African baby names are often traditional and have unique stories behind them. For example, the time a baby is born or the circumstances or the surroundings during the birth; all of these factors are involved while choosing a name for the baby. Events and surroundings of the baby when born influence the parents in keeping the name of the baby, it can be either positive or negative circumstances. Some of the names are a complete picture of the conditions for example; "Yetunde Nwaokeke"; the name of a baby girl kept under the circumstances when her grandmother died just before her birth, "Yetunde" means mother has come back.
Before the parents decide the names of their child, circumstances also decide the name of the baby. It happens among some Ghanaian ethnic groups where a name is automatically assigned based on the day a child is born. For example, a baby girl who was born on Friday was named "Ghanaian Efua" which means a Friday-born.
Several local names also have strong religious faith in keeping their baby's name. Among the Lgbo and Yoruba ethnic groups in Nigeria, baby names mostly start or ends with "Chi" "Chukwu" or "Oluwa" which has some reference to God. Some groups in eastern or southern Africa certain names are given depending on the time of the day or season a baby is born. In Yoruba tradition, it is very common for each parent or grandparent of a baby to contribute in at least one name of the baby. As a result, a baby ends up with having several names, each telling its own unique story.
We have curated a list of famous African baby names that you can choose.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amahle | The beautiful ones, The prettiest, The finest | Girl | |||
Amogelang | Accept, Receive | Girl | |||
Enzokuhle | Expected to do great things, Do good | Unisex | |||
Lesedi | A ray of light, a beam of light | Girl | |||
Lethabo | Happiness, Rejoice | Unisex | |||
Luthando | African name meaning Love and Adoration | Unisex | |||
Melokuhle | Stand for what is right, One who represents good things | Unisex | |||
Omphile | Gift from God, God gave | Girl | |||
Rethabile | We are happy, Happy | Girl | |||
Thandolwethu | Our love | Girl | |||
Aba | African Akan - Girl born on Thursday; Abah, Abba and Abbah are variant spellings of the name Aba | Girl | |||
Abana | This Biblical name means strong personality made with a stone | Girl | |||
Abeba | African Amharic - Flower; Abeada and Abyda are variant transcriptions of the name | Girl | |||
Abena | African Akan - Girl born on Tuesday; Abana, Abeena and Abeenah are variant spellings of the name Abena | Girl | |||
Abeni | African Yoruban - We asked for her, now she is ours; Someone who is prayed for; A variant of name Abena | Girl | |||
Abiba | African - The first child born after death of grandmother; Abeaba and Abeabah are the variant spellings of Abiba | Girl | |||
Abiona | One who is born during a journey | Girl | |||
Abla | African Akan - Girl born on Tuesday; Has an Arabic meaning as voluptuous | Girl | |||
Abraha | A girl who born on Tuesday | Girl | |||
Absco | One with an inventive mind. | Girl | |||
Abuya | One who was born when the garden was overgrown. | Girl | |||
Achebe | One who is protected by the Goddess | Unisex | |||
Achieng | One born during the day time. | Girl | |||
Adabelle | In Hebrew it means adornment. In German it means noble. In African it means oldest daughter. | Girl | |||
Adaeh | Crowned, or chosen, or pinnacle of a peak | Girl | |||
Adamma | African - Child of Beauty; Beautiful Girl | Girl | |||
Adana | African - Being the father's daughter; A variant of name Adanna | Girl | |||
Adanna | Father's daughter, given to the elder sister of a girl | Girl | |||
Adanne | African - Being the mother's daughter; A child who resembles her mother; A variant of name Adane | Girl | |||
Addiah | In Hebrew it means ornament of God. In Swahili it means Gift from God | Girl | |||
Adebola | African - Honor is brought to her; She met honor | Girl | |||
Adenike | The Crown is Loving; Affectionate; Crown has care; Wealth has Care; Crown is cherished | Girl | |||
Adeola | Crown has wealth; Crown has honor | Girl | |||
Adhiambo | African - daughter who is born after sunset | Girl | |||
Adhra | African - Apology; Virgin | Girl | |||
Adila | Arabic - Equal; Just; Upright; Honest; A variant of name Adil | Girl | |||
Adilah | Equal | Girl | |||
Adita | One who belongs to the Sun | Girl | |||
Adjoa | African - Born on a Monday; A daughter who is born on Monday | Girl | |||
Adongo | The second of twins. | Girl | |||
Adwin | An artist, creative person | Unisex | |||
Adwoa | One born on a Monday. | Girl | |||
Affrica | From Africa | Girl | |||
Afi | African - A child who is born on Friday; A daughter who is born on Friday; A variant form is Afia | Girl | |||
Afia | African - A child who is born on Friday; A daughter who is born on Friday; A variant form is Afi | Girl | |||
Afiya | African - Swahili - Health; A variant spelling is Afya | Girl | |||
Afra | White | Girl | |||
Afua | African - A child who is born on Friday; A daughter who is born on Friday; A variant form is Afia | Girl | |||
Ahanti | warlike in the Twi language. | Unisex | |||
Ahnika | Ruler of the House, Beautiful Ornament | Girl | |||