African Names

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.

Kessie is cute but slight.

Rhythmic, strong, and buoyant.

Zenebe is an appealing name well-used in Ethiopia but rarely heard outside its native land. But it translates easily into English and Zen makes for a cool and attractive nickname. A winning choice for those looking for an African boys' names that bridges cultures.

Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.

Simple, delicate, and unusual.

Old-style arty.

Something slightly negative about that Nil beginning; more positive similar names would be Lilla or Willa, Lucilla or Priscilla. Nilla may also be a short form of the Scandinavian Gunilla.

Would you really want to name your child after a Japanese anime movie called Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space.

Kenya is fairly commonly heard as a girl's name, but its capital city makes a much more exceptional choice.

Pronounced mah-zah, Maaza means a pleasant scent, usually from a yellow daisy popular in Ethiopia. Hot young Ethiopian-American novelist Maaza Mengiste introduced the name to our shores.

A worthy update for Imani.

Rhythmic and unusual.

Nigerian-born supermodel Oluchi Orlandi brought this little-known (to non-Nigerians), lovely choice into the lexicon.

Ibo is short but striking. Another, unrelated but equally appealing name is Ivo.

Girlish, but has a nice feeling of uniqueness and unity.

Juba, a strong and resonant unisex name, belonged to an ancient African king, is a city and river name, and is traditionally given to Ashanti (of Ghana) girls born on Monday.

The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack Obama's name derives from the Luo people of Kenya, Obama is also a Japanese place name and a surname that means "little beach."

Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.

A captivating and sprightly name brought into the limelight by actress Thandiwe Newton.