African Names for Boys
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
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African names for boys include some of the very biggest names on the global stage in recent years: Barack, Mandela, Kofi, and — for rather different reasons — Kanye. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has a particularly interesting name in terms of traditional African naming conventions: Kofi means "born on a Friday", while his middle name, Atta, means "twin". It remains common practice in parts of Africa to name babies according to time, day, order, or circumstances of birth. Other appealing African boy names with such meanings include the Yoruba name Kehinde ("second of twins") and the Akan name Kwame ("born on a Saturday").
See our full selection of African baby boy names, and the stories behind them, below. 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.
See our full selection of African baby boy names, and the stories behind them, below. 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.
- Zaire
Origin:
Place nameMeaning:
"the river that swallows all rivers"Description:
An African place name—Zaire was a Central African state from 1971 to 1997—it comes from a Kongo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers." A bold and wearable choice for a son.
- Obi
Origin:
African, IgboMeaning:
"heart"Description:
Strongly linked in the US to the complex "Star Wars" character, Obi Wan Kenobi, but also popular in Nigeria as a short form of names containing the element Obi "heart".
- Kofi
Origin:
Ghanaian, Akan, TwiMeaning:
"born on Friday"Description:
This Akan day name is very much associated with Kofi Annan, the seventh secretary general of the United Nations. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system.
- Kanye
Origin:
African place-name, NigeriaMeaning:
"honor, tribute"Description:
The popularity of the charismatic rapper-producer Kanye West has propelled his name into the Top 900. In addition to its African derivation, it is a Hawaiian name meaning 'free'.
- Kymani
Origin:
Eastern AfricanMeaning:
"adventurous traveler"Description:
One of the most popular African names for boys, Kymani was in the US Top 1000 list from 2008 until 2016. Spelled Ky-mani, it's the name of Bob Marley's son.
- Kano
Origin:
African place-name or JapaneseMeaning:
"the god of the waters"Description:
Pleasing crossover possibility.
- Kato
Origin:
African, UgandaMeaning:
"second of twins"Description:
Kato gained a lot of attention during the O. J. Simpson trial via witness Kato Kaelin (born Brian). It is also the name of a fictional character in "The Green Hornet." Spelled Cato, it has a lot more credibility as an ancient name.
- Kwame
Origin:
Ghanaian, AkanMeaning:
"born on Saturday"Description:
The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).
- Zuri
Origin:
KiswahiliMeaning:
"good, beautiful"Description:
Singular, strong, and rare outside East Africa.
- Ayan
Origin:
SomaliMeaning:
"fortune"Description:
The African name Ayan was first seen on the US Top 1000 for boys in 2014. It's both simple and distinctive, a winning combination.
- Kwaku
Origin:
Ghanaian, Akan, TwiMeaning:
"Born on a Wednesday"Description:
The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).
- Bayo
Origin:
African, Nigerian, YorubaMeaning:
"the crown meets joy"Description:
Short form of Adebayo
- Odion
Origin:
EsanMeaning:
"first born of twins"Description:
Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.
- Barack
Origin:
Hebrew; also Swahili from ArabicMeaning:
"thunderbolt, lightning; or blessing"Description:
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 Semitic root, to the Hebrew name Baruch. Barack is also sometimes an alternate spelling of the Hebrew name Barak, which stems from the Semitic word for "lightning." Barack Obama may have found it a difficult name to grow up with, but the same won't be true for the many babies starting to be given that name. Other parents are being inspired to use Obama, which is a common surname among the Luo people of East Africa meaning "to lean or bend."
- Kehinde
Origin:
YorubaMeaning:
"second-born of twins or one who falls behind"Description:
This African name, which derives from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, is used for both girls and boys -- but in the US, its most notable bearer is (male) artist Kehinde Wiley. Wiley, who paints brown- and black-skinned people in the style of European Old Masters, was born in Los Angeles of an African-American mother and a Yoruba father and was also a twin, thus his name. An attractive and creative choice for either gender.
- Zenebe
Origin:
AmharicMeaning:
"raining"Description:
Zenebe is an appealing name well-used in Ethiopia but rarely heard outside its native land. But it translates easily into English and Zen makes for a cool and attractive nickname. A winning choice for those looking for an African boys' names that bridges cultures.
- Amadi
Origin:
AfricanMeaning:
"free man"Description:
This name from the Igbo language of Africa, which feels like the more-familiar Arabic Ahmad, might be an original and attractive choice.
- Shango
Origin:
African, Yoruba, mythology nameDescription:
More substantial than it sounds: Shango was the god of thunder and legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- Abanu
Origin:
African, IboMeaning:
"I have joined the family"Description:
Rhythmic, strong, and buoyant.
- Ayu
Origin:
African, YorubanMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Rhythmic and unusual.