African names

Abanu

African, Ibo

I have joined the family

Abdalla

African

servant of God

Abdifatah

Somali, Eastern African, Arabic

servant of victory, servant of the conqueror; servant of God

Achol

African

second born

Afia

African

born on Friday

Aïcha

North African and French influenced variation of Aisha, Arabic

living, prosperous

Aissa

Northern African, French, Arabic

the lord is salvation

Aiyana

American from Arabic or African

large eyes, or time, or beautiful flower

Akoa

African, Hawaiian

born on a Wednesday; warrior, strength

Akwasi

African, Ashanti, Akan

born on a Sunday

Amadi

African

free man

Amare

African

handsome

Amarli

African, Swahili; Hebrew

occupation, activity; my work

Anika

Nordic diminutive of Anne or African, Hausa

sweetness of face

Aous

Variation of Aws, Northern African, Arabic

wolf, jackal, wild dog

Ayana

Arabic, African, Kazakh

large eyes; time; beautiful flower; clear, obvious, revealed; seeing, witnessing

Ayanna

Arabic, African

large eyes; or time; beautiful flower

Ayu

African, Yoruban

joy

Bayo

African, Nigerian, Yoruba

the crown meets joy

Bintou

Arabic, West African

daughter, girl

Chidike

West African, Igbo

God is strong

Chioma

African, Igbo

good God

Coumba

West African

dove, peaceful; one who has the strength

Dakari

African

rejoice

Dembe

African, Ugandan

peace

Diallo

West African (Fula)

