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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.

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Want endless ideas? Try the baby name generator and generate new names in one click.

African girl names

Well-loved names for girls from across the continent, each with its language and region.

  1. Imani US #579: Faith, belief; Swahili, East Africa. Say ee-MAH-nee
  2. Zuri US #329: Beautiful, good; Swahili, East Africa. Say ZOO-ree
  3. Amara US #98: Grace; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say ah-MAH-rah
  4. Nia US #702: Purpose; Swahili, East Africa. A principle of Kwanzaa. Say NEE-ah
  5. Ayaan US #465: Good luck; Somali, for girls. In the US it is mostly an Indian boys' name. Say ah-YAHN
  6. Thandiwe: Beloved one; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say tahn-DEE-weh
  7. Nandi: Sweet, pleasant; Zulu, South Africa. King Shaka's mother bore it
  8. Chiamaka: God is beautiful; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-ah-MAH-kah
  9. Adaeze: Princess, king's daughter; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  10. Ngozi: A blessing; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say n-GOH-zee
  11. Ifeoma: Good thing, beautiful thing; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  12. Folasade: Rule with honor, or honor makes a crown; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Sade for short
  13. Funmilayo: Give me joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say foon-mee-LAH-yoh
  14. Titilayo: Joy is eternal; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  15. Morenike: I have someone to cherish; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  16. Yetunde: Mother has returned; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say yeh-TOON-deh
  17. Abimbola: Born into wealth; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  18. Rufaro: Happiness; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say roo-FAH-roh
  19. Chipo: A gift; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say CHEE-poh
  20. Malaika: An angel; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
  21. Neema: Grace, blessing; Swahili, East Africa. Say neh-EH-mah
  22. Zawadi: A gift; Swahili, East Africa. Say zah-WAH-dee
  23. Sibongile: We are thankful; Zulu, South Africa. Say see-bon-GEE-leh
  24. 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.

  1. Nokuthula: Peace, calm; Zulu, South Africa. Say no-koo-TOO-lah
  2. Nonhlanhla: Luck, good fortune; Zulu, South Africa
  3. Busisiwe: Blessed; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say boo-see-SEE-weh
  4. Nosipho: A gift, with the feminine prefix no-; Zulu and Xhosa
  5. Thandeka: Loved; Zulu and Ndebele, southern Africa. Say tahn-DEH-kah
  6. Hlengiwe: Helped, rescued, redeemed; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
  7. Ntombi: Girl; Zulu, South Africa. Say n-TOM-bee
  8. Boitumelo: Joy; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say boy-too-MEH-loh
  9. Masego: Blessings; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say mah-SEH-goh
  10. Tsitsi: Mercy, compassion; Shona, Zimbabwe. Novelist Dangarembga bears it
  11. Fadzai: Make happy, please; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say fahd-ZYE
  12. Almaz: Diamond; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, from Persian
  13. Etenesh: You are my sister; Amharic, Ethiopia
  14. Adhiambo: Girl born in the evening; Luo, western Kenya
  15. Hodan: Rich, lush; Somali, the Horn of Africa. Say hoh-DAHN
  16. 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.

  1. Jabari: Mighty, powerful; Swahili, from Arabic. Mostly an African American name since the 1970s. Say jah-BAH-ree
  2. Baraka: A blessing; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
  3. Shujaa: Hero; a Swahili word from Arabic, rare as a given name. Say shoo-JAH
  4. Jasiri: Brave, bold; Swahili, East Africa. Say jah-SEE-ree
  5. Chinedu: God leads; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-NEH-doo
  6. Chukwuemeka: God has done great things; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  7. Emeka: Short for Chukwuemeka, God has done great things; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say eh-MEH-kah
  8. Obinna: Father's heart; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say oh-BEEN-nah
  9. Ikenna: Father's strength; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  10. Nnamdi: My father is alive; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say NAHM-dee
  11. Chidi: God exists; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEE-dee
  12. Babatunde: Father has returned; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Tunde for short
  13. Adebayo: The crown meets joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  14. Olumide: My lord has come; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  15. Olusegun: God is victorious; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Segun for short
  16. Kayode: He brought joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say kah-YOH-deh
  17. Sipho: A gift; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say SEE-poh
  18. Mandla: Strength, power; Zulu, South Africa
  19. Sizwe: Nation; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say SEEZ-weh
  20. Lwazi: Knowledge; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
  21. Thabo: Joy, happiness; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say TAH-boh
  22. Tshepo: Hope, trust; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa
  23. Haile: Power, might; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say HY-leh
  24. Tesfaye: My hope; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say tes-FAH-yeh
  25. Abebe: He has blossomed; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say ah-BEH-beh
  26. Kondwani: Rejoice, be happy; Chichewa, Malawi

Unisex African names

Names given to girls and boys alike, many of them short and easy to say.

