African Baby Names
136 African names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Explore 136 baby names with a african feel. Every name links to a full page with its sourced meaning, origin, popularity chart, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation. Names are listed most-popular first.
African Girl Names
Amari#380 in the U.S.In Yoruba contexts the name relates to strength; in East African (Amharic/Oromo) usage it can mNylah#504 in the U.S.Variant of Nyla, derived from Arabic Nā'ila meaning 'one who attains' or 'one who is successfulMakenna#593 in the U.S.Variant of McKenna, from Irish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha meaning 'son of Cionaodh' (a personal name Amani#678 in the U.S.From Swahili and Arabic amani meaning peace, security, or wishes; in Arabic amani is the pluralMonica#737 in the U.S.Of uncertain origin; possibly from the Latin moneo (to advise, to warn) or from a North AfricanNala#856 in the U.S.From the Swahili and Zulu nala meaning 'successful' or 'beloved'; also shares roots with the SaZaria#945 in the U.S.Derived from Slavic Zarya meaning dawn, aurora, or morning glow, and also used as a name connecAmiri#964 in the U.S.Prince or commander; from Arabic amir (leader, prince, ruler)Kamora#1108 in the U.S.Moonlight; a variant of Kamari, from Arabic qamar (moon)Kamari#1142 in the U.S.Moonlight; from African (possibly Swahili/Arabic-influenced) kamari (moon, moonlight)Ayana#1161 in the U.S.Beautiful flower; eternal blossom; from Swahili/Somali and Cherokee traditions both using AyanaZendaya#1189 in the U.S.To give thanks; from Shona (Zimbabwe) zendaya — the root zenda means to be thankful or gratefulEgypt#1213 in the U.S.Black land; from the Greek Aigyptos, from Egyptian Hwt-ka-Ptah (house of the soul of Ptah)Aiyana#1225 in the U.S.Eternal blossom; ai- spelling variant of Ayana/Ayanna, from Cherokee and Swahili traditions meaKya#1237 in the U.S.Diamond in the sky; possibly from South African Zulu/Xhosa origin, or a creative variant of KaiKenia#1253 in the U.S.Spanish form of Kenya; likely from Kikuyu Kirinyaga (the mountain) or a Bantu root; used as a gZahara#1289 in the U.S.Flower; radiance; to bloom; from Arabic zahara (to flower, to shine) and Hebrew zohar (radianceZola#1338 in the U.S.Earth; from Zulu/Xhosa zola (to be still, to be calm, tranquil); also an Italian surname from LAyanna#1368 in the U.S.Beautiful flower; eternal blossom; double-n spelling variant of Ayana, from Swahili/Cherokee trZhuri#1511 in the U.S.Flower; possibly from Swahili or Zulu origin; exact etymology uncertainSafia#2403 in the U.S.From Arabic safi meaning pure, clear, or sincere; also used to mean best friend of the Prophet,Issa#2871 in the U.S.Arabic form of Jesus, God savesKhari#3051 in the U.S.kingly, princely, queenlySena#3162 in the U.S.Grace of God or gift of God in Ewe (West African); also world or this world in Japanese; and arSekani#3378 in the U.S.From Tumbuka (Malawi) Sekani, 'laughter; laugh, be joyful'; here for girlsKamara#3943 in the U.S.Linked to Swahili-Arabic qamar, 'moon' (as in Kamaria); also a widespread West African (MandinkKimani#4122 in the U.S.A Kikuyu (Kenyan) name, traditionally masculine, adopted in the U.S. mainly for girls; popular Nalah#4521 in the U.S.-ah spelling of Nala — Arabic na'ila, 'achiever, winner', or African ('gift'/'beloved') and LioZala#4543 in the U.S.From Slovene Zala, 'beautiful, pretty' (a short form of Rozalija); also an African/Hausa name, Amarachi#4766 in the U.S.From Igbo Amara Chi, meaning 'grace of God' or 'God's grace'; amara means 'grace, favour, or kiAdama#5557 in the U.S.Variously the Hebrew adamah, 'earth; ground; the red soil' (the root of Adam), and a West AfricOlanna#6056 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Olanna, 'the gold of the father; the father's gold/treasure'Zira#6835 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an African name (of uncertain meaning; a Lion King character) and a ZaAyanni#7949 in the U.S.A modern spelling near Ayana/Ayanna, tied variously to