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African Names
Yoruba, Swahili, Igbo and more — names that carry pride, lineage and celebration. African names are often built around meaning first: the day you were born, the joy you bring, the hopes held for you. Browse each with its origin and meaning.
111 names
Aaden
Somali
First man, of the earth
BoyVirtueBiblical
Aaliyah
Arabic
Exalted, sublime
GirlVirtue
Adaeze
Igbo (Nigerian)
King's daughter
GirlHistorical
Adesuwa
Edo (Benin, Nigerian)
In the midst of prosperity
GirlVirtue
Adisa
Yoruba (Nigerian)
One who is clear, lucid
BoyVirtue
Afia
Akan (Ghanaian)
Born on a Friday
GirlVirtue
Aisha
Arabic
She who lives, thriving
GirlHistoricalBiblical
Aiyana
Amharic (Ethiopian)
Eternal blossom
GirlBotanicalNature
Akeem
Arabic / British African
Wise, insightful
BoyVirtueHistorical
Aleah
Arabic / African American
Exalted, of high standing
GirlVirtue
Amali
Swahili
Hopes, aspirations
GirlVirtue
Amara
Igbo (Nigerian)
Grace
Girl
Amari
African / Arabic
Eternal, immortal (Arabic)
UnisexVirtue
Aminu
Hausa (Northern Nigerian)
Trustworthy
BoyVirtueHistorical
Anaya
Sanskrit / Arabic
Caring, providing
GirlVirtue
Aniya
Arabic / African American
Caring, attentive
GirlVirtue
Ayo
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Joy
UnisexVirtue
Ayodele
Yoruba
Joy has come home
UnisexVirtue
Ayomide
Yoruba (Nigerian)
My joy has arrived
UnisexVirtue
Bahati
Swahili
Luck, fortune
UnisexVirtue
Bayo
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Joy has been found
BoyVirtue
Beza
Amharic (Ethiopian)
Kindness, mercy
GirlVirtue
Bisola
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Born into wealth
GirlVirtue
Chiamaka
Igbo
God is beautiful
GirlVirtue
Chidi
Igbo (Nigerian)
God exists
BoyVirtueBiblical
Chinelo
Igbo (Nigerian)
Thoughts of God
GirlVirtueBiblical
Chukwudi
Igbo (Nigerian)
God exists
BoyVirtueBiblical
Coretta
African American
Heart, dignified
GirlVirtueHistorical
Dakari
Shona (Zimbabwean)
Rejoice
BoyVirtue
Damilola
Yoruba (Nigerian)
God has given me blessing
UnisexVirtueBiblical
Dawit
Amharic (Ethiopian)
Beloved
BoyVirtueBiblical
Dayo
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Joy has arrived
UnisexVirtue
DeShawn
African American
God is gracious (from Shawn)
BoyVirtue
Diallo
Fula (West African)
Bold
BoyVirtueHistorical
Ebele
Igbo
Mercy, kindness
GirlVirtue
Eshe
Swahili
Life
GirlVirtue
Ezekiel
Hebrew / Biblical
God strengthens
BoyBiblical
Ezra
Hebrew / Biblical
Helper
UnisexBiblicalLiterary
Femi
Yoruba
Love me
UnisexVirtue
Folake
Yoruba
Honour with wealth
GirlVirtue
Folarin
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Walking with honour
BoyVirtueHistorical
Hadiya
Swahili / Arabic
Gift, guide
GirlVirtue
Hauwa
Hausa (Northern Nigerian)
Life-giver
GirlVirtueBiblical
Hodan
Somali
Abundant, blessed
GirlVirtue
Idris
Arabic / Welsh
Ardent lord, studious
BoyMythologicalHistorical
Ife
Yoruba
Love
UnisexVirtue
Ifeoma
Igbo (Nigerian)
A good thing
GirlVirtue
Imani
Swahili
Faith
Unisex
Imara
Swahili
Firm, resolute
GirlVirtue
Imari
Japanese / African American
Originally a Japanese porcelain town
UnisexVirtue
Jabari
Swahili
Brave
BoyVirtue
Jada
Hebrew / African American
He knows (Hebrew)
GirlVirtueHistorical
Jamal
Arabic / African American
Handsome, beauty
BoyVirtueHistorical
Jelani
Swahili
Mighty, powerful
BoyVirtueHistorical
Kaya
Zulu / Japanese / Hopi
Forgiveness, home, or yew tree — beautifully different things in Zulu, Hopi, and Japanese.
