African names: 180+ boy, girl and women's names with meanings and origins
181 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest
In the US, the most used African names include Amara (grace, Igbo), Zuri (beautiful, Swahili) and Imani (faith, Swahili), while names like Kofi (born on Friday, Akan) and Chiamaka (God is beautiful, Igbo) are classics at home. Every one of them comes from a specific language rather than from Africa as a whole. African names for boys like Jabari and Olamide and women's names like Nokuthula and Tsitsi carry clear meanings of their own.
Africa is home to somewhere between 1,250 and 2,100 languages, so each note below names the language and the region where it is spoken, with a simple pronunciation where it helps. You will find 180+ real names for girls, women, boys and either, Nigerian names in Yoruba and Igbo, Ghana's Akan day names, twin and birth-order names, names that honor God, nature names and names for peace, joy and love.
Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks
Chioma
Good God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-OH-mah
Ubah
Flower, from the word ubax; Somali, the Horn of Africa
Ifeoma
Good thing, beautiful thing; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
Upendo
Love; Swahili, East Africa. Say oo-PEN-doh
Folasade
Rule with honor, or honor makes a crown; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Sade for short
Adaeze
Princess, king's daughter; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
What is your Akan day name?
The Akan of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo name children for the weekday they were born. Enter a birth date to see the day name for a boy and a girl, with other common spellings.
Pick a date to see the names.
Spellings vary between Twi, Fante and Ewe, and many Akan families add a birth-order or twin name as well.
Find an African name on this page
Narrow 181 names by how common they were for US babies in 2025, by section, length or first letter, or search the meanings.
African girl names
Well-loved names for girls from across the continent, each with its language and region.
- Imani US #579: Faith, belief; Swahili, East Africa. Say ee-MAH-nee
- Ayaan US #465: Good luck; Somali, for girls. In the US it is mostly an Indian boys' name. Say ah-YAHN
- Thandiwe: Beloved one; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say tahn-DEE-weh
- Nandi: Sweet, pleasant; Zulu, South Africa. King Shaka's mother bore it
- Chiamaka: God is beautiful; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-ah-MAH-kah
- Adaeze: Princess, king's daughter; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Ngozi: A blessing; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say n-GOH-zee
- Ifeoma: Good thing, beautiful thing; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Folasade: Rule with honor, or honor makes a crown; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Sade for short
- Funmilayo: Give me joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say foon-mee-LAH-yoh
- Titilayo: Joy is eternal; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Morenike: I have someone to cherish; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Yetunde: Mother has returned; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say yeh-TOON-deh
- Abimbola: Born into wealth; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Rufaro: Happiness; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say roo-FAH-roh
- Chipo: A gift; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say CHEE-poh
- Malaika: An angel; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
- Neema: Grace, blessing; Swahili, East Africa. Say neh-EH-mah
- Zawadi: A gift; Swahili, East Africa. Say zah-WAH-dee
- Sibongile: We are thankful; Zulu, South Africa. Say see-bon-GEE-leh
- Lindiwe: The awaited one; Zulu, South Africa. Say lin-DEE-weh
African women's names
Names worn by grown women across the continent. In Zulu and Xhosa, many begin with No-, a feminine prefix.
- Nokuthula: Peace, calm; Zulu, South Africa. Say no-koo-TOO-lah
- Nonhlanhla: Luck, good fortune; Zulu, South Africa
- Busisiwe: Blessed; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say boo-see-SEE-weh
- Nosipho: A gift, with the feminine prefix no-; Zulu and Xhosa
- Thandeka: Loved; Zulu and Ndebele, southern Africa. Say tahn-DEH-kah
- Hlengiwe: Helped, rescued, redeemed; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
- Ntombi: Girl; Zulu, South Africa. Say n-TOM-bee
- Boitumelo: Joy; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say boy-too-MEH-loh
- Masego: Blessings; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say mah-SEH-goh
- Tsitsi: Mercy, compassion; Shona, Zimbabwe. Novelist Dangarembga bears it
- Fadzai: Make happy, please; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say fahd-ZYE
- Almaz: Diamond; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, from Persian
- Etenesh: You are my sister; Amharic, Ethiopia
- Adhiambo: Girl born in the evening; Luo, western Kenya
- Hodan: Rich, lush; Somali, the Horn of Africa. Say hoh-DAHN
- Nnenna: Father's mother, honoring a grandmother; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
African names for boys
Strong, meaningful male names for boys, with the language and region of each.
