60 Eclectic And Popular Eritrean Baby Names For Girls And Boys

Eritrea is situated quaintly on the bank of the Red Sea in Eastern Africa. The country has rich history and heritage. If you have your roots here, you may choose Eritrean baby names for your newborn. Newborn babies in Eritrea are given two names; a birth name and a Christian name given during their baptism. Eritrea has adorable names that are perfect for your baby as it has diversified communities around it. For instance, it is bordered by Ethiopia in the south, Sudan in the west, and Djibouti in the southeast. In this post, we bring you some beautiful Eritrean names that you can pick for your newborn.

In This Article

Eritrean Girl Names With Meanings

1. Faven

Faven is an adorable name for the baby girl and means ‘light.’

2. Ella

Ella is a beautiful ‘la’ ending name, meaning ‘fair maiden, all.’

3. Helen

The moniker Helen is extremely popular in Eritrea. It means ‘shining light.’

4. Sesuna

Sesuna sounds like a variation of Susan, but its meaning is entirely different (popcorn).

5. Senait

Senait is one of our most favorite Eritrean names. It means ‘good luck.’

protip_icon Did you know?
Besides Eritrea, Senait is also a popular name in various other countries, namely Afghanistan, Egypt, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.

6. Mariam

The moniker Mariam is familiar with the Muslim population of Eritrea.

7. Sophia

The name Sophia is as popular as it is in European and American countries. No wonder it held the top spot for the baby name for years.

8. Fatimah

This moniker has made a big comeback in the last few years. And it’s a classic too!

9. Semira

Semira is the tantalizing variation of Samira and means ‘highest heaven.’

10. Asmarina

This name is inspired by Eritrea’s capital. It means ‘united.’

11. Arsema

This Eritrean is all glitz and glamor. It means ‘clever.’

12. Awate

This moniker remained in the top 30 Eritrean names in the history. It means ‘victory.’

13. Segan

It is a retro and spicy Eritrean name.
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Here’s a retro, fun and spicy Eritrean name for your daughter. Segan means ‘ostrich”

14. Salma

Salma is a classic Arabic moniker used widely in Eritrea.

15. Lemlem

Lemlem was one of the most beloved and popular Eritrean names of the past century.

16. Madihah

Madihah is one of those names that grow with the child.

17. Aatifa

Aatifa exudes a mystical sense of elegance and calmness. It means ‘sympathy.’

18. Hyiab

A slightly dated name it is, but still sounds amazing. The meaning of Hyiab is ‘gift’.

19. Fnan

Sophisticated, elegant and worldly, that’s what this name is. Its meaning is ‘pride’.

20. Winta

The meaning of Winta is ‘need’. It also has a chock full of cute nicknames, Winnie being one.

protip_icon Trivia
Norwegian musician Winta Efrem and American actress Winta McGrath are the most popular bearers of this name.

21. Sarah

Sarah pronounced as ‘Say-rah’ has surpassed the cuter and more old-fashioned Sara regarding popularity.

22. Zula

Zula is one of the freshest ‘z’ sounding Eritrean names for you to choose from. It means ‘brilliant.’

23. Bisrat

Bisrat is a sweet and lovely name suitable for girls who likes playing the piano or knitting.

24. Jamila

If you want an old-fashioned Eritrean name for your daughter, Jamila could be a potential name for you.

25. Feaven

It is a soothing name for your daughter.
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Just hearing this name would send you into a reverie of gentle breeze over the sea. Feaven means ‘light.’

26. Senait

Here’s an evocative name for your quiet and calm girl.

27. Zehra

If you want a winsome, two- syllable name to go with the long last name, go with Zehra.

28. Kedija

The meaning of this Eritrean baby girl name is ‘early baby’.

29. Semret

This alluring Eritrean name is ‘good luck’.

30. Haben

This quaint name brings to mind a devout, religious girl.

Eritrean Boy Names With Meanings

31. Yonas

Yonas is the variation of biblical name Yonah. This moniker came into the limelight via Yonas Anderbrhan Kifle, the Olympic distance runner.

32. Isaias

Isaias is the Eritrean version of Isaiah. Its popular namesake is Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea.

33. Tesfay

It is a perfect name for your little boy.
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Tesfay is a lovely Eritrean baby boy name, meaning ‘my hope.’

