International Baby Names · Boy Names Lists
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
"Born on a Wednesday"
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…
Ghanaian, Akan
"born on Monday"
The Ashantis of Ghana traditionally use this animated name for boys born on Monday. The girls' equivalent is Adwoa, pronounced ahj-wa.
African
"free man"
This name from the Igbo language of Africa, which feels like the more-familiar Arabic Ahmad, might be an original and attractive choice.
Kikuyu
"quiet warrior"
Kamau is from the Kikuyu language native to Kenya. It is recognizable as the middle name of comedian W. Kamau Bell.
African tribe; also Italian
"owner of land and farms"
Unusual name chosen for her son by actress Nia Long, who combined it with the even more unusual literary middle name, Zhivago.
Igbo
"spiritual being"
Christian Igbo people use Chi as the name for their god.
Yoruba
"celebrated child"
Eminently usable Nigerian name that works for both sexes.
Manding, Fula, Wolof, Serer
"happy, lucky"
Western African variation of Sa'id
African, Ethiopian
"he has been seen"
Taye, also used as a short form of Taylor, began to stand on its own with the emergence of actor Taye (born Scott) Diggs.
Hebrew; also Swahili from Arabic
"thunderbolt, lightning; or blessing"
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…
"Born on a Thursday"
Hebrew, Akan
"cloud; fourth-born child"
Little-known name from the Old Testament.
Indigenous Australian or Tswana, Sotho
"dusk, twilight; lion"
Tau, rhyming with cow, is a simple straightforward name with roots in two languages and cultures, the Kaurna language spoken by indigenous Australian people or the African Tswana language, a Bantu…
Shona
"rejoice"
Deriving from the Shona word fara , meaning "happy", this would be a joyful name for a long-awaited baby.
Amharic variation of Alexander
"defending men"
Variation of Alexander.
Swahili
"precious treasure"
Two z's equal double pizzazz.
"person of story"
Enitan's origins are in the Yoruba language of Southwestern Nigeria. It has a lovely meaning, referring to a person of notoriety.
Urhobo
"praise God"
Variation of Ejiroghene
African, Yoruban
"joy"
Rhythmic and unusual.
African, Akeradini
"born on Tuesday"
Ebo is a powerful African day name that can be used to fit its definition.
