International Baby Names
African Girl Names
Across 8 pages
of 8
Naliaka
Luhya
"born during weeding season"
The Luhya people of Kenya have male and female names that denote the season the child was born in — Harvest, Planting, Rain, Weeding, Drought, or Hunger Season. Naliaka is the feminine name for…
Nanjala
Africa, Luhya
"born during famine"
Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.
Ndidi
Igbo
"patience"
Upbeat and attractive girl name from Nigeria.
Ndila
Kamba
"billy goat"
In Akamba culture, children were historically given names with animal meanings if their mother's first pregnancy was a stillbirth. It was thought that these names promoted survival and kept the bad…
Neela
Hindi, Sanskrit
"sapphire blue"
A variation of Nila, a name spread through African by the substantial Indian population there. Also a variant of Neala and Neila.
Nemy
Mende
"sweet"
Friendly and energetic name from the Mende language of West Africa.
Ngozi
African, Nigerian-Igbo
"blessing"
Dynamic and creative; common in Africa, challenging here. Pronunciation isn't as difficult as you'd guess, but everyone will have to ask. Many favor n-GO-zee, but a native speaker tells us that it is…
Nneka
Igbo
"my mother is supreme"
Attractive African name with a meaning that honors mom.
Nnenna
Igbo
"father's mother"
Traditionally given to girls who were thought to be reincarnations of their paternal grandmother.
Nsia
Akan
"sixth born child"
West African naming tradition dictated that children were named for their time of birth or birth order — Nsia would have been given to a sixth-born baby girl.
Nuru
Swahili
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
Nyala
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…
Odunayo
Yoruba
"festival of joy"
A cool -o girl name most often used in Nigeria, with a charmingly cheerful and celebratory meaning. A famous namesake is Nigerian professional wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye.
Olwethu
Zulu, Xhosa
"ours"
The literal meaning of Olwethu is "ours," which is in reference to the love of the child.
Omolara
Yoruba
"born at the right time"
A stunning and unique West African name for a daughter.
Palesa
Sotho
"flower"
A pretty pan-botanical name from the Sotho languages, spoken mainly in the southern part of Africa.
Panya
African, Swahili; or, Russian, diminutive of Stephania
"mouse, tiny one; or, crowned one"
Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.
Pili
African, Swahili
"second born"
Might frequently be understood as "pilly." Can also be a short form of Pilar -- though the long form is better.
Salana
Latin
"sun"
Related to the more common Solana, Salana has a pleasantly rhythmic pan-cultural feel.
Samiya
Arabic
"high, exalted, praised"
Samiya is a name used by parents of both Arabic and African ancestry. Spelling variations include Samiyah, Samiah, and Samia.