34. Jemal

Jemal is the variation of the Arabic name Jamal. Jemal Abdu, the famous Eritrean footballer, is the popular bearer of this name.

35. Kidane

The sassy‘d’ in the middle makes Kidane a very popular name with the Eritreans.

36. Selassie

This sassy, three-syllable name gives the parents a lot of options for nicknames.

37. Ali

This moniker is often chosen by parents who are naming their son after a relative.

38. Mebratu

This elegant name is a perennial favorite with the Eritreans.

39. Dawit

Dawit makes a sophisticated alternative to David.

40. Muhammad

Muhammad is indeed timeless. It has remained one of the top baby boy names over the centuries.

41. Samuel

Samuel sounds old-fashioned and dapper, just like a berobed Supreme Court justice.

42. Sheshy

Sheshy is a vivacious Eritrean baby boy name, meaning ‘jubilation.’

43. Tekle

Tekle is an inspirational baby boy name and means ‘to plant.’

44. Saare

It is an excellent Eritrean name for your little champ.
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The ‘Re’ ending makes it sounds more intriguing than other names. Saare means ‘winner.’

45. Fikru

This classic name has become super trendy of late. Fikru means ‘his love.’

46. Hayat

The elegance and clarity of this name have made it one of the top five baby names for the last few years.

47. Anbessa

Anbessa, meaning ‘lion,’ exudes brisk confidence.

48. Adonay

Adonay, meaning ‘secret name of God’ makes it a fresh addition to the ‘ay’ ending name.

49. Abraham

The moniker Abraham has a widespread popularity. It means ‘father of multitude.’

50. Amanuel

Amanuel sounds powerful and regal. It means ‘god is with us.’

51. Mewael

Mewael has zoomed past the favorites to become one of the top ten names. It means ‘long life.’

52. Hamid

Hamid is a smart and appealing name, meaning ‘praise.’

53. Robel

Robel is a dignified Eritrean name, meaning ‘prince.’

54. Teodros

Teodros has a dark and somewhat literary feel to it. It means ‘expensive gift.’

55. Petros

This lovely name for an artistic boy.
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Meaning rock, Petros will make a lovely name for an artistic boy.

56. Semere

Semere is a regal name that commands respect. It means ‘fulfil.’

57. Massawa

This mellow sounding name would make a winning first name for your son. It is inspired by an Eritrean City and means ‘shout loudly.’

58. Mustafa

Mustafa is a strong and aristocratic name meaning ‘chosen.’

59. Negassi

Negassi, meaning ‘king’ , has an outdoorsy charm to it.

60. Yusef

The meaning of Yusef is ‘the Lord will increase’. It was one of the most popular Eritrean names for boys in the 1990s.

We hope you find our list helpful. If you think we missed your favorite, share your suggestions in the comment section below.

Discover More Names

When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.


Eritrean Baby Names_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use a name from a different Eritrean ethnic group than my own?

Yes, you may use an Eritrean name different from your ethnic group. However, remember these names are deeply rooted in their respective culture and heritage, so they must be used appropriately and respectfully.

2. Are there any Eritrean baby names that are gender-neutral?

Ariam, Eritrea, Keren, Higgins, Mizell, Shewit, Parish, and Yarrow are some gender-neutral Eritrean baby names.

Eritrean culture is rich and is known for its unique and interesting customs and traditions. Several people from other communities who are impressed by the culture may also want to name their child based on the tradition. A name is a gift your child will carry with them all their lives. A name with a strong cultural identity will help your child stand out. Pick a name from this comprehensive list of beautiful Eritrean baby names, and make sure it goes with your child’s personality.

Infographic: Diverse Eritrean Names For Girls And Boys

Eritrean names are also derived from various ethnicities and carry a unique feel and meaning. If you are inclined towards the traditions and ancient feel of this country, check out the infographic below on aesthetic Eritrean names. You may choose a name for your baby from the list!

popular eritrean names for your little one (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Eritrea is a small East African country that shares its coastline with the Red Sea.
  • Babies in Eritrea often have two names – a birth name and a Christian name given during baptism.
  • Names such as Helen and Salma for girls and Dawit and Yonas for boys are favored in Eritrea.
  • These names are influenced by Tigrinya, English, and Arabic, commonly used in the country.


Discover the captivating meanings, history and cultural significance of some unique African names, explained in this video.

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