International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
African, Somali from Arabic, or Swahili
"island; brave"
Gasira is a journeyed name with an ancient history. It started as the Arabic word gezira (also commonly transliterated as jazira and jazeera ), meaning "island," and sometimes "peninsula." Somalia…
Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
"treasure"
Gugu is derived from the word igugu , meaning "treasure." It's commonly used as a nickname for Gugulethu.
Yoruba
"love"
Short but impactful, Ife is a meaningful Yoruba name, taken from the word ífé meaning "love". Predominantly used in Nigeria or among Nigerian families, it may also be used in as an element in longer…
African, Arabic
"dream; faith"
A worthy update for Imani.
African
"born on Monday"
Juba, a strong and resonant unisex name, belonged to an ancient African king, is a city and river name, and is traditionally given to Ashanti (of Ghana) girls born on Monday.
"second-born of twins or one who falls behind"
Although the best-known Kehinde is the male painter Kehinde Wiley, this name is used for both genders in its native Nigeria and can be just as attractive for a girl.
African, Ashanti
"chubby baby"
Kessie is cute but slight.
Swahili
"little lady"
A perky African name with a downright charming meaning.
African, Oromo
"admirer"
Feminine form of the male name Lelisa.
Tswana
"light"
A sparkling and rare option among the names that mean light.
Zulu, Xhosa
"awaited"
Traditionally reserved for daughters who were long wished for.
Amharic
"pearl"
A sweet Lu- name with a gemstone meaning, Lulit is predominately used in Ethiopia and by those with Ethiopian heritage.
"aroma or essence"
Pronounced mah-zah, Maaza means a pleasant scent, usually from a yellow daisy popular in Ethiopia. Hot young Ethiopian-American novelist Maaza Mengiste introduced the name to our shores.
Swahili from Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit
"coral; cleansing, purification"
A name with the kind of pan-cultural feel that's in vogue now... and forever, it is both a Swahili name meaning "coral", ultimately from the Arabic marjan , and a Hindi name, meaning "purification".…
Tumbuka
"tears"
A sonorous, if mournful, name from the Tumbuka language of Malawi and Zambia.
Chewa
"test from God"
Uganda
"woman of peace"
Mirembe is a feminine Ugandan name stemming from the Luganda word "emirembe" meaning peace, quiet. In Luganda, Rs are pronounced similar to Ls, so mill-EM-beh is an approximate pronunciation.
Luganda
"second of twins"
Nakato was traditionally used on the second-born (female) twin among the Luganda-speaking people of Uganda.
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…
Africa, Luhya
"born during famine"
Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.
