When a baby is born in Africa, large celebrations and festivities follow the birth. A baby naming ceremony is a common ritual to welcome the newborn into the community. The pronunciation of an African name is of utmost importance as even one misplaced syllable will greatly affect its meaning. An incorrect inflection can be considered an instant insult. Therefore, the following list of African baby names includes phonic spellings in parentheses.
African Baby Boy Names
In African cultures, a baby's name is the most highly valuable possession as it can survive even death. It is believed that the name given to a child can influence both the child and the family.
African Boy Names A through H
If you are looking for black baby names for boys at the beginning of the alphabet, check out this sample list:
Abayomi (AH-BAH-YOH-MI) - Born to bring me joy in Yoruba Nigerian
Abdalla (AB-DAUL-LAH) - Servant of God in Swahili
Abdu (AB-DOO) - Worshiper of God
Abubakar (AH-BOO-BAH-CAR) - Father-in-law of Prophet Muhammed in West African
Abioye (AH-BE-OH-YAY) - Son of royalty; African surname
Addae (AH-DAH-EH) - Morning sun
Addo (AED-OW) - King of the road in Ghana
Adika (AH-DEE-KAH) - The first child of a second husband
Adom (AH-DOHM) - God's blessing
Ahmed (AH-MUH-D)- Praiseworthy
Akiki (AH-KEE-EE-KEE) - Friend
Akua (AH-KOO-AH) - Born on a Thursday; African surname
Amare- (UH-MAH-REH)- Possess great strength
Anane (AH-HAH-NEH) - Fourth son
Aswald -(AHS-WALD) - Black
Atu (AH-TOO) - Born on Saturday
Bandile (BAND-EEL) The family is growing; South African name
Barack (BAA-R-AA-K) - Blessed
Bem (BEHM) - Peace
Bomani (B-OH-MAH-NEE) - Great warrior
Chiamaka (CHEE-AM-ACK-AH) - God is splendid
Chikae (CHE-KAY) - God's power; West African name
Chionesu (CHEH-NEH-SOO) - Guiding light
Dakarai (DAH-KAH-RAH-EE) - Rejoice; South African Shona name
Enam (EH-NAHM) - God's gift
Enzokuhle (ENZO-COOL) - Do well, do good; unisex long name and most popular for boys and girls in South Africa
Fenyang (FEHN-YANG) - Conqueror
Gamba (GAM-BAH) - Warrior
Gowon (GO-WAHN) - Rainmaker
Haji (HAH-JEE) - Born during the hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca
Hansani (HAH-SAH-NEE) - Handsome
Hondo (HAH-N-DOH) - Warrior
Little Gentleman Names I through O
Choose a meaningful baby boy name:
Ishaq (ESS-HAHK) - Laughter
Issa (EE-SAH) - God is salvation
Jabari (JAH-BAH-REE) - Brave; African surname
Jafari (JAH-FAH-REE) - Stream
Jaja (JAH-JAH) - Honored
Jengo (JEHN-GOO) - Building in Swahili
Jojo (JO-JO) - Born on Monday
Kafele (KAH-FEH-LEH) - Worth dying for
Kapeni (KAH-PEH-NEE) - Knife
Kellan (KEH-L-EH-N) - Powerful
Kgosi (KHO-SEE) - King in Tswana
Khalid (KHAH-LEED) - Eternal
Kizza (KEEZ-SAH) - Born after twins
Kontar (KOHN-TAR) - Only child
Kofi (K-OH-FEE)- Born on a Friday in West African
Kufuo (KOO-FOO-O) - Father shared the pains of birth
Kwasi (KWAH-SEE) - Born on Sunday in West African
Lethabo (LE-TA-BO) - Happiness; unisex name and second most popular name for boys in South Africa
Lateef (LAH-TEFF) - Gentle and kind
Madu (MAH-DOO) - People
Mandala (MAHN-DAH-LAH) - Spectacles
Mandlenkosi(MAHN-DLEN-KOH-SEE) - Strong king/chief long name in Zulu and Ndebele
Mashama (MAH-SHAM-BAH) - Leaves