bold

Diara

French, Bambara, Western African, Modern invention, Kurdish

lion; shining, bloom; divine + bright, clear; divine + crown; visible, clear

Diarra

West African

gift

Dieudonné

African, French

given by God

Dieumerci

African, French

thank God

Domonique

Variation of Dominique, African American, French

belonging to the lord

Dumi

African

praise

Ebele

African

mercy, kindness

Ebo

African, Akeradini

born on Tuesday

Emeka

West African, Igbo

great deeds

Enu

African, Akan

fifth born child

Enzi

African, Swahili

powerful

Eshe

African, Swahili

life

Falala

African, Fula

born in abundance

Fana

African

light or jungle

Fatou

West African variation of Fatima, Arabic

captivating, a woman who abstains

Fatoumata

West African variation of Fatima, Arabic

captivating, a woman who abstains

Fatumata

West African variation of Fatima

a woman who abstains

Folami

Yoruba, African

honor and respect me

Gahiji

African

the hunter

Gasira

African, Somali from Arabic, or Swahili

island; brave

Goodwill

English, African, Zulu

meaning well

Halima

African

gentle, humane

Ibo

African

my people

Idi

African

born during the Idd festival

Idrissa

West African, Arabic

interpreter, studious

Imee

Variation of Imena, African, Arabic

dream; faith

Imena

African, Arabic

dream; faith

Iyabo

African, Yoruba

mother has returned

Jahmir

Invented name, African American, Arabic

beauty + prince, ruler

Jamarcus

African American compound name, from James and Marcus

supplanter + warlike

Jamari

Variation of Jamar, African American, Arabic

beauty

Jamarius

Variation of Jamar, African American, Arabic, or variation of Marius, Latin

beauty; Mars, male

Jengo

African, Swahili

building

Juba

African

born on Monday

Kabelo

African and Sotho

given

Kamali

African, Mashona

spirit guide, protector

Kanika

African, Mwera

black cloth

Kano

African place-name or Japanese

the god of the waters

Kanye

African place-name, Nigeria

honor, tribute

Karasi

African

life and wisdom

Kato

African, Uganda

second of twins

Keita

Japanese, East African

celebration, open, begin + great, big; worshipper, blessing

Kessie

African, Ashanti

chubby baby

Khari

West African

kingly

Kheumani

Swahili, West African, Modern invention

destiny; born on Tuesday

Kia

African

season's beginning

Kissa

African-Ugandan

born after twins

Komla

Western African, Akan, Ewe

born on Tuesday

Kori

Spelling variation of Corey, English, African, Hebrew

from the hollow; lamb; coral

Kuchenga

African, Swahili

evasion

Kymani

Eastern African

adventurous traveler

Ladarius

African American, Greek

possessing goodness; princely, noble

Ladarrius

African American, Greek

possessing goodness; princely, noble

Lakendra

Feminization of Kenneth, African American

handsome; knowing

Lamine

Western African, Maghrebi

the trustworthy

Landie

English, South African

land; long; landowner; country

Lelisa

African, Oromo

admirer

Lelise

African, Oromo

admirer

Lelouch

Variation of Lellouche, Tamazight, African surname

lamb

Levar

African American, Latin, English surname

the truth; one who lives where rushes grow

Levardis

African American, Latin

the truth

Liseli

Lozi, Southern African, German

light; God is my oath

Lissa

African, Arabic mythological name; diminutive of Melissa, Greek

honeybee

Lovemore

Southern African, English

loving and kind person

Loveness

African, English

love, affection, caring

Lyndall

English, South African

linden or lime tree valley; lake in the valley

Makenna

Spelling variation of McKenna, Irish, Eastern African

son of Kenneth; happy one

Mandisa

Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African

sweet, pleasant, nice

Mandla

African

strength

Mansa

Manding, Western African

king, ruler

Masai

African

people who speak Maa

Massai

African tribe; also Italian

owner of land and farms

Moreblessing

Southern African, English

more blessings; given blessings by God

Moyo

South African, Ndebele

heart

Mufasa

African

king

Nairobi

African place-name, Maasi

cold water

Nayo

African Nigerian

she is our joy

Ngozi

African, Nigerian-Igbo

blessing

Nilla

African

glorious

Nyala

African, Ethiopian

mountain goat

Obi

Short form of Obadiah or African, Igbo

heart

Obiajulu

African

my heart is content

Odissan

African

thirteenth born son

Ogun

African, Yoruba

god of war

Panya

African, Swahili; or, Russian, diminutive of Stephania

mouse, tiny one; or, crowned one

Pili

African, Swahili

second born

Safari

African word name from Swahili

journey

Salama

African, Swahili

peace, safety, security

Sarabi

African, Swahili

mirage

Sekou

Fula, African

sheikh

Shenzi

African, Swahili

savage

Siya

American variation of Sia, short form of names ending -siya, Sanskrit, South African; "victory; furrow; white moonlight; thank you"

victory; furrow; white moonlight; thank you

Sofiane

Arabic, North African

slender

Subira

African, Swahili

patience

Sundiata

Mandinka/Malinke, West African

Sogolon's lion, lion king, lion prince

Sundjata

Variation of Sundiata, Mandinka/Malinke, West African

Sogolon's lion, lion king, lion prince

Tabia

East African, Swahili

talents, gifts

Taci

African, Zuni

washtub

Talisha

African American compound name, combining Tamara and Alicia

noble palm

Tamala

African

dark tree

Taraja

African, Kiswahili

hope

Taurean

African American, English, Latin

born under the sign of Taurus

Taye

African, Ethiopian

he has been seen

Tayo

Yoruba, African

worth joy

Thandie

South African, Xhosa

beloved

Thema

African, Akan

queen

Tisa

African, Swahili

ninth born

Umaru

West African

populous, flourishing

Unika

African

shining

Zanele

African, Zulu

they are enough

Zaria

African place-name, variant of Zahra, Arabic

rose; to shine, to bloom

Zella

African, Bobangi, Libyan place name, diminutive of Rosella, Marcella, Gizella, or Isabella

lacking nothing, one who knows the way

Zhuri

Variation of Zuri, African, Kiswahili

good, beautiful

Ziare

Spelling variation of Zaire, African place-name, or Arabic

river

Zina

Russian, Hungarian, Arabic, African, Nsenga

related to Zeus; rose; adornment, ornament; spirt name

Zizi

African, Kiswahili

pledged to God

Zola

African, Congolese; also literary name

piece of earth

Zyaire

Spelling variation of Zaire, African place-name, or Arabic

river