By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
African variation of Zoe
See ZELLA.
Hindi, Sanskrit
"peace"
A gentle Hindi name, ultimately from the Sanskrit śāntī , Shanti may equally refer to a state of mental and physical peace, maintained despite any stresses or difficulties and Hindu prayers for…
Tamil, Akan
"mother, or born on a Saturday"
An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning. Amma is also a Ghanaian name. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born…
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.
Hebrew; also Swahili from Arabic
"thunderbolt, lightning; or blessing"
The name of the 44th president, which he inherited from his Kenyan father, is related to the Swahili word "baraka," meaning "blessing," derived from the Arabic "baracka." It is linked, through the…
Place name, various meanings
Most Africas today would be named for the continent, but the name actually existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Africa has also been a Spanish name for…
West African form of Aisha, Arabic
"alive, living"
Predominantly used in Cameroon, Mali, and Senegal, and by parents with West African heritage living around the globe, Aissa is a form of the Arabic Aisha, a significant choice in Islamic tradition,…
Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
"Born on a Thursday"
The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this…
Akan, Ghanaian
"born on Monday"
Adwoa is a given name used for women born on Monday in Western Africa, particularly Ghana and some parts of Togo and Ivory Coast. The male equivalent is Kwadwo. The most famous people with this name…
Twi, Ewe, Ghanaian
"born on Sunday"
Akosua means "born on a Sunday," which relates the name to the sun and thus to fire. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were…
"mountain goat"
Nyala is a secret nature name with a fashionable animal meaning. Nyala might be an appropriate name for a baby girl born under the sign of Capricorn, which is symbolized by the goat, or in the…
African place-name, Nigeria
"honor, tribute"
Kanye West propelled his name into the Top 900 in the early 2000s, at the height of his popularity, though now it has dropped off the baby-naming map. In addition to its African derivation, it is a…
Place-name
While this African place-name is much more popular for boys, nearly 40 girls were named Zaire last year. Among African baby names , this is one of the best-known in the US.
African place-name
Zeila, the name of a port town in Somalia, has cultural resonance and an appealing sound.
African
"free man"
Though this is traditionally a male name, it can work for a girl in our culture. Might also be considered a short form of the Italian Amadea.
"light or jungle"
Simple, delicate, and unusual.
African, Mashona
"spirit guide, protector"
Spirit that protects babies from illness...and surname of designer Naomi.
African, Mwera
"black cloth"
Energetic choice that bounces off the tongue.
Variation of Aba or Abena, Akan, Ghanaian
"born on Thursday; born on Tuesday"
Deriving from either Abena, which is the traditional name for Tuesday-born daughters, or as a variation of Aba, meaning "born on Thursday", this is a name of African origin with a concise but…
African, Swahili
"peace, safety, security"
The three soft a's make for a calm and rhythmic name, though some risk of salami jokes.
