1106 Ancestral African Baby Names With Meanings

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Africa is home to diverse tribes and ethnic groups. African baby names often reflect the uniqueness of these tribes and their culture. Africa is exceptionally rich in terms of linguistic diversity, with over 1000 to 2000 African languages spread all over the continent. It harbors almost one-third of the world’s languages (1). Derived from local and foreign languages such as English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese, African names are exotic and beautiful, not just in meaning and appearance, but also in origin. In Africa, the naming ceremony is regarded as one of the most important events in a person’s life. A naming ceremony is perceived as a form of introduction and the announcement of the arrival of the baby to the extended family and to the community as a whole. Naming ceremonies in Africa differ from region to region. In Yoruba, the child is named on the eighth day after birth and the happenings concerning the child’s birth influence the name. In Ghana, the Akan naming ceremony also follows a similar pattern. The baby is named on the eighth day after birth to ensure that the child is not leaving the mortal world untimely. It is a common practice in Ghana for babies to be named after the day they were born. In Kenya, the tradition is to name the baby on the third day after their birth. During this auspicious occasion, the parents offer a goat or a bull as a symbolic gesture of devotion and gratitude to the ancestral spirits. African children are traditionally named after places, spirits, ancestors, or events occurring during the time of their birth. Africans believe that a name can influence both the life of the child and the family. A simple name will lead to a disappointing future, and an over-ambitious name could cause serious repercussions. In some African countries, parents name their children after famous political figures, hoping that their kids would be as successful as their namesakes. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Barack is one of the most popular names in Africa. Below is our collection of African names derived from native and foreign languages.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Bobo	Boy	Born on Tuesday
Bokamoso	Boy	Future
Bomani	Boy	African Swahili - Great Warrior
Boogie	Unisex	To dance
Braima	Girl	Father of many children
Bubu	Unisex	Owl
Bunme	Girl	My gift
Bunmi	Girl	To be my gift
Buru	Boy	Man like a bull
Busara	Girl	African-Swahili: Wisdom; Prudence; Foresight

Camar	Boy	He who is a teacher
Camara	Girl	She is a teacher
Camarsa	Boy	One who is born to teach; a born teacher or preacher
Carrizoa	Boy	A swamp or a wetland of life
Cayman	Boy	He who is like an alligator
Chacha	Boy	A strong man
Chaga	Boy	A Goat; the one having a dominant personality
Chalondra	Girl	A Lark; Smart individuals
Charminique	Girl	A female child born out of love
Chausiku	Girl	One who was born at night

Cheche	Unisex	A small thing
Chege	Boy	The Kikuyu people of Kenya
Chi	Boy	The one who looks like God
Chiamaka	Boy	God is more beautiful
Chiazam	Boy	Answer sent from God
Chibueze	Unisex	God is the king
Chibuzo	Unisex	God is the way
Chidhatma	Unisex	The real God
Chidi	Boy	Strongest God
Chidike	Boy	The one guided by the God

Chidubem	Unisex	The one repaired by the Almighty
Chiedozie	Unisex	Planned by God
Chike	Boy	A talented individual
Chikelu	Unisex	Created by God
Chikere	Unisex	God has created
Chikodi	Boy	It is in the hands of God; It is upto God
Chilemba	Boy	Turban
Chima	Boy	God knows everything
Chimalsi	Boy	A proud man
Chimelu	Boy	God has created them

Chinelo	Girl	Thought of God
Chineye	Girl	God lives
Chinue	Girl	God's blessing
Chipo	Girl	A gift
Chitundu	Boy	Bird nest
Chiumbo	Boy	Little
Chuki	Girl	Born in a time of strike and hatred
Cinque	Unisex	Five or Freedom Fighter
Cleotha	Girl	A creative woman
Cleotis	Unisex	Glory of Hera

Clevon	Boy	One who hails from the cliff; One who lives in the cliff
Cullinan	Unisex	Holly; Large rough diamond
Cyrah	Girl	Lord-like figure
Dabiku	Girl	Offering
Dabir	Boy	A brilliant teacher
Dada	Boy	One with curly hair
Daisha	Girl	The one who is alive
Dajanae	Girl	Persuasive
Dakarai	Boy	One providing happiness
Dakari	Boy	Filled with joy

Daktari	Boy	A healer
Dalila	Girl	Delicate; Guide
Dalilah	Girl	Languish; Weak
Dalma	Girl	Made of metal
Damisi	Boy	Cheerful personality
Daquan	Boy	A combination name; Hope
Darweshi	Boy	Holy
Davion	Boy	A potential and powerful being
Davu	Boy	Starting of a new age
Dawit	Boy	One who has a lovely heart