- Jabari: Mighty, powerful; Swahili, from Arabic. Mostly an African American name since the 1970s. Say jah-BAH-ree
- Baraka: A blessing; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
- Shujaa: Hero; a Swahili word from Arabic, rare as a given name. Say shoo-JAH
- Jasiri: Brave, bold; Swahili, East Africa. Say jah-SEE-ree
- Chinedu: God leads; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-NEH-doo
- Chukwuemeka: God has done great things; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Emeka: Short for Chukwuemeka, God has done great things; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say eh-MEH-kah
- Obinna: Father's heart; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say oh-BEEN-nah
- Ikenna: Father's strength; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Nnamdi: My father is alive; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say NAHM-dee
- Chidi: God exists; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEE-dee
- Babatunde: Father has returned; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Tunde for short
- Adebayo: The crown meets joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Olumide: My lord has come; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Olusegun: God is victorious; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Segun for short
- Kayode: He brought joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say kah-YOH-deh
- Sipho: A gift; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say SEE-poh
- Mandla: Strength, power; Zulu, South Africa
- Sizwe: Nation; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say SEEZ-weh
- Lwazi: Knowledge; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
- Thabo: Joy, happiness; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say TAH-boh
- Tshepo: Hope, trust; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa
- Haile: Power, might; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say HY-leh
- Tesfaye: My hope; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say tes-FAH-yeh
- Abebe: He has blossomed; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say ah-BEH-beh
- Kondwani: Rejoice, be happy; Chichewa, Malawi
Unisex African names
Names given to girls and boys alike, many of them short and easy to say.
- Ayodele: Joy has come home; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Ayo: Joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say AH-yoh
- Temitope: Mine is worthy of thanks; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
- Chika: God is supreme; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEE-kah
- Uchenna: Father's wisdom, often read as God's will; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say oo-CHEN-nah
- Mpho: A gift; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say MM-poh
- Neo: A gift; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Also Greek for new, as in The Matrix. Say NEH-oh
- Desta: Joy, happiness; Amharic, Ethiopia
- Ayanda: They are increasing; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
- Tendai: Be thankful; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say TEN-dye
- Tatenda: We are thankful; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say tah-TEN-dah
- Farai: Rejoice; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say fah-RYE
- Tafadzwa: We are pleased; Shona, Zimbabwe
- Nyasha: Grace, mercy; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say NYAH-shah
- Mphatso: A gift; Chichewa, Malawi. Say mm-PAHT-soh
- Bahati: Luck, fortune; Swahili, East Africa. Say bah-HAH-tee
Nigerian names from Yoruba and Igbo
Nigeria's Yoruba and Igbo names are often whole sentences about God, family or the joy of a birth. Each note says whether the name is usually given to a boy or a girl.
