African Names
Across 7 pages
of 7
Abanu
African, Ibo
"I have joined the family"
Rhythmic, strong, and buoyant.
Amadi
African
"free man"
This name from the Igbo language of Africa, which feels like the more-familiar Arabic Ahmad, might be an original and attractive choice.
Ayu
African, Yoruban
"joy"
Rhythmic and unusual.
Kato
African, Uganda
"second of twins"
Kato gained a lot of attention during the O. J. Simpson trial via witness Kato Kaelin (born Brian). It is also the name of a fictional character in "The Green Hornet." Spelled Cato, it has a lot more…
Djimon
African, meaning unknown
Djimon has become a familiar African name via powerful Benin-born, Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou.
Ebo
African, Akeradini
"born on Tuesday"
Ebo is a powerful African day name that can be used to fit its definition.
Gahiji
African
"the hunter"
A name that originated in Rwanda, rhythmically evocative.
Garian
African place-name
This town in northern Libya could find a spot on the name map.
Genet
French
"broom (shrub); or descended from John or Eugene"
A relatively common French surname associated with sometimes scandalous French novelist/dramatist Jean Genet. The name may derive from genêt , the French name for the broom shrub. Alternatively, it…
Ibo
African
"my people"
Ibo is short but striking. Another, unrelated but equally appealing name is Ivo.
Idi
African
"born during the Idd festival"
Adverse associations with the ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.
Kenya
Place name, Kikuyu
"mountain of white"
A bold and evocative African place name. The country of Kenya gets its name from Mount Kenya, referred to it as "Kirinyaga" or "Kerenyaga" by the local Kikuyu people, meaning "mountain of whiteness"…
Kano
African place-name or Japanese
"the god of the waters"
Pleasing crossover possibility.
Kanye
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…
Kenyatta
African hero name
Used to honor Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of the independent Kenyan republic. The problem: with the name Kenya now used largely for girls, along with the vowel ending, Kenyatta sounds fairly…
Kofi
Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
"born on Friday"
This Akan day name is very much associated with Kofi Annan, the seventh secretary general of the United Nations. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the…
Kwame
Ghanaian, Akan
"born on Saturday"
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…
Massai
African tribe; also Italian
"owner of land and farms"
Unusual name chosen for her son by actress Nia Long, who combined it with the even more unusual literary middle name, Zhivago.
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…