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African Names that Start With Z

Updated October 2026

Names18

Total Names18

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About this list

There are 18 African names that start with the letter Z for boys and girls, including Zuri, Zaire, Zora, Zendaya, Zola, Zella, Zala, Zuri, Zyaire, Zina, Zela, Zaire, Zeila, Zuwena, Zizi, Zagora, Zenebe, and Zuva.

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African Names African Names for Girls African Names for Boys Names That Start With Z

The names

Showing 1–18 of 18

Zuri
Swahili
"good, beautiful"
A Swahili name with a positive meaning, Zuri came to the attention of American parents when an Ohio zoo used it for a female giraffe. It subsequently shot up the charts in 2010, peaking in 2022 when…
Zaire
Place name, Congo
"the river that swallows all rivers"
Zaire was a Central African state from 1971 to 1997 that has recently risen up the charts as a boys name. Deriving from a Congo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers", it makes a bold and…
Zora
Serbo-Croatian
"dawn"
Zora is a meaningful literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Spelled Zorah, it is a biblical place name, and is also the…
Zendaya
Shona
"to give thanks"
Zendaya has propelled her unusual African name into the spotlight and up the popularity charts. Zendaya is one of the major baby name influencers of our era. What does Zendaya's name mean? The name…
Zola
African, Congolese; also literary name
"piece of earth"
When the Eddie Murphys named their fourth daughter Zola, it affirmed the up-and-coming status of the name, which has African roots, but also literary links to Emile Zola. Zola may also be…
Zella
African, Bobangi, Libyan place name, diminutive of Rosella, Marcella, Gizella, or Isabella
"lacking nothing, one who knows the way"
Sunny, sassy, and stylish, Zella is a multicultural and versatile choice which works across multiple languages. Popular back in the early 19th century, Zella is now catching the attention of…
Zala
Ethiopian or Slovene variation of Rozalija
"a people from southwest Ethiopia; rose"
Simple but sultry.
Zuri
Kiswahili
"good, beautiful"
Singular, strong, and rare outside East Africa.
Zyaire
Spelling variation of Zaire, African place-name
"river that swallows all rivers"
Zaire, derived from the name of a now dissolved Central African state which takes its name from the Kongo term "the river that swallows all rivers", has become a stylish choice for American boys,…
Zina
Russian, Hungarian, Arabic, African, Nsenga
"related to Zeus; rose; adornment, ornament; spirt name"
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,…
Zela
African variation of Zoe
See ZELLA.
Zaire
Place-name
While this African place-name is much more popular for boys, nearly 40 girls were named Zaire last year. Among African baby names , this is one of the best-known in the US.
Zeila
African place-name
Zeila, the name of a port town in Somalia, has cultural resonance and an appealing sound.
Zuwena
Swahili
"beautiful, good"
A bright and melodic Swahili name with a positive meaning, Zuwena is particularly popular in Tanzania and Uganda. It also appears in the title of a song by Tanaznian artist Diamond Platnumz.
Zizi
African, Kiswahili
"pledged to God"
Despite its varied cultural ties, Zizi still sounds like a cancan dancer or a fluffy lapdog.
Zagora
North African place-name; also Swahili
If you're looking for an African place-name, this one belongs to the main town in eastern Morocco.
Zenebe
Amharic
"raining"
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…
Zuva
Shona
"daylight, sunlight"
A zippy, cheerful name with a bright meaning to match, Zuva is a Shona name, used in Zimbabwe. Meaning "sunlight" or "daytime", it is one that could easily work in multiple languages. It appeared in…

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