- Ayomide: My joy has arrived; Yoruba, for girls and boys. Say ah-yoh-MEE-deh
- Bolanle: Find wealth at home; Yoruba, for girls. Say boh-LAHN-leh
- Opeyemi: Gratitude suits me; Yoruba, for girls and boys. Say oh-peh-YEH-mee
- Oluwatoyin: God is worthy of praise; Yoruba, usually for girls. Toyin for short
- Bukola: Add to wealth; Yoruba, for girls. Say boo-KOH-lah
- Ebere: Mercy, kindness; Igbo, for girls. Say eh-BEH-reh
- Olamide: My wealth has arrived; Yoruba, usually for boys
- Babajide: Father has awakened; Yoruba, for boys. Say bah-bah-JEE-deh
- Ayodeji: Joy has become two; Yoruba, for boys. Say ah-yoh-DEH-jee
- Ayotunde: Joy has come again; Yoruba, usually for boys. Say ah-yoh-TOON-deh
- Nneka: Mother is supreme; Igbo, for girls. Say n-NEH-kah
- Chidimma: God is good; Igbo, for girls. Say chee-DEEM-mah
- Ugochi: Eagle of God, God's pride; Igbo, for girls. Say oo-GOH-chee
- Ijeoma: Good journey; Igbo, for girls. Say ee-jeh-OH-mah
- Chinonso: God is nearby; Igbo, usually for boys. Say chee-NON-soh
- Chukwuebuka: God is greater; Igbo, for boys. Ebuka for short
- Onyekachi: Who is greater than God? Igbo, usually for boys
- Chukwuma: God knows; Igbo, for boys. Say chook-WOO-mah
Akan day names from Ghana
The Akan of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo name children for the day of the week they were born, and most Ghanaians carry one of these names. Spellings vary between Twi and Fante.
- Kwasi: Boy born on Sunday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-see
- Akosua: Girl born on Sunday; Akan, Ghana. Say ah-KOH-soo-ah
- Kwadwo: Boy born on Monday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-joh
- Adwoa: Girl born on Monday; Akan, Ghana
- Kwabena: Boy born on Tuesday; Akan, Ghana. Say kwah-BEH-nah
- Abena: Girl born on Tuesday; Akan, Ghana. Say ah-BEH-nah
- Kwaku: Boy born on Wednesday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-koo
- Akua: Girl born on Wednesday; Akan, Ghana. Say AH-kwah
- Yaw: Boy born on Thursday; Akan, Ghana. Rhymes with now
- Yaa: Girl born on Thursday; Akan, Ghana. Say YAH
- Kofi: Boy born on Friday; Akan, Ghana. UN leader Annan bore it
- Afua: Girl born on Friday; Akan, Ghana. Say AH-foo-ah
- Kwame: Boy born on Saturday; Akan, Ghana. Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, took it in 1945
- Ama: Girl born on Saturday; Akan, Ghana. Say AH-mah
Twin, birth-order and birth-time names
Many African cultures name a child for how or when they arrived: as a twin, after twins, at dawn or on a certain day.
- Taiwo: First-born of twins, who tastes the world first; Yoruba, Nigeria
- Kehinde: Second-born of twins, the one who comes after; Yoruba, Nigeria
- Idowu: Child born after twins; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-DOH-woo
- Ige: Born feet first; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-GEH
- Babirye: First-born of twin girls; Luganda, Uganda
- Nakato: Second-born of twin girls; Luganda, Uganda
- Wasswa: First-born of twin boys; Luganda, Uganda. Also spelled Waswa
- Kato: Second-born of twin boys; Luganda, Uganda
- Otieno: Boy born at night; Luo, western Kenya. Say oh-tee-EH-noh
- Akinyi: Girl born in the morning; Luo, western Kenya
- Achieng: Girl born when the sun shines; Luo, western Kenya
- Ochieng: Boy born when the sun shines; Luo, western Kenya
- Omondi: Boy born at dawn; Luo, western Kenya
- Odhiambo: Boy born in the evening; Luo, western Kenya
- Juma: Born on Friday; Swahili, East Africa, from Ijumaa
- Ladi: Girl born on Sunday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
- Danladi: Boy born on Sunday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
- Jummai: Girl born on Friday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
- Asabe: Girl born on Saturday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
African names that honor God
Names that thank, praise or describe God, especially common in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Ethiopia.
