African Names
Across 7 pages
of 7
The names
Nairobi
African place name
The capital of Kenya makes a melodic and worldly name.
Obi
Short form of Obadiah or African, Igbo
"heart"
Strongly linked in the US to the complex "Star Wars" character, Obi Wan Kenobi, but also popular in Nigeria as a short form of names containing the element Obi "heart". Obi can also be a nickname for…
Odion
Esan
"first born of twins"
Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.
Odissan
African
"thirteenth born son"
If you choose this name, it's not likely to be for the meaning.
Ogun
African, Yoruba
"god of war"
Militaristic.
Pili
African, Swahili
"second born"
Will be frequently misunderstood as Pele or, worse, "pilly".
Senegal
Country name
Popular etymology derives this West African country's name from the Wolof words sunu gal , "our canoe". It's an appealing image, of a nation of people all in the same boat. Some country names have…
Shango
African, Yoruba, mythology name
More substantial than it sounds: Shango was the god of thunder and legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
Taye
African, Ethiopian
"he has been seen"
Taye, also used as a short form of Taylor, began to stand on its own with the emergence of actor Taye (born Scott) Diggs.
Unika
African
"shining"
Girlish, but has a nice feeling of uniqueness and unity.
Zuri
Kiswahili
"good, beautiful"
Singular, strong, and rare outside East Africa.
Abena
Akan, Fante, Ghanaian
"born on Tuesday"
This name from the Akan language of Ghana in West Africa is traditionally given to baby girls born on a Tuesday. The male version is Kwabena or Kobena.
Afia
African
"born on Friday"
This variant of the more-difficult Afua, from the Akan language of what is now Ghana in West Africa, is a traditional "day name" that can make a perfectly pretty modern choice.
Ebele
African
"mercy, kindness"
Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.
Eshe
African, Swahili
"life"
A variant of Asha, which is related to the classic Arabic name Aisha, yet another way to say life. Other on-the-rise names with this uplifting meaning: Zoe and Vivian varieties such as Viviana,…
Ife
Yoruba
"love"
Short but impactful, Ife is a meaningful Yoruba name, taken from the word ífé meaning "love". Predominantly used in Nigeria or among Nigerian families, it may also be used in as an element in longer…
Marjani
Swahili from Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit
"coral; cleansing, purification"
A name with the kind of pan-cultural feel that's in vogue now... and forever, it is both a Swahili name meaning "coral", ultimately from the Arabic marjan , and a Hindi name, meaning "purification".…
Subira
African, Swahili
"patience"
One African name that's virtually unknown in the western world, but sounds both soft and strong.
Mandla
African
"strength"
This obscure Zulu name was chosen by Stevie Wonder.
Behati
Afrikaans version of Beate or Beata
"blessed"
Namibian supermodel Behati Prinsloo, who has walked the runway for every designer from Prada to Versace to Vera Wang, has introduced us to this Afrikaans version of Beata and relative of Beatrice.…
