West African Baby Names
64 West African names with researched meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Explore 64 West 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.
West African Girl Names
Mariama#2375 in the U.S.beloved, wished-for childAminata#2441 in the U.S.trustworthy, faithful, honestWisdom#2819 in the U.S.From the Old English wisdom, meaning accumulated knowledge and good judgment; used as a given nFatou#2968 in the U.S.West African (especially Wolof and Mandinka) form of Fatima, from Arabic fatama meaning to weanAissatou#3578 in the U.S.Fulani/West African form of Aisha — 'alive, living, prosperous' — the Prophet's beloved wife's Kamara#3943 in the U.S.Linked to Swahili-Arabic qamar, 'moon' (as in Kamaria); also a widespread West African (MandinkKadiatou#4112 in the U.S.West African (Fulani/Mandinka, French-spelled) form of Khadija — the Prophet's first wife, readOumou#4146 in the U.S.From Arabic umm, 'mother' (as in Oumou Kalthoum) — a common West African (Fula/Mandinka) nameFanta#4588 in the U.S.From West African (Mandinka/Bambara) Fanta, often read 'beautiful day' or a cherished traditionAissata#5242 in the U.S.From Aissata — a Fula/West African form of Aisha, Arabic 'living, prosperous; she who lives'Adia#5414 in the U.S.From Swahili/African Adia, 'a gift' (also linked to Igbo 'first-born/queen'); routes layeredBintou#6158 in the U.S.From West African (Mandinka/Wolof) Bintou/Binta, linked to Arabic bint, 'daughter'Niani#7790 in the U.S.A modern name, variously linked to Niani (a historic capital of the Mali Empire) and read as a Salimata#8262 in the U.S.A West African (Mande/Wolof) form of Salima — from the Arabic salim, 'safe; sound; whole; unharHalimatou#9119 in the U.S.A West African (Fulani/Pulaar) form of Halima — from the Arabic halim, 'gentle; patient; mild; Fatmata#10365 in the U.S.A West African (notably Sierra Leonean and Guinean) form of Fatima, from the Arabic Fatimah, 'oNaija#11615 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing 'Naija' (an affectionate nickname for Nigeria) and Nadia/Naya; no singleSaran#11761 in the U.S.From the Mandinka (a West African language), traditionally glossed 'joy; delight'; also of ThaiCoumba#13580 in the U.S.A traditional Wolof/Serer (Senegalese) name — a feminine form of Kumba, given by birth order/trDiarra#13651 in the U.S.A Mandinka/Bambara (West African) name/surname, variously glossed 'a gift' and 'a lion' (a clanDiori#13894 in the U.S.Diori reads as a modern coinage that plainly echoes the luxury brand Dior — we note that honestDjenabou#13897 in the U.S.Djenabou is a West African, especially Fulani and Guinean, form of Zainab — the name of a daughFatimatou#13978 in the U.S.A West African form of Fatima — most common in Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Mauritania, where FrenFatumata#13979 in the U.S.A West African (Mande, Fula, Mandinka) form of the Arabic name Fatima, borne by the daughter ofKadi#14242 in the U.S.A short name arrived at by several routes: an English pet form of Katherine or Cadence, an EstoKhadijatou#14356 in the U.S.Khadijatou is a West African form of Arabic Khadija, common in Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia,Mariem#14520 in the U.S.A spelling of Maryam, the Arabic form of Miryam/Mary. Maryam is honoured in both the Bible and Marieme#14521 in the U.S.A French-influenced West African spelling (often written Marieme) of Maryam, the Arabic form ofMamediarra#14565 in the U.S.Mamediarra is a West African name, found chiefly in Senegal, Mali and Guinea. It appears to joiMariatou#14576 in the U.S.A West African form of Maryam — the Arabic name of Mary, mother of Jesus, honored in both IslamSafiatou#14910 in the U.S.A West African (Fula, Mandinka, Wolof) form of Arabic Safiyya, from safi ('pure; clear; serene'Kadiatu#16410 in the U.S.A West African (Sierra Leone, Guinea) form of Khadijah, 'trustworthy; early one; premature chilSalimatou#17324 in the U.S.Salimatou is a West African (notably Guinean, Malian, Senegalese and Ivorian) form of Salima/SaRokiatou#18585 in the U.S.A West African (Mali/Senegal) form of the Arabic Ruqayyah, the name of a daughter of the Prophe