a Somali/African 'beautiful flower; brigNyrobi#8224 in the U.S.Ny-spelling of Nairobi — the Kenyan capital, from Maasai Enkare Nairobi, 'the place of cool watNoni#8786 in the U.S.Variously the Shona/Zulu Noni, 'a gift of God; a jewel', and a modern pet name; routes uncertaiAmahle#8951 in the U.S.From the Zulu (South Africa) Amahle, 'the beautiful ones; the good/lovely ones'Azina#8951 in the U.S.Azina reads as a rare name whose root is uncertain. It appears as a Shona (Zimbabwean) name, anNuru#9500 in the U.S.From the Swahili nuru, 'light' (from the Arabic nur). A warm, luminous name of East African traAkua#10134 in the U.S.From the Akan (Ghana) Akua — a day-name for a girl 'born on Wednesday'Behati#11227 in the U.S.Behati is a Herero name from Namibia in Southern Africa, borne notably by model Behati PrinslooKamina#11400 in the U.S.Variously an African name glossed 'a dancer' and a Congolese place-name; also read as a modern Kasiya#11407 in the U.S.From the Chewa (Malawi) word Kasiya, glossed 'departure' or 'it stayed at home,' and separatelyKadia#11566 in the U.S.A West African (Mandinka) form of Khadija, the name of the Prophet Muhammad's first wife, an hoAkeza#12171 in the U.S.Akeza is a Kinyarwanda/Kirundi name from Rwanda and Burundi, meaning 'the beautiful one' or 'shNuma#12838 in the U.S.Variously from the Arabic ni'ma, 'grace; a blessing; a favour', and an African name; also a claNyala#12841 in the U.S.From the southern African (Bantu) nyala, 'a spiral-horned antelope'; also a place-name (a town Masoka#12941 in the U.S.A name found in African (Malawi/Zambia, from Chichewa/Tumbuka roots, linked to 'gift; thanks') Mwangaza#13013 in the U.S.From the Swahili mwangaza, 'light; brightness; illumination' — an East African word-name. Used Uwase#13320 in the U.S.Uwase is a Kinyarwanda name from Rwanda. Kinyarwanda names are typically built as short phrasesSalia#13330 in the U.S.Salia is a West African (Mandinka) name; in the U.S. it also reads as a soft modern coinage in Azania#13443 in the U.S.Azania is an old place name applied to parts of southeastern Africa, revived as a poetic and asZolah#13575 in the U.S.A respelling of Zola. The name is best known as the surname of the French writer Emile Zola (anAnele#13590 in the U.S.From the Nguni languages (Zulu/Xhosa) of South Africa, Anele means 'they are enough' or 'compleAsanti#13643 in the U.S.A modern name echoing the Ashanti (Asante) people of Ghana and the Swahili asante ('thank you')Ayak#13824 in the U.S.A traditional Dinka name from South Sudan, borne by girls; the precise sense is not widely docuImana#14095 in the U.S.Imana is the Kinyarwanda and Kirundi word for God, central to Rwandan and Burundian faith and lIremide#14104 in the U.S.From Yoruba ire ('goodness, blessing, prosperity') with mi ('my') and de ('has come, has arriveIsheja#14110 in the U.S.Isheja is a Kinyarwanda given name used in Rwanda and the Rwandan diaspora. It sits among the mIshimwe#14111 in the U.S.From the Kinyarwanda verb gushima, 'to thank, to praise' — Ishimwe is generally rendered 'let HIyanuoluwa#14124 in the U.S.From Yoruba iyanu ('miracle, wonder') and Oluwa ('the Lord, God') — 'the miracle of God'. It isHawi#14200 in the U.S.An Oromo name from Ethiopia, generally glossed as 'the one who comes first' or 'beloved, dear oMasai#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 — Mawa#14600 in the U.S.Mawa is used in several African and diaspora communities, but we have not found a single secureMbene#14614 in the U.S.Mbene is used as a personal name in parts of Africa and the diaspora. We have not found a securAluel#15371 in the U.S.A traditional Dinka (South Sudanese) girl's name, widely carried among the Dinka people; the spAnuri#15454 in the U.S.From the Igbo Anuri (anuri), 'joy; gladness; happiness' — a bright, meaningful name from southeEbyan#15818 in the U.S.From the Somali Ebyan, understood as 'graceful; refined; pure' — a warm, positive name used in Eko#15910 in the U.S.Eko is the indigenous Yoruba name of Lagos, Nigeria; to English ears it also