Swahili Names for Girls
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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…
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…
Ali
Short form of Alison or Alice or Arabic
"supreme, exalted"
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own. Ali can either be used as a shortening of Al- beginning names. For example, comedian Ali Wong is an Alexandra. Ali is also an…
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…
Asha
Sanskrit; Swahili
"hope; life"
Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s,…
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.
Shafira
Swahili
"distinguished"
Elegant African choice.
Shany
Swahili
"marvelous, wonderful"
Peppy cheerleader with African roots.
Zahara
Hebrew; Swahili
"to shine; flower"
Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you…