One African choice that might be easier to understand if spelled phonetically: it's pronounced TAH-shee.

Would you really want to name your child after a Japanese anime movie called Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space.

Has a feminine feline feel.

A captivating and sprightly name brought into the limelight by actress Thandiwe Newton.

Taye, also used as a short form of Taylor, began to stand on its own with the emergence of actor Taye (born Scott) Diggs. 

The raja sequence of sounds gives it a regal feel.

Not many parents would want to use Tisa for its literal meaning in this era of smaller families, but Tisa is a name with much crossover appeal. Simple and straightforward, it's also both distinctive and feminine and relates to similar-sounding Western names such as Lisa and Trisha and Tea. If you're looking for an African name that can bridge cultures, Tisa is an excellent pick.