African Names for Girls

  1. Nya
    • Origin:

      Swahili, Basque, "tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
    • Meaning:

      "tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
    • Description:

      A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.
  2. Zala
    • Origin:

      Ethiopian or Slovene variation of Rozalija
    • Meaning:

      "a people from southwest Ethiopia; rose"
    • Description:

      Simple but sultry.
  3. Kamaria
    • Origin:

      Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"
    • Description:

      Lush and unusual.
  4. Amma
    • Origin:

      Tamil, Akan
    • Meaning:

      "mother, or born on a Saturday"
    • Description:

      An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning.
  5. Ife
    • Origin:

      African, Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "love"
    • Description:

      Simple African name all-but-unknown in the U.S. and Europe, which is exactly why it might make a perfect choice. Similarity to such popular names as Ava and Eva (and the Irish Aoife) makes it more familiar, but potentially more confusing.
  6. Eshe
    • Origin:

      African, Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      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, Viveca, and Vivienne.
  7. Bayo
    • Origin:

      African, Nigerian, Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "the crown meets joy"
    • Description:

      Short form of Adebayo
  8. Lissa
    • Origin:

      African, Arabic mythological name; diminutive of Melissa, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "honeybee"
    • Description:

      Lissa might be an abbreviation of Melissa, but it's more substantial in its own right: Lissa is the name of a supreme mother goddess in African mythology and an Arabic symbol of rebirth.
  9. Kanika
    • Origin:

      African, Mwera
    • Meaning:

      "black cloth"
    • Description:

      Energetic choice that bounces off the tongue.
  10. Nairobi
    • Origin:

      African place-name, Maasi
    • Meaning:

      "cold water"
    • Description:

      Kenya is fairly commonly heard as a girl's name, but its capital city makes a much more exceptional choice. The name comes from the Maasai phrase "Enkare Nairobi," which translates to "cold water." Nairobi is popularly known as the Green City.
  11. Makena
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of McKenna, Meru
    • Meaning:

      "son of Kenneth; happy one"
    • Description:

      Makenna is a name from the East African Meru community, with a sweet, cheerful meaning and a spirited sound. It could also be used as a spelling variation of the Scottish surname McKenna, or as a nod to the Hawaiian place name, Makena, on the south-west of the Island of Maui, possibly borrowed from the Meru name or from the Hawaiian Makana, meaning "gift".
  12. Fayola
    • Origin:

      African-Yoruba, Nigeria
    • Meaning:

      "lucky, good fortune, blessed"
    • Description:

      Too close to "payola."
  13. Nemy
    • Origin:

      Mende
    • Meaning:

      "sweet"
    • Description:

      Friendly and energetic name from the Mende language of West Africa.
  14. Kessie
    • Origin:

      African, Ashanti
    • Meaning:

      "chubby baby"
    • Description:

      Kessie is cute but slight.
  15. Kenya
    • Origin:

      Place name, Kikuyu
    • Meaning:

      "mountain of white"
    • Description:

      Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.
  16. Marjani
    • Origin:

      Swahili from Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "coral; cleansing, purification"
    • Description:

      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".
  17. Shanti
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      This Hindi word which is used in prayer is one of the prime names that mean peace, always a nice message to impart to a child. Nick Nolte used it for his daughter.
  18. Zina
    • Origin:

      Russian, Hungarian, Arabic, African, Nsenga
    • Meaning:

      "related to Zeus; rose; adornment, ornament; spirt name"
    • Description:

      A truly international name with an arty feel, Zina has many origins. It is used as a short form of Zinaida, Rozina, and Zenobia in Russia, Hungary, and Poland and as an alternative form of Xena, Xenia, and Zena in various European countries. It is also an Arabic name meaning "adornment", an Nsenga name referring to a child's spirit name, a Galician form of Gina, and an Amharic name that could mean "felicity, happiness".
  19. Samiya
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "high, exalted, praised"
    • Description:

      Samiya is a name used by parents of both Arabic and African ancestry. Spelling variations include Samiyah, Samiah, and Samia.
  20. Imena
    • Origin:

      African, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "dream; faith"
    • Description:

      A worthy update for Imani.