UnisexNatureVirtue
Kelechi
Igbo (Nigerian)
Thank God
UnisexVirtueBiblical
Kemi
Yoruba (Nigerian)
I am cared for
GirlVirtue
Kendrick
Old English / African American
Royal power
BoyHistoricalLiterary
Khalil
Arabic / African American
Beloved friend
BoyVirtueLiterary
Khari
Swahili
Kingly
UnisexVirtueHistorical
Kofi
Akan (Ghanaian)
Born on a Friday
Boy
Kojo
Akan (Ghanaian)
Born on a Monday
BoyVirtue
Kunle
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Filled with honour
BoyVirtue
Kwame
Akan (Ghanaian)
Born on a Saturday
BoyHistorical
Langston
Old English / African American
From the tall man's town
BoyLiteraryHistorical
Lerato
Sotho
Love
GirlVirtue
Makena
Kikuyu (Kenyan)
Happy one
GirlVirtue
Malik
Arabic
King, master
BoyHistoricalVirtue
Mandisa
Xhosa (South African)
Sweet
GirlVirtue
Marcus
Latin / Roman
Of Mars
BoyHistorical
Marley
Old English
From the marsh meadow
UnisexHistoricalLiterary
Mawuli
Ewe (Ghanaian / Togolese)
God exists
BoyVirtueBiblical
Maya
Sanskrit / Greek / Hebrew
Illusion (Sanskrit)
GirlMythologicalLiterary
Mehari
Tigrinya (Eritrean / Ethiopian)
Merciful, compassionate
BoyVirtueBiblical
Nala
Swahili
Gift
Girl
Naomi
Hebrew
Pleasantness
GirlBiblical
Neo
Tswana (Botswana)
Gift
UnisexVirtue
Nia
Swahili
Purpose
GirlVirtue
Nokuthula
Zulu (South African)
Mother of peace
GirlVirtue
Obi
Igbo (Nigerian)
Heart
BoyVirtue
Octavia
Latin / Roman
The eighth
GirlHistorical
Olumide
Yoruba (Nigerian)
The Lord has come
BoyVirtueBiblical
Omari
Swahili / Arabic
Flourishing, long-lived
BoyHistorical
Reggie
English (diminutive of Reginald)
Counsel-power
BoyHistorical
Sade
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Honour confers a crown
GirlLiteraryHistorical
Sanaa
Swahili / Arabic
Art, work of beauty
GirlLiterary
Sefu
Swahili
Sword
BoyVirtueHistorical
Sekai
Shona (Zimbabwean)
Laughter (in Shona) or world (in Japanese)
UnisexVirtue
Selamawit
Amharic (Ethiopian)
Peace
GirlVirtueBiblical
Simba
Swahili
Lion
BoyNatureHistorical
Solomon
Hebrew / Biblical
Peace
BoyBiblicalHistorical
Tariq
Arabic
He who knocks at the door
BoyMythologicalNature
Tendai
Shona (Zimbabwean)
Be thankful
UnisexVirtue
Thandi
Zulu (South African)
Beloved
GirlVirtue
Themba
Zulu / Xhosa (South African)
Hope, trust
BoyVirtue
Tiana
Slavic / African American
Princess, fairy queen
GirlVirtueMythological
Tobi
Yoruba (Nigerian / British)
Great is the Lord
UnisexVirtue
Trey
Latin / Caribbean British
Three
UnisexVirtue
Tunde
Yoruba (Nigerian)
He returns
BoyVirtueHistorical
Tyrese
African American / Caribbean
From Tyrus
BoyVirtueHistorical
Uche
Igbo (Nigerian)
Wisdom, intention
UnisexVirtue
Yaa
Akan (Ghanaian)
Born on a Thursday
GirlVirtue
Yetunde
Yoruba (Nigerian)
Mother returns
GirlVirtueHistorical
Zandile
Zulu (South African)
They have multiplied
GirlVirtueHistorical
Zara
Arabic / Hebrew
Radiance
Girl
Zaria
Arabic / African American
Rose, blooming
GirlVirtueCelestial
Zion
Hebrew / Biblical
Highest point, sanctuary
UnisexBiblicalVirtue
Zola
Zulu
Calm, quiet
UnisexVirtue
Zora
Slavic / African-American
Dawn
GirlLiteraryHistorical
Zuberi
Swahili
Strong
BoyVirtue
Zuri
Swahili
Beautiful
Girl
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