African naming: traditions & popular names

Naming on this vast continent comes from a variety of languages, dialects, religions and customs…

In the northern region, Arabic is the main influence as the main religion is Islam, while in central and southern regions, the names are Christian as a result of European colonisation.

However, traditional African names, some believed to have a history going back over 5000 years, are still popular in many native African languages, including Hausa, Kongo, Shona, Swahili, Yoruba and Zulu.

Naming traditions in Africa are often based on the timing of the birth and reflect the time of day, day of the week, the weather and the position in the family. Among the Nigerian Yoruba, apart from the family name, the child is given several other names. One of the names describes the circumstances surrounding the birth. For instance, the name Idowu means ‘child born after twins’. The parents often also have a pet name that indicates what they hope for their child, such as Ayoke, meaning ‘one who is blessed’.

The oldest member of the family carries out the naming ceremony. Amongst Swahili speaking Kenyans, the first or birth name called ‘jina la utotoni’ is given to babies as soon as they are born.  This is chosen by an elderly relative and usually refers to the child’s appearance, like ‘Biubwa’ which means ‘soft and smooth’.  After up to 40 days, the parents and paternal grandparents choose the ‘jina la ukubwani’, or adult name, for the child. With the Akan Ghanaians, it is the father of the baby who chooses the name of a beloved relative in the hope that the child will grow up to be like the namesake.  

African ‘day names’

Day	Boy names	Girl names
Sunday	Kwasi	Akosua
Monday	Kwadwo	Adwoa
Tuesday	Kwabena	Abenaa
Wednesday	Kwaku	Akua
Thursday	Yaw	Yaa
Friday	Kofi	Afua
Saturday	Kwame	Amma

Popular African names

Name	Gender	Origin	Meaning
Aba	Girl	Ghanaian	born on Thursday
Abam	Girl	Ghanaian	second child after twins
Abeo	Girl	Nigerian	happy she was born
Abina	Girl	Ghanaian	born on a Thursday
Adeben	Boy	Ghanaian	twelfth-born son
Adeola	Girl	Nigerian	a crown
Agu	Boy	Nigerian	a leopard
Ajani	Boy	Nigerian	the victor
Ajayi	Boy	Yoruban	born face-down
Akanke	Girl	Nigerian	to know her is to love her
Ama	Girl	Ghanaian	born on Saturday
Amadi	Girl	Nigerian	general rejoicing
Anana	Girl	African	soft, gentle
Apara	Girl	Nigerian	one who comes and goes
Aren	Boy	Nigerian	eagle
Arziki	Girl	African Hausa	prosperity
Ashon	Boy	Ghanaian	seventh-born son
Awusi	Girl	Ghanaian	born on a Sunday
Ayize	Boy	Zulu	let it happen
Azi	Boy	Nigerian	a youth
Baako	Girl	African	first born
Baingana	Boy	Swahili	people are equal
Bakari	Boy	Swahili	promising
Barika	Girl	Swahili	successful
Bayo	Girl	Nigerian	to find joy
Bem	Boy	Nigerian	peace
Binty	Girl	Swahili	daughter
Dalila	Girl	Swahili	gentle
Daren	Boy	Nigerian	born at night
Dingane	Boy	Zulu	one who is searching
Harith	Boy	North African	cultivator
Hasina	Girl	Swahili	good
Jabari	Boy	Swahili	the brave one
Jelani	Boy	African	mighty
Jendayi	Girl	African	give thanks
Jina	Girl	Swahili	name
Juma	Boy	African	born on a Friday
Jumoke	Girl	Nigerian	the beloved one
Kamaria	Girl	Swahili	like the moon
Kesi	Girl	Swahili	born when father was in trouble
Kesia	Girl	African	favourite
Khairi	Boy	Swahili	kingly
Kiden	Girl	African	female born after 3+ boys
Kito	Boy	Swahili	a jewel
Lakeisha	Girl	Swahili	favourite one
Lateefah	Girl	North African	gentle, pleasant
Lehana	Girl	African	one who refuses
Mablevi	Boy	African	do not deceive
Mahdi	Girl	African	the expected one
Maizah	Girl	African	discerning
Mandisa	Girl	African	sweet
Mansa	Boy	African	a king
Marjani	Girl	Swahili	coral
Mosi	Boy	Swahili	the firstborn
Nabelung	Girl	African	beautiful one
Nabulung	Boy	African	do not receive
Nailah	Girl	African	succeeding
Narkeasha	Girl	African	pretty
Nasha	Girl	African	born during rainy season
Nia	Girl	Swahili	purpose
Nkosi	Girl	Zulu	ruler
Nomanlanga	Girl	Zulu	sunny
Oba	Girl	Nigerian	an ancient river goddess
Obiajulu	Boy	African	the heart is consoled
Odion	Boy	Nigerian	first of twins
Panyin	Boy	Ghanaian	older of twins
Penda	Girl	Swahili	love
Ramla	Girl	Swahili	one who predicts the future
Sade	Girl	Nigerian	honor confers a crown
Safiya	Girl	African	pure
Saidah	Girl	African	happy, fortunate
Saidi	Boy	African	helper
Shani	Girl	Swahili	wonderful
Shomari	Boy	Swahili	forceful
Simba	Girl	Swahili	lion
Siphiwe	Girl	Zulu	we were given
Sipho	Boy	Zulu	gift
Sitembile	Girl	African	trust
Sudi	Boy	Swahili	luck
Tabansi	Boy	African	one who endures
Tano	Boy	Ghanaian	name of river
Thandiwe	Boy	Zulu	beloved
Themba	Girl	Zulu	trusted
Uba	Boy	African	wealthy
Winda	Girl	Swahili	hunt
Yobachi	Boy	African	pray to God
Zaid	Boy	African	increase, growth
Zina	Girl	African	name
Zuri	Girl	Swahili	beautiful