International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
African
"born on Friday"
This variant of the more-difficult Afua, from the Akan language of what is now Ghana in West Africa, is a traditional "day name" that can make a perfectly pretty modern choice.
Somali or Azerbaijani from Arabic
"fortune; clear, revelation"
Ayan is an African name heard for both sexes.
Swahili, Arabic
"joy, happiness"
A relation of the Arabic Fariha and Farah, this is a joyful name is notably used in Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Music artists Harmonize and Lyanii have songs called…
African, Igbo
"good God"
Beautiful West African name that could appeal across cultures.
Akan, Fante, Ghanaian
"born on Tuesday"
This name from the Akan language of Ghana in West Africa is traditionally given to baby girls born on a Tuesday. The male version is Kwabena or Kobena.
Swahili
"forever, infinite, eternal"
This melodic name of East African origin appears in Mufasa: The Lion King , the prequel (and sequel) to the Disney animated classic. In the film, it is the title of a song which describes a promised…
Ewe, Akan, Ghanaian, Cherokee
"born on Saturday; water"
Ama is a day name used by the Akan people of Ghana for girls born on Saturday. Names that reference a baby's birth by day of the week, time of day, or season of the year are common in many African…
Arabic
"noble, generous"
A feminine form of the popular Arabic name Karim, Karima has a pleasing balance of strong and soft sounds. Derived from the Arabic kamuna , the name is associated with generosity and benevolence, and…
"season's beginning"
Kia is a sweet, simple name that is now, unfortunately, associated with a Korean car label. Better today: Nia, Thea, or Keira.
African, Arabic mythological name; diminutive of Melissa, Greek
"honeybee"
Lissa might be an abbreviation of Melissa, but it's more substantial in its own right: Lissa is the name of a supreme mother goddess in African mythology and an Arabic symbol of rebirth.
Tamil, Akan
"mother, or born on a Saturday"
An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning. Amma is also a Ghanaian name. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born…
Sesotho
"Star"
An African option for people looking for alternatives for Stella and Estelle, with a starry meaning.
Yoruba
"crown of wealth; crown has honor"
A Yoruba surname as well as a unisex given name.
West African form of Aisha, Arabic
"alive, living"
Predominantly used in Cameroon, Mali, and Senegal, and by parents with West African heritage living around the globe, Aissa is a form of the Arabic Aisha, a significant choice in Islamic tradition,…
Arabic and Swahili from Persian
"jewel"
An attractive and traditional unisex name perfect for a cross-cultural child. Despite the current popularity of names ending in -ari, Johari is surprisingly rare in the US, though recent years have…
Twi, Ewe, Ghanaian
"born on Sunday"
Akosua means "born on a Sunday," which relates the name to the sun and thus to fire. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were…
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
African, Ethiopian
"mountain goat"
Nyala is a secret nature name with a fashionable animal meaning. Nyala might be an appropriate name for a baby girl born under the sign of Capricorn, which is symbolized by the goat, or in the…
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.
"free man"
Though this is traditionally a male name, it can work for a girl in our culture. Might also be considered a short form of the Italian Amadea.
