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Swahili Names

Updated October 2026

Names64

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Total Names64

Across 4 pages

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Showing 21–40 of 64

Simba
Swahili or Shona
"lion; strength"
Traditional African name made cartoonish by the Disney character in The Lion King. In Shona it means "strength".
Ayira
Swahili, Arabic, Sanskrit
"without an owner; good, pure; awe-inspiring, respected"
Possibly related to the admirable Ayra, a Sanskrit name meaning "respected" or "impressive", Ayira may also come from the Arabic ahrar meaning "good, pure" or a'irah meaning "without an owner". Other…
Taraji
Swahili
"hope"
This name gained widespread attention via the actress Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button . A…
Abdalla
African
"servant of God"
This Muslim name derived from the Arabic is found in North and East Africa.
Barack
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…
Jina
Variation of Gina, Korean, Swahili, Sanskrit
"wisdom + elegance; precious child; to walk; to live"
Sometimes used as a variation of Gina, a short form of Eugenia, Georgina, Virginia, Regina, and similar, Jina is also an anglicized form of the Korean Jin-a and Ji-na meaning "precious child" and…
Nuru
Swahili
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
Raziya
Swahili
"agreeable, pleasant"
An appealing East African possibility.
Siri
Norse, diminutive of Sigrid
"fair victory"
Siri is a charming and lively Scandinavian name that is no longer on the table given the ubiquity of Apple's digital Siri. Too bad, because Siri -- along with variations Syrie and Cyrie -- is unique,…
Nathari
Swahili
"prose"
A literary name of Swahili and Arabic origin, Nathari translates to "prose", a form of writing that may read like everyday conversation and doesn't have a set paragraph or stanza structure. It might…
Nathari
Swahili
"prose"
With the stylish and familiar sounds Kamari, Amari, and Nathan, Nathari is an intriguing choice of Swahili origin. The name translates to "prose", a form of writing that may read like everyday…
Ngome
Swahili
"castle, fortress"
Ngome is a unisex Swahili name, associated with a shrine to the Virgin Mary in South Africa, where a Benedictine nun experienced as series of visions back in the 50s. It is known for being one of the…
Rafiki
Swahili, Arabic
"friend, companion"
Taken from the Swahili word for "friend", ultimately from the Arabic rafiq , Rafiki is a rhythmic, energetic choice, notably appearing in Disney's The Lion King , in which it's borne by a (male)…
Rafiki
Swahili Arabic
"friend, companion"
With spiky and energetic sounds and an earthy feel, Rafiki is a rhythmic Swahili name, related to the Arabic Rafiq. The name was spotlighted in Disney's The Lion King (1994), in which it is borne by…
Tumai
Swahili
"hope"
A gentle and concise Swahili name that also appears in the longer form, Tumaini, Tumai ultimately comes from the Arabic tami'a , meaning "hope, desire". Additionally, it may be associated with a…
Zuwena
Swahili
"beautiful, good"
A bright and melodic Swahili name with a positive meaning, Zuwena is particularly popular in Tanzania and Uganda. It also appears in the title of a song by Tanaznian artist Diamond Platnumz.
Abdu
Swahili
"worshipper of God"
The vowel ending energizes this relative of Abdul.
Aleela
Swahili
"she cries"
Lilting African name that translates perfectly into other cultures.
Alika
Hawaiian; Swahili
"truthful; most beautiful"
Alika is a multicultural choice that's far off the beaten track.
Amarli
African, Swahili; Hebrew
"occupation, activity; my work"
This multi-cultural name has a pleasant, delicate sound. Variations include Amali and Amalya,both of which mean industrious.

Swahili Names

Simba

Ayira

Taraji

Abdalla

Barack

Jina

Nuru

Raziya

Siri

Nathari

Nathari

Ngome

Rafiki

Rafiki

Tumai

Zuwena

Abdu

Aleela

Alika

Amarli