti, taken from the Asante, an Akan people and historic k▶Salani#17192 in the U.S.Salani is a very rare modern given name in the U.S. It sits near West African name families bui▶Makeba#17361 in the U.S.Makeba as a given name honors the South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, known worldw▶Tymia#17442 in the U.S.Tymia joins the popular Ty- prefix, common in late twentieth-century American names, to a -mia ▶Shauntia#17539 in the U.S.Shauntia builds on Shaun, the anglicized form of the Irish Sean, adding the ornamental -ia endi▶Niambi#17641 in the U.S.Niambi is an African girl's name of Bantu origin, carried into African American naming and gene▶Damesha#17775 in the U.S.Damesha blends the Da- prefix with the -mesha or -esha suffix common in late twentieth-century ▶Kenyata#17870 in the U.S.Kenyata is a respelling of Kenyatta, a name taken up in 1970s Afrocentric naming in honour of J▶Tyona#17945 in the U.S.Tyona pairs the popular Ty- opening, common in late twentieth-century American names, with a fl▶Tanesia#18142 in the U.S.Tanesia combines the popular Ta- prefix with a flowing -nesia ending, close in sound to Tanesha▶Keenya#18443 in the U.S.Keenya is a phonetic spelling of Kenya, the name of the East African nation, adopted as a girls▶Tylesha#18665 in the U.S.Tylesha is a modern African American coinage, pairing the Ty- prefix with the -lesha/-leisha en▶Kashanti#18968 in the U.S.Kashanti reworks Ashanti, the name of a major Akan people and historic kingdom in what is now G▶Kijana#19099 in the U.S.Kijana is a Swahili word meaning 'youth' or 'a young person'. In Swahili it is not gender-speci▶Teandra#19579 in the U.S.Teandra is a modern African American coinage, pairing a Te- opening with the -andra ending fami▶Tanzania#20170 in the U.S.Tanzania is used as a given name after the East African country, whose name was coined in 1964 ▶
African Boy Names
Amari#185 in the U.S.Strength; builder; eternal; from African (Yoruba/Swahili) amari (strength, builder) or Hebrew a▶Zaire#503 in the U.S.From the Kikongo word nzadi o nzere meaning 'the river that swallows all rivers,' referring to ▶Kasai#639 in the U.S.Primarily a place name from the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo; used as a give▶Dakari#837 in the U.S.From the Shona language of Zimbabwe, meaning 'joy' or 'happiness'; used as a given name in Zimb▶Sekani#1224 in the U.S.Laughter, joy, one who laughs▶Kamazi#1546 in the U.S.Uncertain; possibly of Bantu African origin▶Masai#1823 in the U.S.From the Maasai people of East Africa; the ethnonym means 'speaker of Maa'.▶Alpha#2039 in the U.S.From the Greek letter alpha 'first, beginning', from Phoenician aleph▶Dakhari#3052 in the U.S.A name of African origin, often attributed to Swahili or broader sub-Saharan African traditions▶Makhari#3070 in the U.S.Likely a variant of Macarius, from Greek Makarios meaning blessed or happy, adapted through Afr▶Amai#3153 in the U.S.In Japanese, amai (甘い) means 'sweet' or 'gentle'. As an African name (particularly Shona/Zimbab▶Nalo#5169 in the U.S.From an African (often glossed Bantu/East African) name Nalo, 'much loved; the beloved'; the gl▶Ikeni#5375 in the U.S.Ikeni is an uncommon boy's name that may draw on the Igbo element ike, 'strength' or 'power,' s▶Jaja#5839 in the U.S.Jaja is a short reduplicated name recorded in West Africa, best known from Jaja of Opobo, a nin▶Shanga#6100 in the U.S.Shanga reads as an African-influenced name or a modern coinage, with several possible routes. S▶Edem#8476 in the U.S.From the Ewe (Ghana/Togo) Edem, 'God has saved/delivered me; God's deliverance'▶Emeka#8494 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Emeka — a short form of Chukwuemeka, 'God has done great/many things; g▶Iniko#8562 in the U.S.From the Efik/Ibibio (Nigeria) Iniko, 'born in troubled/hard times; born during difficulty'▶Kenyatta#8648 in the U.S.From the Kikuyu (Kenya) — variously 'a musician' and 'of the ornate/beaded belt' (the name adop▶Mali#8695 in the U.S.Variously the West African place Mali (an empire/country) and the Thai mali, 'jasmine'; also a ▶Masani#8704 in the U.S.From the Luganda (Uganda) Masani, 'has a gap between the teeth'; also read as an Egyptian/Swahi▶Massai#8706 in the U.S.From Maasai/Massai — the name of an East African (Kenya/Tanzania) people, 'those who speak Maa'▶Nanakwame#8731 in the U.S.A compound of the Akan (Ghana) Nana ('a chief/grandparent; a title of honour') and Kwame ('born▶Obinna#8757 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Obinna — obi, 'heart', + nna, 'father', hence 'the heart of