  1. Ayodele: Joy has come home; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  2. Ayo: Joy; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say AH-yoh
  3. Temitope: Mine is worthy of thanks; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria
  4. Chika: God is supreme; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEE-kah
  5. Uchenna: Father's wisdom, often read as God's will; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say oo-CHEN-nah
  6. Mpho: A gift; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say MM-poh
  7. Neo: A gift; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Also Greek for new, as in The Matrix. Say NEH-oh
  8. Desta: Joy, happiness; Amharic, Ethiopia
  9. Ayanda: They are increasing; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
  10. Tendai: Be thankful; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say TEN-dye
  11. Tatenda: We are thankful; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say tah-TEN-dah
  12. Farai: Rejoice; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say fah-RYE
  13. Tafadzwa: We are pleased; Shona, Zimbabwe
  14. Nyasha: Grace, mercy; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say NYAH-shah
  15. Mphatso: A gift; Chichewa, Malawi. Say mm-PAHT-soh
  16. 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.

  1. Ayomide: My joy has arrived; Yoruba, for girls and boys. Say ah-yoh-MEE-deh
  2. Bolanle: Find wealth at home; Yoruba, for girls. Say boh-LAHN-leh
  3. Opeyemi: Gratitude suits me; Yoruba, for girls and boys. Say oh-peh-YEH-mee
  4. Oluwatoyin: God is worthy of praise; Yoruba, usually for girls. Toyin for short
  5. Bukola: Add to wealth; Yoruba, for girls. Say boo-KOH-lah
  6. Ebere: Mercy, kindness; Igbo, for girls. Say eh-BEH-reh
  7. Olamide: My wealth has arrived; Yoruba, usually for boys
  8. Babajide: Father has awakened; Yoruba, for boys. Say bah-bah-JEE-deh
  9. Ayodeji: Joy has become two; Yoruba, for boys. Say ah-yoh-DEH-jee
  10. Ayotunde: Joy has come again; Yoruba, usually for boys. Say ah-yoh-TOON-deh
  11. Nneka: Mother is supreme; Igbo, for girls. Say n-NEH-kah
  12. Chidimma: God is good; Igbo, for girls. Say chee-DEEM-mah
  13. Ugochi: Eagle of God, God's pride; Igbo, for girls. Say oo-GOH-chee
  14. Ijeoma: Good journey; Igbo, for girls. Say ee-jeh-OH-mah
  15. Chinonso: God is nearby; Igbo, usually for boys. Say chee-NON-soh
  16. Chukwuebuka: God is greater; Igbo, for boys. Ebuka for short
  17. Onyekachi: Who is greater than God? Igbo, usually for boys
  18. 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.

  1. Kwasi: Boy born on Sunday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-see
  2. Akosua: Girl born on Sunday; Akan, Ghana. Say ah-KOH-soo-ah
  3. Kwadwo: Boy born on Monday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-joh
  4. Adwoa: Girl born on Monday; Akan, Ghana
  5. Kwabena: Boy born on Tuesday; Akan, Ghana. Say kwah-BEH-nah
  6. Abena: Girl born on Tuesday; Akan, Ghana. Say ah-BEH-nah
  7. Kwaku: Boy born on Wednesday; Akan, Ghana. Say KWAH-koo
  8. Akua: Girl born on Wednesday; Akan, Ghana. Say AH-kwah
  9. Yaw: Boy born on Thursday; Akan, Ghana. Rhymes with now
  10. Yaa: Girl born on Thursday; Akan, Ghana. Say YAH
  11. Kofi: Boy born on Friday; Akan, Ghana. UN leader Annan bore it
  12. Afua: Girl born on Friday; Akan, Ghana. Say AH-foo-ah
  13. Kwame: Boy born on Saturday; Akan, Ghana. Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, took it in 1945
  14. 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.

  1. Taiwo: First-born of twins, who tastes the world first; Yoruba, Nigeria
  2. Kehinde: Second-born of twins, the one who comes after; Yoruba, Nigeria
  3. Idowu: Child born after twins; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-DOH-woo
  4. Ige: Born feet first; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-GEH
  5. Babirye: First-born of twin girls; Luganda, Uganda
  6. Nakato: Second-born of twin girls; Luganda, Uganda
  7. Wasswa: First-born of twin boys; Luganda, Uganda. Also spelled Waswa
  8. Kato: Second-born of twin boys; Luganda, Uganda
  9. Otieno: Boy born at night; Luo, western Kenya. Say oh-tee-EH-noh
  10. Akinyi: Girl born in the morning; Luo, western Kenya
  11. Achieng: Girl born when the sun shines; Luo, western Kenya
  12. Ochieng: Boy born when the sun shines; Luo, western Kenya
  13. Omondi: Boy born at dawn; Luo, western Kenya
  14. Odhiambo: Boy born in the evening; Luo, western Kenya
  15. Juma: Born on Friday; Swahili, East Africa, from Ijumaa
  16. Ladi: Girl born on Sunday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
  17. Danladi: Boy born on Sunday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
  18. Jummai: Girl born on Friday; Hausa, northern Nigeria and Niger
  19. 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.