reads as 'echo,' aJendaya#16292 in the U.S.A J- form of Zendaya, a name popularly linked to the Shona (Zimbabwe) tenda ('to give thanks; tKasai#16340 in the U.S.Two genuine and unrelated routes. The Kasai is a major tributary of the Congo River, flowing thKarasi#16379 in the U.S.Said to derive from Swahili/African roots touching on 'life; wisdom,' though documentation for Lolade#16713 in the U.S.A Yoruba (Nigerian) name, a short form of names such as Omolade ('the child is a crown; a crownMlasi#16859 in the U.S.Mlasi is a rare name of likely East African (Swahili) background. A firm single documented meanZula#17280 in the U.S.Variously a short form of Zuleika ('brilliant; lovely', Persian/Arabic), an African (Zulu-linkeSekhani#17580 in the U.S.From Chichewa (spoken in Malawi and southern Africa), sekani/sekhani, 'laugh; be happy; rejoice
African Boy Names
Amari#185 in the U.S.Strength; builder; eternal; from African (Yoruba/Swahili) amari (strength, builder) or Hebrew aKamari#391 in the U.S.From Swahili and Arabic origins, related to the Arabic qamar meaning moon; used in East AfricanMusa#470 in the U.S.Arabic form of Moses, from Hebrew 'Moshe,' possibly derived from Egyptian meaning 'son' or 'borZaire#503 in the U.S.From the Kikongo word nzadi o nzere meaning 'the river that swallows all rivers,' referring to Kobe#519 in the U.S.Has multiple possible origins: as a Japanese place-name (the port city of Kobe, 神戸, meaning 'goKasai#639 in the U.S.Primarily a place name from the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo; used as a giveOmari#687 in the U.S.From Swahili omari, from Arabic Umar or Omar meaning flourishing, long-lived, or prosperous; usDakari#837 in the U.S.From the Shona language of Zimbabwe, meaning 'joy' or 'happiness'; used as a given name in ZimbMakari#918 in the U.S.From Greek Makarios meaning blessed, happy, or fortunate; the name of numerous early Christian Sekani#1187 in the U.S.Laughter, joy, one who laughsDakhari#2948 in the U.S.A name of African origin, often attributed to Swahili or broader sub-Saharan African traditionsKwame#2962 in the U.S.Born on Saturday; an Akan day name from Ghana and Côte d'IvoireEgypt#3050 in the U.S.The country name, from Greek Aigyptos — traced to Egyptian Hut-ka-Ptah, 'temple of the soul of Zuko#3088 in the U.S.glory, honorNalo#5335 in the U.S.From an African (often glossed Bantu/East African) name Nalo, 'much loved; the beloved'; the glSakani#5358 in the U.S.From Tumbuka (Malawi) Sekani/Sakani, 'laughter; laugh, be joyful'Obinna#5777 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Obinna — obi, 'heart', + nna, 'father', hence 'the heart of the father;Amai#5870 in the U.S.In Japanese, amai (甘い) means 'sweet' or 'gentle'. As an African name (particularly Shona/ZimbabIniko#6952 in the U.S.From the Efik/Ibibio (Nigeria) Iniko, 'born in troubled/hard times; born during difficulty'Kiano#7444 in the U.S.From Kikuyu (Kenyan) Kiano, 'a leader; one who leads a group'; also echoes Keanu/Cian; routes lMassai#8022 in the U.S.From Maasai/Massai — the name of an East African (Kenya/Tanzania) people, 'those who speak Maa'Emeka#8447 in the U.S.From the Igbo (Nigeria) Emeka — a short form of Chukwuemeka, 'God has done great/many things; gDemilade#8467 in the U.S.From the Yoruba Demilade, 'crown me with wealth' or 'mine is now a crown' — a name of blessing Kenyatta#8648 in the U.S.From the Kikuyu (Kenya) — variously 'a musician' and 'of the ornate/beaded belt' (the name adopMasani#8672 in the U.S.From the Luganda (Uganda) Masani, 'has a gap between the teeth'; also read as an Egyptian/SwahiMosa#8697 in the U.S.Variously a short form of Moses ('drawn out of the water', Hebrew) and a Sesotho/Tswana name ('Ovie#8738 in the U.S.Variously the Urhobo (Nigeria) Ovie, 'a king; a ruler; royalty', and a spelling of Ovi; routes Oheneba#8760 in the U.S.From the Akan (Ghana) Oheneba — ohene, 'a king/chief', + ba, 'a child', hence 'a prince; a chilAbem#8927 in the U.S.A rare name, possibly of African origin, with no securely documented meaning in