the father;▶Oheneba#8760 in the U.S.From the Akan (Ghana) Oheneba — ohene, 'a king/chief', + ba, 'a child', hence 'a prince; a chil▶Oluwaferanmi#8762 in the U.S.From the Yoruba (Nigeria) Oluwaferanmi — Oluwa, 'God/the Lord', + feran mi, 'loves me', hence '▶Ovie#8768 in the U.S.Variously the Urhobo (Nigeria) Ovie, 'a king; a ruler; royalty', and a spelling of Ovi; routes ▶Abem#8927 in the U.S.A rare name, possibly of African origin, with no securely documented meaning in available sourc▶Kenyatte#9344 in the U.S.Kenyatte is a respelled form of Kenyatta, a name given in tribute to Jomo Kenyatta, the anti-co▶Mosa#9558 in the U.S.Variously a short form of Moses ('drawn out of the water', Hebrew) and a Sesotho/Tswana name ('▶Onaje#9603 in the U.S.An African (given variously as Swahili/Yoruba) name, glossed 'sensitive; caring; one who has fe▶Wilondja#9795 in the U.S.A Congolese (DR Congo) name of uncertain gloss, from a Bantu language; sources vary, so routes ▶Aamari#9865 in the U.S.A spelling of Amari — variously 'eternal; possessing eternity' (Arabic) and 'strength; a builde▶Jomo#9871 in the U.S.Jomo is an African name carried into wide use by Jomo Kenyatta, the founding president of Kenya▶Cinque#10022 in the U.S.Cinque has two honest readings. In Italian it is simply the number 'five', a word-name. In Amer▶Zaaire#10858 in the U.S.Zaaire is a modern respelling of Zaire, the former name of the Congo region, itself from a Kiko▶Anani#10875 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Anani, 'my cloud; cloud,' a name in the genealogies of Chronicles; Anani is als▶Bomani#11094 in the U.S.An African name, Bomani, often given as 'mighty warrior; strong soldier' - carried in Ngoni (Ma▶Kashindi#11616 in the U.S.A Swahili name from the Congo region, often given to a child born during a festival or time of ▶Kasi#11622 in the U.S.Kasi appears across cultures: in Sanskrit tied to Kashi ('the shining one', an old name for Var▶Mpano#11852 in the U.S.An African name, associated with Kinyarwanda and neighboring Bantu languages of the Great Lakes▶Quante#11855 in the U.S.Quante is a modern African American coinage, formed on the -ante pattern of Dante and Devante w▶Akoi#12220 in the U.S.A short name found in some African (including South Sudanese Dinka) and other communities; its ▶Abwe#12326 in the U.S.A name found in Central African, notably Congolese and Luba-linked, naming. A settled gloss is ▶Asukulu#12473 in the U.S.Asukulu is a Congolese (Central African) name, borne in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I▶Bahati#12514 in the U.S.Bahati is a Swahili name from East Africa meaning 'luck' or 'fortune'. It carries a hopeful, bl▶Askia#12521 in the U.S.Askia is a tribute name drawn from Askia the Great, also called Askia Muhammad I, the emperor w▶Elikem#12763 in the U.S.From the Ewe (Ghana) Elikem, 'God is good to me' — a name of gratitude and faith, noted respect▶Javonne#12954 in the U.S.Javonne is a modern African American coinage, built from the Ja- prefix and a -von/-vonne endin▶Kenyata#13176 in the U.S.Kenyata is a spelling of Kenyatta, a name that spread among African American families in honour▶Kijuan#13431 in the U.S.Kijuan is a modern African American coinage, pairing a Ki- prefix with the -juan ending seen in▶Makalo#13441 in the U.S.Makalo is used in southern Africa, where the Sesotho word makalo carries the sense of wonder or▶Naki#13544 in the U.S.A short name found across cultures — among the Ga/Akan of Ghana it can mark a first daughter, a▶Sekanii#13857 in the U.S.Sekanii is an unusual spelling with no documented entry of its own. It sits closest to Sekani, ▶Trenell#13870 in the U.S.Trenell combines the Tre- opening, popular in names like Trevon and Trell, with the -nell endin▶Oronde#14066 in the U.S.Oronde is an African-rooted name whose precise origin is uncertain; it is often cited in mid-ce▶Yohance#14128 in the U.S.Yohance is a West African name of Akan (Hausa-influenced) origin usually translated 'God's gift▶IgabeIgabe reads as an East African name (from the Rwanda/Uganda region); its precise meaning is not▶ZikoA genuine short form in South Slavic naming, where -ko is a common affectionate ending, and als▶
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Frequently Asked
What are popular African baby names?
Popular African baby names include Amari, Alora, Zaire, Nylah, Makenna, Kasai. Each page has the meaning, popularity, and an audio pronunciation.
How many African baby names are here?
More4Kids lists 157 African baby names, each with a sourced meaning and audio pronunciation.