Updated November 2023
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Swahili, Arabic
"divine grace, blessing"
Ultimately from the Arabic ni'ma , this Swahili name celebrates the blessing of a baby. Also used as a masculine name, Neema is notably borne by film director Neema Barnette and activist Neema…
Swahili
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
Hindi
"music, song"
Both graceful and melodious.
"born during the pilgrimage to Mecca"
A name appropriate for boys born during the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca every Muslim is expected to make once in his lifetime.
African
"born during the Idd festival"
Adverse associations with the ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.
Africa, Luhya
"born during famine"
Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.
Not likely to become very popular in the US anytime soon.
Yoruba, Nigerian
"born during father's absence"
Yoruba names often reveal circumstances around a child's birth. In this case, Abidemi reveals a daughter was born without her father present.
Ewe, Ghanaian
"born during good times"
English Traveller, Romani
"born during a thunderstorm"
A name given by the Traveller community in England to a child born when it is raining.
Luhya
"born during weeding season"
The Luhya people of Kenya have male and female names that denote the season the child was born in — Harvest, Planting, Rain, Weeding, Drought, or Hunger Season. Naliaka is the feminine name for…