  1. Oluwaseun: We thank God; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Seun for short
  2. Ifeoluwa: God's love; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Say ee-feh-oh-LOO-wah
  3. Oluwafemi: God loves me; Yoruba, southwestern Nigeria. Femi for short
  4. Kelechi: Thank God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say keh-LEH-chee
  5. Chinwe: God owns; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say CHEEN-weh
  6. Nkechi: God's own; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say n-KEH-chee
  7. Amarachi: God's grace; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  8. Chinyere: God gave; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  9. Chioma: Good God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria. Say chee-OH-mah
  10. Chibuike: God is strength; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  11. Ifeanyi: Short for Ifeanyichukwu, nothing is impossible for God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  12. Somtochukwu: Join me in praising God; Igbo, southeastern Nigeria
  13. Anesu: God is with us; Shona, Zimbabwe. Say ah-NEH-soo
  14. Kudzai: Honor, respect; Shona, Zimbabwe, from kudza, to honor
  15. Unathi: God is with us; Xhosa, South Africa. Say oo-NAH-tee
  16. Tiyamike: Let us thank God; Chichewa, Malawi
  17. Sibusiso: A blessing; Zulu, South Africa. Say see-boo-SEE-soh
  18. Kidist: Holy, saint; Amharic, Ethiopia
  19. Mekdes: Sanctuary; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say MEK-des

African names from nature

Sun, stars, flowers, rain and light in African languages.

  1. Langa: The sun; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa
  2. Naledi: Star; Sotho and Tswana, southern Africa. Say nah-LEH-dee
  3. Tsehay: Sun; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say tseh-HYE
  4. Abeba: Flower; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say ah-BEH-bah
  5. Palesa: A flower; Sotho, Lesotho and South Africa
  6. Ubah: Flower, from the word ubax; Somali, the Horn of Africa
  7. Nomvula: After the rain, mother of rain; Zulu, South Africa
  8. Tiziri: Moonlight; Tamazight (Berber), North Africa
  9. Birhan: Light; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea
  10. Nuru: Light, brightness; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
  11. Alem: World; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say AH-lem
  12. Genet: Paradise, garden; Amharic, Ethiopia

African names for peace, joy, love and hope

Virtue names that carry a wish for the child's life.

  1. Amani US #678: Peace, harmony; Swahili, East Africa. Say ah-MAH-nee
  2. Furaha: Joy, happiness; Swahili, East Africa. Say foo-RAH-hah
  3. Upendo: Love; Swahili, East Africa. Say oo-PEN-doh
  4. Tumaini: Hope; Swahili, East Africa. Say too-mah-EE-nee
  5. Subira: Patience; Swahili, East Africa. Say soo-BEE-rah
  6. Rehema: Mercy, compassion; Swahili, East Africa, from Arabic
  7. Thando: Love; Zulu and Xhosa, South Africa. Say TAHN-doh
  8. Themba: Hope, trust; Zulu, South Africa. Say TEM-bah
  9. Jabulani: Rejoice, be happy; Zulu, South Africa
  10. Kagiso: Peace; Tswana, Botswana and South Africa. Say kah-HEE-soh
  11. Lerato: Love, affection; Sotho, Lesotho and South Africa. Lorato in Tswana
  12. Zanele: They are enough; Zulu, South Africa. Say zah-NEH-leh
  13. Selam: Peace, well-being; Amharic and Tigrinya, Ethiopia and Eritrea
  14. Tigist: Patience; Amharic, Ethiopia. Say TIG-ist
  15. Hiwot: Life, living; Amharic, Ethiopia
  16. Chikondi: Love; Chichewa, Malawi. Say chee-KON-dee
  17. 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.

African names: 181 ideas from Nomezo

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.

  1. Step 1Find a birthday nameEnter a birth date for the Akan day name.
  2. Step 2Choose a languageYoruba, Igbo, Swahili, Zulu, Amharic: each note says which.
  3. Step 3Check how it is usedSome names mean something else, or suit another gender, in the US.
  4. Step 4Learn the customDay names, naming days and twin names each have rules.

African names Americans use

African names for US babies, 2025
NameLanguageUS rank or babies, 2025
AmaraIgboNo. 98 for girls, its highest ever
ZuriSwahiliNo. 329 for girls (peak No. 194 in 2022)
ImaniSwahiliNo. 579 for girls (peak No. 239 in 1996)
AmaniSwahiliNo. 678 for girls
NiaSwahiliNo. 702 for girls (peak No. 307 in 2000)
JabariSwahili172 boys (peak No. 609 in 2006)
KwameAkan42 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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