Dayo	Unisex	Arrival of joy
Deandre	Boy	A helmet; Strong individual
Deante	Boy	God is gracious
Debelah	Girl	A friendly and charming person
Debo	Unisex	Wait; Let us wait
Deion	Boy	An all amazing God; Perfect
Deitrick	Boy	Divine ruler or leader
Deka	Girl	A messenger sent from heaven; A pleasing personality
Delali	Unisex	God is with me
Delu	Girl	The one and only beautiful girl

Demani	Unisex	A strong and charismatic individual.
Demarco	Boy	A demanding person; one who is of the mark
Demari	Unisex	Strong and determined
Dembe	Unisex	A peace loving individual
Demond	Boy	The one who is born out of a man
Denesha	Girl	Unique; Confident; Charismatic
Denzel	Boy	Fine wine lover; The wild one; High stronghold; Fertile land
Deogracia	Boy	A God; a child of destiny
Deon	Boy	God of Nysa
Deontay	Boy	One who belongs to Zeus

Deonte	Boy	A traveler who has an outstanding personality
Dequan	Boy	Strong, determined, brave
Detra	Unisex	Variant of Deitra; Daughter
Dhakiya	Girl	She who is smart
Diallo	Boy	A strong and bold person
Diarra	Unisex	Gift of God
Diata	Girl	One who is brave as a lion
Diello	Boy	A bold an powerful person
Dika	Unisex	Beloved; Dear one; Strong ruler
Dikeledi	Girl	One who is filled with lot of tears

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Infographic: Breathtaking African Baby Names With Meanings

With over 2000 languages from the continent, African baby names are the epitome of diversity and embody the continent’s soul. African parents take great care and thought when selecting names for their little ones, knowing the influence these names can have on their child's life journey. This infographic displays some of the fascinating African baby names and their meanings.

enthralling african baby names for your little one (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some African names that mean royal?

Nigerian baby boy's name Ade means 'royal.' Another name that signifies royalty is Abioye, an African surname meaning 'son of royalty.'

2. What are some African names that signify love?

Several African names signify love. One such name is Rudo, which comes from South Africa and means 'love.' Another name is Femi, which expresses the sentiment 'love me.' Additionally, the name Ife is also associated with love.

3. Which African name represents a star?

Itri and Nthanda are African names that carry the meaning of 'star.' Itri originates from the Tamazight language, while Nthanda originates in the Tumbuka language. Both names eloquently embody the celestial splendor and luminosity that stars possess.

4. What are some African names that signify blessing?

In African cultures, several names carry the beautiful meaning of blessing. For instance, in Igbo, a language spoken in Nigeria, Ngozi signifies 'blessing.' Similarly, Chigozie, another Igbo name, translates to 'God bless.' Moving to Yoruba, also spoken in Nigeria, the name Ibukun conveys 'blessings' or 'an addition.' These African names not only celebrate the concept of blessings but also foster a deep sense of appreciation for the enriching aspects of life.

5. Which African name is associated with hope?

One African name associated with hope is Tumaini. Tumaini is a Swahili name that means 'wish' or 'hope.'

6. Which African name symbolizes freedom?

One African name that symbolizes freedom is Ominira, which originates from the Yoruba language and means 'freedom' or 'independence.' Another name is Uhuru, which comes from Swahili and means 'freedom.'

7. What are some popular African baby names for boys?

African baby names for boys are rich in diversity and hold deep cultural origins. Kofi, originating from the Akan people, signifies 'born on Friday,' emphasizing the importance of the birthday. With its roots in Swahili, Jabari means 'the brave one.’ Kwame, also from the Akan culture, connects the child to the significance of being 'born on Saturday.' Another notable name is Osiris, inspired by Egyptian mythology, which means 'powerful or mighty' (2).

8. What are some African baby names that mean 'peace'?

Kagiso and Alafia are two African baby names that embody the meaning of 'peace.' Kagiso, derived from Tswana, and Alafia, from Yoruba, both carry the significant message of peace and harmony.

9. What are some African baby names that mean 'strength'?

Two African baby names that mean 'strength' are Amari and Mandla. Amari is a lyrical baby girl name that signifies 'possesses great strength.' On the other hand, Mandla, derived from Zulu and Ndebele, means 'strength' and 'power.' These names serve as a wonderful choice for parents seeking a name that reflects the quality of strength of their child.

10. What are some traditional African baby names?

Traditional African baby names carry cultural significance and reflect the diverse heritage of the continent. For example, the name Abidemi, of Yoruba origin, means 'born in the father's absence.' Omari, originating from Swahili, means 'God is exalted.' Makena, from the Kikuyu language in East Africa, signifies a 'happy one,' celebrating joy and contentment. Zola, an African Zulu name, means 'quiet' or 'tranquil,' symbolizing a calm and peaceful nature.

References

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