Swahili Names for Girls
Across 2 pages
of 2
About this list
Below, our complete list of Swahili girl names. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
The names
Aisha
Arabic; Swahili
"living, prosperous"
Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler.…
Nia
Swahili; Welsh form of the Irish Niamh
"resolve; brilliance"
Short but energetic and substantial, Nia has special meaning for African-American parents, as it's one of the days of Kwanza. Nia also benefits by its similarity to (yet differentness from) the…
Dalia
Hebrew, Spanish, or Swahili
"branch; dahlia; gentle"
Similar in sound to the flower name Dahlia, this gentle but distinctive name, heard in many cultures, hits that Golden Mean between too popular and too unusual. In Lithuanian mythology, Dalia is a…
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.
Aziza
Arabic
"powerful and beloved"
Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a…
Baraka
Kiswahili
"blessings"
Its resonant rhythm and positive connotations have led to some popularity with African-American parents, though it tends to have a masculine feel, particularly considering the rise of a certain…
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,…
Dalila
Arabic
"guide"
Names that sound and/or are spelled like Dalila exist in several languages, from the Swahili Dalili to the Arabic Dalil to the Hebrew Delilah. A beautiful cross-cultural choice.
Dalili
Swahili
"a sign from the gods"
Lovely, melodic Dalila/Delilah cousin.
Kamaria
Swahili
"moonlight"
Lush and unusual.
Koffi
Swahili
"born on Friday"
Authentic African name with unfortunate coffee association, also too close to the male Kofi.
Marini
Swahili
"healthy, pretty"
A gorgeous Swahili name for girls that hits multiple trends — Mar- names like Margot and Marley, and names that end in I, like Leilani and Zuri.
Neema
Swahili, Arabic
"divine grace, blessing"
Ultimately from the Arabic ni'ma , this Swahili name celebrates the blessing of a baby. Also used as a masculine name, Neema is notably borne by film director Neema Barnette and activist Neema…
Nuru
Swahili
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
Panya
African, Swahili; or, Russian, diminutive of Stephania
"mouse, tiny one; or, crowned one"
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.
Pilipili
Pilipili is a feminine name with East African origins, particularly found in Swahili-speaking regions. The name derives from the Swahili word for "pepper" or "chili," suggesting a personality that is…
Radhiya
Swahili
"agreeable"
See RADEYAH.
Raziya
Swahili
"agreeable, pleasant"
An appealing East African possibility.
Sanaa
Swahili; Arabic
"work of art; shining light"
Simple-yet-unusual name with a creative meaning. Actress Sanaa Lathan promoted it, and it was on the U.S. popularity list from 2003 to 2011. Shaquille O'Neal used it as the middle name of his…