Mazi (MAH-ZEE) - Sir
Mosi (MO-SEE) - First-born in Swahili
Muhammadu (MOO-HAH-MAHD-OO) - Praiseworthy in West African
Mwai (MWAH-EE) - Good fortune
Nassor (NAH-SOR) - Victorious
Ndulu (N-DOO-LOO) - Dove
Njau (N-JOW) - Young bull
Nkosana (KOH-SAH-NAH) - Prince in Xhosa
Obayana (AH-BAH-YAH-NAH) - The kings warm by the fire
Obi (O-BEE) - Heart in Western African
Oladele (AH-LAH-DEH-LEH) - Honored at home
Olugbala (O-LOO-BAH-LAH) - God of the people
Omar (O-MAR) - Flourishing
Omari (OH-MAH-R-EE) - God the highest
Othenio (O-THEE-NEE-O) - Born at night Paki (PAH-KEE) - Witness
Little Prince Names R through Z
Find a beautiful name from a range of culture and tribes:
Rafiki (RAH-FEE-KEE) - Companion
Rudo (ROO-DOH) - Love in South African
Sadiki (SAH-DEE-KEE) - Faithful
Salehe (SAH-LEH-HEE) - Good
Salim (SAH-LEEM) - Safe and secure
Sefu (SEH-FOO) - Sword in Swahili
Sekani (SEH-KAH-NEE) - Laugh in Tumbuka
Shaka (SHA-KAH) The name of the Zulu tribal leader sometimes compared to Attila the Hun
Selassie (SUH-LASS-SEE) - One that refers to a trinity
Simba (SEEM-BAH) - Lion in South African
Tahir (TAH-HEER) - Chaste
Taye (TAI) - He who has been seen
Taj (T-AH-J) - Exalted
Talib (TAH-LIB) - Seeker of knowledge
Thadiwe (TAN-DI-WAY) - Beloved
Themba (TEHM-BAH) - Hope in South African
Uchechi (OO-CHAY-CHEE) - God's will
Umi (U-MM-EE) - Life
Unika (OO-NEE-KAH) - To shine
Useni (UW-SEN-EE)- Tell me
Walid (WAH-LEED) - Newborn
Wambua (WAHM-BOO-AH) - Born during the rainy season
Yafeu (YAH-FEH-O) - Bold
Yonas (YOO-N-AS) - Dove
Zahur (ZAH-HOOR) - Flower
Zane (Z-AI-N) - Well-born, noble
Zikomo (ZEE-KO-MO) - Thank you in South African
Ziyad (ZEE-YAAD) - To become greater
Zuberi (ZOO-BEH-REE) - Strong in Swahili
African Baby Girl Names
Names in African cultures reflect the person's hopes, dreams and aspirations. Children's names may also provide insight into important cultural or socio-political events at the time of their birth.
Sweet Baby Girl Names A through H
Find an inspirational name below:
Aba (AH-BAH) - Born on Thursday
Abagbe (AH-BAH-BEH) - Child that was wished for
Abayomi (AH-BAH-YO-ME) - She brings joy
Abena (AH-BEH-NAH) - Born on Tuesday in West African
Abeni (AH-BEH-NEE)-Girl prayed for in West African
Abrihet (AH-BREE-HET) Shines with light
Ada (AH-DAH) - First-born female
Adesina (AH-DAY-SEE-NAH) - This child opens the way for more children
Adaeze (UH-DAY-ZAY) - King's daughter in Western African
Afiya (AH-FEE-YAH) - Health in West African
Aisha (AH-EE-SHAH) - Life
Akua (AH-KOO-AH) - Born on Wednesday
Alake (AH-LAH-KEH) - One to fuss over
Alkebulan (Al-KEH-BOO-LAN) - Mother of Mankind; said to be the oldest name for Africa from indigenous African origins
Aluna (AH-LOO-NAH) - Come here
Ama (AH-MA) - Born on Saturday in West African
Amahle (Ah-MAH-SHE) - The beautiful one in Zulu; third most popular girls name in South Africa
Amina (UH-MEE-NUH) - Trustworthy
Anika (AH-NEE-KAH) - Sweet-faced
Anuli (AH-NOO-LEE) - Joyous in West African
Asha (AH-SH-AH) - Lively, woman, life in Swahili
Asya (AHS-YAH) - Born at a time of grief
Ayana (AY-YA-NA) - Pretty Flower
Aziza (AH-ZEE-ZAH) - Precious
Bahati (BAH-HAH-TEE) - Fortunate
Bayo (BAH-YO) - Great joy a child brings to a family