West African Boy Names
Sekou#3368 in the U.S.From Mandinka/West African Sekou — linked to Arabic shaykh, 'learned one, elder', or 'fighter';Ousmane#3635 in the U.S.West African (Wolof, Mandinka, Fula) form of Uthman, from Arabic uthman meaning young bustard bAboubacar#4250 in the U.S.Francophone West African form of Abu Bakr — the first caliph, the Prophet's closest companion —Boubacar#4727 in the U.S.West African form of Abu Bakr — Arabic, 'father of the young camel/foal'; the first caliph's naCheikh#4890 in the U.S.From Arabic shaykh, 'elder, chief, religious leader' — a revered title and name in West AfricaMouhamadou#4986 in the U.S.West African (Francophone) form of Muhammad — from Arabic, 'praiseworthy, praised, commendable'Adama#5209 in the U.S.West African (Fula/Mandinka) form of Adam — Hebrew/Arabic, 'man; earth, of the red earth'; ofteElhadj#5932 in the U.S.From the Arabic al-hajj, 'the pilgrim; the one who has made the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca' — aElhadji#6911 in the U.S.A spelling of Elhadj — from the Arabic al-hajj, 'the pilgrim; one who has made the pilgrimage (Daouda#7297 in the U.S.A West African (notably Francophone) form of Dawud, the Arabic form of the Hebrew David, 'belovYoussouf#8229 in the U.S.A West African (Francophone) form of Yusuf/Joseph — from the Hebrew, 'God will add/increase'; aAkon#8309 in the U.S.A modern name, read variously as a short form of West African names (e.g. Akon/Akoon) and a freOusman#8737 in the U.S.A West African (Wolof/Mandinka) form of Uthman/Usman — from the Arabic, variously 'a baby bustaAssane#8990 in the U.S.A West African (Wolof/Fula) form of Hassan — from the Arabic hasan, 'good; handsome; beautiful;Mamoudou#9410 in the U.S.A West African (Mande/Fula) form of Muhammad/Mamadou — from the Arabic, 'praiseworthy; the praiMamadi#9517 in the U.S.A West African (Mandinka/Malinke) form of Muhammad — from the Arabic, 'praised; praiseworthy'; Samba#9681 in the U.S.A West African (Serer/Fula) name, variously 'a second son'; also, unrelatedly, a Brazilian dancAlhaji#10872 in the U.S.A West African name and honorific from the Arabic Al-Hajji, 'one who has made the Hajj' -- the Abou#10914 in the U.S.Usually from the Arabic Abu, 'father of,' an honorific prefix in names like Abu Bakr. In West AIdrissa#11176 in the U.S.A West African form of Idris — from the Arabic, 'an interpreter; studious; one who studies/instYaya#11943 in the U.S.A short or affectionate form used in West Africa and beyond, often standing in for Yahya (the AYacouba#12235 in the U.S.A West African (especially Francophone) form of Yaqub, the Arabic name for Jacob, ultimately frAlimou#12392 in the U.S.Alimou is a West African (notably Guinean/Fulani and Mande) form of Ali, ultimately from ArabicFoday#12866 in the U.S.Foday is a West African name, common among the Mandinka and in Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea,Fode#12867 in the U.S.Fode is a West African name, a form of Foday, common among the Mandinka and in Guinea, Mali andHamidou#12916 in the U.S.A West African form of the Arabic Hamid ('praiseworthy, worthy of praise'), with the -ou endingSaidou#13535 in the U.S.A West African (Fula/Wolof) form of Said/Sa'id — from the Arabic, 'happy; fortunate; a master/lSaikou#13536 in the U.S.Variously the Japanese saiko, 'the highest; supreme; the best', and a West African (Mande) surnAyoubaA West African form of Ayyub (Job), a prophet honored in Islam and the Bible; the name is tradiMouhamadoulA West African (Senegalese/Francophone) form based on Muhammad, from the Arabic 'praiseworthy,'
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Frequently Asked
What are popular West African baby names?
Popular West African baby names include Mariama, Aminata, Wisdom, Fatou, Sekou, Aissatou. Each page has the meaning, popularity, and an audio pronunciation.
How many West African baby names are here?
More4Kids lists 64 West African baby names, each with a sourced meaning and audio pronunciation.