International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Southern African, English
"more blessings; given blessings by God"
While Blessing is familiar in the US and the UK, this compound, spiritual word name is predominantly used in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Moby is sometimes used as a short form.
Shona
"have hope and trust"
A name a pleasing blend of softness and strength, Vimbai has the appealing meaning "have hope, trust, or faith". Also used as a surname, it comes from the Shona language and is predominantly seen as…
"have trust and faith in God"
A Shona name with an interesting blend of strong yet gentle sounds, Vimbainashe is used predominantly in Zimbabwe.
Somali
"the best of her age; expected"
A sweet but solid name of Somali origin, sources suggest Filsan could mean "the best of her age", "the most knowledgeable" or "the most beautiful". Alternatively, it could be drawn from la filayo ,…
Ewe, Inuit, Greenlandic, Jewish, Akkadian
"gift; earth, land, country; fish"
With its sweet, familiar sound, Nuna is a multicultural name with a variety of different origins and meanings, making it a versatile yet rare choice. As an African name, it likely derives from the…
Ewe
"gift"
Sweet but spirited, Nunana is a name used by the Ewe tribe of West Africa and is most familiar as a given name in Ghana. Derived from the word for "gift", it is a pleasant choice with nicknames Nuna…
Xhosa, Zulu, Southern African
"sweet, pleasant, nice"
A pleasant sounding name with an equally nice meaning, Mandisa is a Xhosa and Zulu name meaning "sweet." A choice that could work easily across languages, the name was notably borne by gospel and…
Yoruba
"mother has returned; image of her mother"
Yejide is a name that honors the belief that the soul and spirit of a parent can come back in a child — or more generally that a child looks like her mother. It comes from the Yoruba words iya , ji ,…
"happiness, joy, good fortune"
Also the name of a multi-purpose stadium in Zimbabwe, where Bob Marley and Paul Simon have performed, Rufaro is a cheerful choice of Shona origin, used predominantly as a feminine name.
Swahili
"prepared, ready"
The spirited and bright Tayari is a name of Swahili origin, notably used in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania. It is adapted from the word for "ready, prepared", making this an…
Igbo, Hindi
"joy, binger of happiness; not wild, gentle"
An Igbo name with a bright, cheerful sound and a meaning to match, Anuli means "bringer of happiness" or simply "joy". Used most prominently in Nigeria, it also appears in India and Indonesia, where…
"ocean, sea; one who sails"
A unisex name of Swahili origin, this spirited and sunny sounding choice means "sea, ocean". In this case, it is ultimately derived from the Arabic baḥriyy meaning "maritime" or "of the sea", which…
"satisfying gift; gift from God"
A distinctive and pretty name of Yoruba origin, Isoke has positive meanings and is used predominantly in Nigeria.
Arabic, from Hebrew
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
A variant spelling of Maryam, most often seen in North Africa.
Amharic, Ethiopian
"patience"
A spirited and distinctive name, used predominantly in its native Ethiopia, Tigst can also be spelled as Tigist. Derived from Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, it has the virtuous meaning…
A virtuous and distinctive name, Tigist is used almost exclusively in its native Ethiopia or among Amharic speakers. Meaning "patience", it is notably born by singer and hiphop artist Tigist…
Zulu
"they have increased"
A Zulu name that may also appear as Sandile, Andile, Ayanda, and Bandile, this name and its variants come from the Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele element anda , meaning "to increase". It appears in the…
Somali form of Firdaus, Arabic
"paradise"
A Somali name with a spiritual meaning, Fardowsa is a feminine variant of the unisex Arabic name, Firdaus. Ultimately, it comes from firdaws meaning "heavenly, paradise" and is used most…
Arabic
"noble, generous"
A feminine form of Karim, most notably used in Malaysia and Indonesia, Karimah derives from the Arabic kamuna meaning "to be generous". Also transcribed as Karima and Kareema, it is pronounced as…
Sotho, Tswana
"answer"
A unisex name, largely used in South Africa, Karabo is a spirited and spiritual choice, meaning "answer", "response", or "resolution". Notable (female) bearers include soccer players Karabo "Cream"…
