When searching for a baby’s name begins, some parents look to other countries and languages for inspiration, choosing – for example – Japanese, French, Russian or Turkish names.
Africa, with 54 countries and more than 2,000 languages and dialects, is also a place from which we can draw inspiration for naming our baby. On this continent, many names are related to the order of birth or the day of the week the baby was born.
Depending on the region, African names can have Arabic, Egyptian or Ethiopian origin to name a few, or come from languages such as Igbo, Swahili or Zulu, among others. We share 101 African names for girls with their meaning .
- Abeba , “flower”
- Abena , “born on Tuesday”
- Abeni , “which was prayed for”
- Aberash , “bright, bringer of light”
- Ada , “first daughter”
- Adaeze , “princess, daughter of the king”
- Aicha , “alive”
- Praise , born after twins or twins
- Amara , “grace, mercy”
- Amma , “born on Saturday”
- Anele , for the daughter who was born last
- Anipe , daughter of the Nile
- Asha , “life”
- Ayaan , “gift from God, good luck”
- Aziza , “mighty, beloved”
- Bahiti , “fortune”
- Barika , “successful”
- Behati , “blessed”
- Chidinma , “God is good”
- Chimamanda , “God will not fail”
- Cleopatra , named after several queens of Egypt
- Ebele , “kindness, mercy”
- Efua , “born on Friday”
- Elna , “beloved”
- Eshe , “life”
- Esi , “gift of God”
- Fatima , “maternal”
- Femi , “love”
- Habibah , “beloved”
- Halima , “gentle, kind”
- Hasana , “beautiful”
- Hibo , “gift”
- Imani , “fe”
- Ime , “patience”
- Imena , “dream”
- Jahzara , “princess”
- Jendayi , “grateful”
- Kadida , “prematura”
- Kamali , “protector”
- Kamaria , “moonlight”
- We are the “perfect”
- Kaya , “home, resting place”
- Khadija , “respected”
- Khissa , “sister of twins”
- Kehinde , for the twin born second
- Lerato , “love”, is a unisex name
- Makena , “the one who is happy”
- Malaika , “angel”
- Mandisa , “sweet”
- Mariama , “gift of God”
- Marjani , “coral”
- Marli , “beloved, starfish”
- Masego , “blessed, blessings”
- Masika , “born during the rain”
- Monifa , “lucky”
- Nailah , “successful”
- Nala , “successful, gift”
- Nathifa , “pura”
- Nemy , “sweet”
- Nia , “purpose”
- Nilla , “gloriosa”
- Nuru , “born during the day”
- Wave , “wealth, precious”
- Olabisi , “the one who brings happiness”
- Oluchi , “work of God”
- Oni , “wanted”
- Onika , “who greater than God”
- Palesa , “flower”
- Panya , “mouse, little one”
- Pili , “born second”
- Quibilah , “peaceful”
- Ramla , “prophet, sand”
- Rashida , “fair”
- Sabah , “born in the morning”
- Sade , “crown”
- Safiya , “pure”
- Salama , “peace, security”
- Samiya , “high, praised”
- Sena , “beauty”
- Shani , “wonderful”
- Shanina , “princess”
- Shanti , “peace”
- Siti , “lady”
- Slama , “peaceful”
- Sura , “princess, brave”
- Tabia , “talents, gifts”
- Tahani , “good wishes”
- Tamala , “dark tree”
- Taraji , “hope”
- Thabisa , “the one who brings joy”
- Thandiwe / Thandie , “beloved”
- Thema , “queen”
- Urbi , “princess”
- Winda , “huntress”
- Zahara , “flower”
- Zala , “pink”
- Zalika , “well born”
- Zella , “who lacks nothing”
- Zendaya , “grateful”
- Zola , “calm, peaceful”
- Zuri , “beautiful”
- Zuwena , “good”
Baby names in other languages
- Welcome baby !: 173 French names for your baby
- 185 Japanese girl and boy names for your baby (and their meaning)
- 51 Italian names for your baby that will make you fall in love
- 117 Nordic girl names for your baby
- 117 Nordic boy names for your baby
- 91 Celtic names for brave boys, with character and big heart
- 77 Celtic names for brave, warrior and beautiful girls
- 43 Irish girl and boy names for your baby
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- For girls and boys: 87 names for your baby inspired by nature
- Neither boy nor girl: 53 unisex baby names
- Baby names from A to Z (5,000+ names)
Cover photo | Unsplash