- Oluwaseun: We thank God; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Seun for short
- Ifeoluwa: God's love; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-feh-oh-LOO-wah
- Oluwafemi: God loves me; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Femi for short
- Kelechi: Thank God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say keh-LEH-chee
- Chinwe: God owns; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEEN-weh
- Nkechi: God's own; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say n-KEH-chee
- Amarachi: God's grace; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Chinyere: God gave; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Chioma: Good God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-OH-mah
- Chibuike: God is strength; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Ifeanyi: Short for Ifeanyichukwu, nothing is impossible for God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Somtochukwu: Join me in praising God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
- Anesu: God is with us; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say ah-NEH-soo
- Kudzai: Honor, respect; Shona, Zimbabwe, from kudza, to honor
- Unathi: God is with us; Xhosa, South Africa. Say oo-NAH-tee
- Tiyamike: Let us thank God; Chichewa, Malawi
- Sibusiso: A blessing; Zulu, South Africa. Say see-boo-SEE-soh
- Kidist: Holy, saint; Amharic, Ethiopia
- Mekdes: Sanctuary; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say MEK-des
African names from nature
Sun, stars, flowers, rain and light in African languages.
- Langa: The sun; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
- Naledi: Star; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say nah-LEH-dee
- Tsehay: Sun; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say tseh-HYE
- Abeba: Flower; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say ah-BEH-bah
- Palesa: A flower; Sotho, Lesotho and South Africa
- Ubah: Flower, from the word ubax; Somali, the Horn of Africa
- Nomvula: After the rain, mother of rain; Zulu, South Africa
- Tiziri: Moonlight; Tamazight (Berber), North Africa
- Birhan: Light; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea
- Nuru: Light, brightness; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
- Alem: World; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say AH-lem
- Genet: Paradise, garden; Amharic, Ethiopia
African names for peace, joy, love and hope
Virtue names that carry a wish for the child's life.
- Amani US #678: Peace, harmony; Swahili, East Africa. Say ah-MAH-nee
- Furaha: Joy, happiness; Swahili, East Africa. Say foo-RAH-hah
- Upendo: Love; Swahili, East Africa. Say oo-PEN-doh
- Tumaini: Hope; Swahili, East Africa. Say too-mah-EE-nee
- Subira: Patience; Swahili, East Africa. Say soo-BEE-rah
- Rehema: Mercy, compassion; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
- Thando: Love; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say TAHN-doh
- Themba: Hope, trust; Zulu, South Africa. Say TEM-bah
- Jabulani: Rejoice, be happy; Zulu, South Africa
- Kagiso: Peace; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say kah-HEE-soh
- Lerato: Love, affection; Sotho, Lesotho and South Africa. Lorato in Tswana
- Zanele: They are enough; Zulu, South Africa. Say zah-NEH-leh
- Selam: Peace, well-being; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea
- Tigist: Patience; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say TIG-ist
- Hiwot: Life, living; Amharic, Ethiopia
- Chikondi: Love; Chichewa, Malawi. Say chee-KON-dee
- Chimwemwe: Joy, happiness; Chichewa, Malawi
How to pick the right name
Name the language, not the continent
A Yoruba name and a Zulu name are as different as Italian and Polish. When you tell people about the name, say which language and culture it comes from.
Let the birth tell the story
Akan day names, Yoruba twin names and Luo birth-time names record when and how a child arrived. If your baby was born on a Friday or at dawn, there may be a name waiting.
Check tones with a speaker
Yoruba and Igbo are tonal languages, and many names are whole sentences. Ask a native speaker how to say the name before you print it on anything.
Plan for the short form
Long names are often shortened: Oluwaseun becomes Seun, Chukwuemeka becomes Emeka and Babatunde becomes Tunde. Make sure you love both versions.

Save this list for later
Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.
African names: day names, naming days, and the African names Americans use
By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names
There is no single African naming tradition. An Akan child in Ghana is named for the weekday of their birth, a Yoruba child is named on the seventh or eighth day, and an Ethiopian takes the father's given name as a second name instead of a surname. Each note above names the language and region, so you know which tradition a name belongs to.
In the US, Amara reached No. 98 for girls in 2025, its highest ever. The day-name tool above gives the Akan name for any birth date, and the finder narrows the names on this page.
- Step 1Find a birthday nameEnter a birth date for the Akan day name.
- Step 2Choose a languageYoruba, Igbo, Swahili, Zulu, Amharic: each note says which.
- Step 3Check how it is usedSome names mean something else, or suit another gender, in the US.