Bolanile (BO-LAH-NEE-LAH) - Our treasure in West African
Chipo (CHEE-PO) - Gift in South African; also common African surname
Chuki (CHOO-KEE) - Born during a time of hatred
Dada (DAH-DAH) - Child born with curly hair in West African
Dalili (DAH-LEE-LEE) - Sign or omen
Ebun (EH-BOON) - Gift
Efia (EH-FEE-AH) - Born on a Friday
Faizah (FAH-EE-ZAH) - Winner
Femi (FEH-MEE) - Love me
Folayan (FAW-LAH-YAHN) - Walking proud
Fujo (FOO-JO) - Born after the parents have separated
Goitsemedime (COAT-SAY-MO-DEE-MEH) - God knows; long African name
Habiba (HAH-BE-BAH) - Sweetheart
Halima (HAH-LEE-MAH) - Kind and patient, gentle
Hasana (HAH-SAH-NAH) - First-born twin
Hawa (HAH-WAH) - Longing
Little Princess Names I Through O
Sweet but strong baby girl names include:
Ikuseghan (EE-KOO-SHE-HAN) - Peace is better than war; long African name
Imani (E-MAN-E) - Faith in Swahili
Jaha (JAH-HA) - Dignity
Jamila (JAH-ME-LAH) - Elegant
Kali (KAI-LEE) -Energetic
Kamaria (KAH-MAH-REE-AH) - Like the moon in Swahili
Keisha (KEE-SHAH) - Favorite
Khadija (KAH-DEE-JAH) - Born premature (Muhammad's wife)
Kibibi (KEE-BE-BE) - Little lady
Koko (KO-KO) - Born second
Leila (LAH-EE-LAH) - Dark beauty
Linda (LEEN-DAH) - Wait
Lulu (LOO-LOO) - A pearl
Malaika (MAH-LAH-EE-KAH) - Angel
Mandisa (MAN-DEE-SAH) - Sweet
Mawiyah (MAH-WEE-YAH) - The essence of life
Melokuhle (MEH-LO-COOL) - Stand for what is right; unisex name and second most popular girl name in South Africa
Mesi (MEH-SEE) - Water
Muteteli (MOO-TAY-TAH-LEE) - Dainty
Nabelung (NAH-BEH-LUNG) - Beautiful one
Naeemah (NAH-EE-MAH) - Benevolent and contented
Nailah (NY-EE-LA) - Successful
Naki (NAH-KEE) - First-born girl
Neema (NEH-EH-MAH) - Born during good times
Nia (NEE-AH) - Purpose in Swahili
Nkosazana (N-KO-SAH-ZAH-NAH) - Princess in South African
Nombeko (NOM-BEH-KO) - Respect
Nomusa (NO-MOO-SAH) - Compassionate in South African
Ode (O-DEH) - Born along the road
Omolara (O-MO-LAH-RAH) - Born at the right time in West African
Oni (O-NEE) - Desired in West African
Angelic Names P through Z
You may find a beautiful and unique name from the list below:
Panya (PAHN-YAH) - Mouse
Rabiah (RAH-BE-AH) - Spring
Ramla (RAHM-LAH) - Predictor of the future
Rukiya (ROO-KEE-YAH) - Ascend or rise up
Salihah (SAH-LEE-HAH) - Virtuous or correct
Sanaa (SAH-NAA)-Work of beauty in Swahili
Sanura (SAH-NOO-RAH) - Kitten-like
Sekai (SAY-KAH-EE) - Be humorous in Shona
Sisi (SEE-SEE) - Born on a Sunday
Suma (SOO-MAH) - Ask
Tale (TAH-LEH) - Green
Teleza (TAH-LEH-ZAH) - Slippery
Thema (TAY-MAH) - Queen Ulu (OO-LOO), second-born female in West African
Umm (OOM) - Mother
Urbi (OOR-BE) - Princess
Urenna (OO-REN-NAH) - Father's pride
Waseme (WAH-SEH-MEH) - Let them talk
Yamina (YAH-ME-NAH) - Of moral excellence
Ye (YEH-EH) - Elder of twins
Zahra (ZAH-RAH) - Flower
Zalika (ZAH-LEE-KAH) - Well-born
Zola (ZOH-LUH) -Peaceful
Zuri (ZUH-OO-REE) Beautiful in Swahili
Diversity of Names
Understanding the meaning of a name may help with your selection. Whether you choose a popular name or one that has special meaning within your family, selecting an African name for your child provides the opportunity to choose a name with great cultural significance.
