By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
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.
African
"thirteenth born son"
If you choose this name, it's not likely to be for the meaning.
African, Yoruba
"god of war"
Militaristic.
African, Swahili
"second born"
Will be frequently misunderstood as Pele or, worse, "pilly".
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…
African, Yoruba, mythology name
More substantial than it sounds: Shango was the god of thunder and legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
"shining"
Girlish, but has a nice feeling of uniqueness and unity.
"mercy, kindness"
Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.
"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,…
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…
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".…
"patience"
One African name that's virtually unknown in the western world, but sounds both soft and strong.
"strength"
This obscure Zulu name was chosen by Stevie Wonder.
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.…
Place-name
"gather"
Not long ago, the name of this central African republic was firmly in place-name territory and not seen as baby appropriate. But those boundaries are moving so quickly that all kinds of place-names…
African surname
An African family name ripe for adoption in honor of Nelson Mandela, the South African activist imprisoned for almost thirty years for his antiapartheid activities.
Ethiopian
"in honor of God"
Wesley Snipes chose this distinctive East African name for his son.
Luo; Japanese
"bending or leaning; little beach"
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…
Amharic
"aroma or essence"
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.
African place-name
Abyssinia is the ancient name of the Ethiopian Empire, no longer found on any map but with a possible future as a melodic girls' name in the ever-expanding place-name category. Among African names…