- Step 4Learn the customDay names, naming days and twin names each have rules.
African names Americans use
| Name | Language | US rank or babies, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Amara | Igbo | No. 98 for girls, its highest ever |
| Zuri | Swahili | No. 329 for girls (peak No. 194 in 2022) |
| Imani | Swahili | No. 579 for girls (peak No. 239 in 1996) |
| Amani | Swahili | No. 678 for girls |
| Nia | Swahili | No. 702 for girls (peak No. 307 in 2000) |
| Jabari | Swahili | 172 boys (peak No. 609 in 2006) |
| Kwame | Akan | 42 boys (peak No. 583 in 1990) |
Source: US Social Security Administration. Nia and Imani are two of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 (Wikipedia).
How African names are given
- Akan day names. The Akan of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo name a child for the weekday of birth, and most Ghanaians have one of these names even with an English or Christian name (Wikipedia). Kofi Annan's name marks a Friday birth.
- A famous bearer is not proof. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, was born Francis Nwia Kofi Nkrumah and took the name Kwame in 1945 (Wikipedia).
- Yoruba naming day. Boys were traditionally named on the eighth day and girls on the seventh; today both are usually named on the seventh or eighth. Twins are Taiwo, "one who tastes the world", and Kehinde, "the one who comes last" (Wikipedia).
- Igbo names. Older Igbo names come from the four market days, Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo, as in Okonkwo and Okorie (Wikipedia).
- Ethiopian and Eritrean names. There is no family surname: the second name is the father's given name (Wikipedia).
Check before you choose
- Ayaan is a Somali girls' name meaning good luck, but in the US it is mostly an Indian boys' name: 664 boys and 22 girls in 2025 (Behind the Name).
- Jabari means mighty, powerful, from Arabic, and is mostly an African American name in the US: it went from 7 boys in 1972 to 40 in 1973 (Behind the Name).
- Neo is Tswana for gift, but in the US it is better known from The Matrix, where it is Greek for new; 204 US boys got it in 2025 (Behind the Name).
- Gender varies. Several Yoruba and Igbo names, such as Ayomide and Opeyemi, are given to both boys and girls; the notes above say which is usual.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What are popular African girl names?
In the US, Amara (Igbo, grace) ranked No. 98 for girls in 2025, with Zuri and Imani (Swahili) close behind. Thandiwe (Zulu), Chiamaka (Igbo) and Folasade (Yoruba) are well-loved choices too. Each comes from a specific language and region.
What are popular African male names?
Kofi and Kwame (Akan), Jabari (Swahili), Chidi and Nnamdi (Igbo), Olamide and Ayodeji (Yoruba), Sipho (Zulu) and Tesfaye (Amharic) are popular male names with clear meanings.
What are Akan day names?
Among the Akan of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo, a child gets a name for the weekday of their birth, and most Ghanaians have one. A boy born on Friday is Kofi and a girl is Afua; Saturday gives Kwame and Ama.
What are common Nigerian names?
Nigeria has more than 500 languages; the best-known names come from its three largest groups, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, and many are short sentences, such as Ayomide (my joy has arrived) in Yoruba and Chinonso (God is nearby) in Igbo. Yoruba twins are traditionally named Taiwo and Kehinde.
What African names mean gift?
Sipho (Zulu and Xhosa), Mpho and Neo (Sotho and Tswana), Chipo (Shona), Zawadi (Swahili) and Mphatso (Chichewa) all mean gift.
What is my African name based on my birthday?
Among the Akan of Ghana, your day name comes from the weekday you were born: Kwasi or Akosua for Sunday, Kwadwo or Adwoa for Monday, Kwabena or Abena for Tuesday, Kwaku or Akua for Wednesday, Yaw or Yaa for Thursday, Kofi or Afua for Friday and Kwame or Ama for Saturday. The tool above works it out from a date.
What does Jabari mean?
Mighty, powerful, in Swahili, from the Arabic jabbār. In the US it is mostly an African American name; 172 boys got it in 2025.
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