African Boy Names

The Ashantis of Ghana traditionally use this animated name for boys born on Monday. The girls' equivalent is Adwoa, pronounced ahj-wa.

Zuberi has separate origins as a Swahili given name meaning "strong," and an Arabic surname — primarily among Sunni Muslims in Pakistan — meaning "superior."

This name from the Shona language is a new entrant to the Top 1000 in the US.

Christian Igbo people use Chi as the name for their god.

Western African variation of Sa'id

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.

This charming West African mini name fits in with the other similarly short names that are all the rage right now. Actress Ayo Edebiri is the star of TV's The Bear.

In many African cultures, it is traditional to name children based on the day of the week they were born. For the Swahili people of eastern Africa, Khamisi is used for boys born on Thursday.

Eminently usable Nigerian name that works for both sexes.

Given to boys born on the last of the four Igbo market days (NkwoThings Fall Apart, in which Okonkwo is a famous wrestling champion and feared warrior, who opposes the Christian missionaries and colonialists when they come to his village.

A very common boys' name (and nickname) in Nigeria that some Americans will recognize as the name of one of the main characters on NBC's The Good Place.

Ikenna's meaning makes it a subtle way to honor a father or grandfather. Ikenna is the name of a popular YouTube star.

Teboho comes from the Sotho language native to southern Africa. It's most commonly used as a name in Lesotho and South Africa.

Little-known name from the Old Testament.

Johari is derived from the Arabic word jawhar, which evolved from the Persian word gouhar, both referring to gemstones. With its glitzy meaning and on-trend sounds, Johari has been quietly on the rise for boys in the US, with 32 boys given the name in a recent year.

Not long ago, the name of this central African republic was firmly in place-name territory and not seen as baby appropriate. But those boundaries are moving so quickly that all kinds of place-names that were once not considered as baby names, from Alaska to Morocco to Chicago to, yes, Congo are on the list. The place-name Congo is taken from the people and language of the Kingdom of Kongo. In that language, the word kongo means "gather".

King Tafari was the last king of Ethiopia. He is worshipped today as an incarnation of God by Rastafarians.

A unisex name with a lovely serene meaning in the Ambaric language of Ethiopia.