available sourcMali#9406 in the U.S.Variously the West African place Mali (an empire/country) and the Thai mali, 'jasmine'; also a Onaje#9603 in the U.S.An African (given variously as Swahili/Yoruba) name, glossed 'sensitive; caring; one who has feZaaire#9687 in the U.S.Zaaire is a modern respelling of Zaire, the former name of the Congo region, itself from a KikoGanza#10075 in the U.S.A Rwandan name in Kinyarwanda, associated with the sense 'reign; rule; govern.' Carried in RwanOluwaferanmi#10402 in the U.S.From the Yoruba (Nigeria) Oluwaferanmi — Oluwa, 'God/the Lord', + feran mi, 'loves me', hence 'Aamari#10697 in the U.S.A spelling of Amari — variously 'eternal; possessing eternity' (Arabic) and 'strength; a buildeAnani#10875 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Anani, 'my cloud; cloud,' a name in the genealogies of Chronicles; Anani is alsEdem#11027 in the U.S.From the Ewe (Ghana/Togo) Edem, 'God has saved/delivered me; God's deliverance'Bomani#11094 in the U.S.An African name, Bomani, often given as 'mighty warrior; strong soldier' - carried in Ngoni (MaChibueze#11120 in the U.S.From the Igbo Chibueze, 'God is king' (Chi, 'God', + bu, 'is', + eze, 'king') — a name of faithEsey#11182 in the U.S.An Eritrean name, used in Tigrinya-speaking families; the documented etymology is uncertain, whNanakwame#11586 in the U.S.A compound of the Akan (Ghana) Nana ('a chief/grandparent; a title of honour') and Kwame ('bornKashindi#11616 in the U.S.A Swahili name from the Congo region, often given to a child born during a festival or time of Mpano#11852 in the U.S.An African name, associated with Kinyarwanda and neighboring Bantu languages of the Great LakesWilondja#11916 in the U.S.A Congolese (DR Congo) name of uncertain gloss, from a Bantu language; sources vary, so routes Zuma#12296 in the U.S.Zuma reads as an African name (a Zulu surname among others) and, in the U.S., as a place name fAbwe#12326 in the U.S.A name found in Central African, notably Congolese and Luba-linked, naming. A settled gloss is Ajak#12373 in the U.S.Ajak is a name from the Dinka people of South Sudan, used as both a given name and a family namAsukulu#12473 in the U.S.Asukulu is a Congolese (Central African) name, borne in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. IDiing#12743 in the U.S.Diing is a name from the Dinka people of South Sudan, carried in Dinka families (often connecteElikem#12763 in the U.S.From the Ewe (Ghana) Elikem, 'God is good to me' — a name of gratitude and faith, noted respectHirwa#12948 in the U.S.From Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda, Hirwa means 'lucky one' or 'the fortunate one.' A warHondo#12954 in the U.S.From Shona, spoken in Zimbabwe, Hondo means 'war.' It is also familiar as the title of a John WImena#12969 in the U.S.In Kinyarwanda, Imana is the word for God, and Imena appears as a related name form in Rwandan Lawi#13374 in the U.S.Lawi is used as a given name in Ethiopia and in Malawi and neighboring countries; in Ethiopian Makalo#13441 in the U.S.Makalo is used in southern Africa, where the Sesotho word makalo carries the sense of wonder orRashidi#13733 in the U.S.Rashidi is the Swahili form of the Arabic Rashid, 'rightly guided; of sound judgement; wise couSaidi#13821 in the U.S.From Arabic Sa'id, 'happy; fortunate; auspicious'. Saidi is the Swahili shape of the name, longSekanii#13857 in the U.S.Sekanii is an unusual spelling with no documented entry of its own. It sits closest to Sekani, AkaniA name found in Tsonga (Southern African) use, often glossed 'to build; build up,' and also reaZikoA genuine short form in South Slavic naming, where -ko is a common affectionate ending, and als
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What are popular African baby names?
Popular African baby names include Amari, Amari, Kamari, Musa, Zaire, Nylah. Each page has the meaning, popularity, and an audio pronunciation.
How many African baby names are here?
More4Kids lists 136 African baby names, each with a sourced meaning and audio pronunciation.