African Baby Name

African baby names are enhanced by the variety of customs and ethnic groups found in the large continent. 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. In African traditions, a baby’s name is the most highly valuable possession as it can survive even death. African baby names are symbolic of the society of Africa, with birth order, day of the week, important events and religion surrounding the birth of a child affecting the name that is chosen.

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.

Abdalla (AB-DAUL-LAH) – Servant of God

Abdu (AB-DOO) – Worshiper of God

Addae (AH-DAH-EH) – Morning sun

Adika (AH-DEE-KAH) – The first child of a second husband

Adom (AH-DOHM) – God’s blessing

Akiki (AH-KEE-EE-KEE) – Friend

Akua (AH-KOO-AH) – Born on a Thursday

Anane (AH-HAH-NEH) – Fourth son

Aswald –(AHS-WALD) – Black

Atu (AH-TOO) – Born on Saturday

Bem (BEHM) – Peace

Chionesu (CHEH-NEH-SOO) – Guiding light

Dakarai (DAH-KAH-RAH-EE) – Happiness

Enam (EH-NAHM) – God’s gift

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

Ishaq (ESS-HAHK) – Laughter

Jafari (JAH-FAH-REE) – Stream

Jaja (JAH-JAH) – Honored

Jojo (JO-JO) – Born on Monday

Kafele (KAH-FEH-LEH) – Worth dying for

Kapeni (KAH-PEH-NEE) - Knife

Khalid (KHAH-LEED) – Eternal

Kizza (KEEZ-SAH) – Born after twins

Kontar (KOHN-TAR) – Only child

Kufuo (KOO-FOO-O) – Father shared the pains of birth

Kwasi (KWAH-SEE) – Born on Sunday

Lateef (LAH-TEFF) – Gentle and kind

Madu (MAH-DOO) – People

Mandala (MAHN-DAH-LAH) - Spectacles

Mashama (MAH-SHAM-BAH) – Leaves

Mazi (MAH-ZEE) – Sir

Mosi (MO-SEE) – First-born

Muhammad (MOO-HAH-MAHD) – Praiseworthy

Mwai (MWAH-EE) – Good fortune

Nassor (NAH-SOR) – Victorious

Ndulu (N-DOO-LOO) – Dove

Njau (N-JOW) – Young bull

Obayana (AH-BAH-YAH-NAH) – The kings warm by the fire

Obi (O-BEE) – Heart

Oladele (AH-LAH-DEH-LEH) – Honored at home

Olugbala (O-LOO-BAH-LAH) – God of the people

Omar (O-MAR) – Flourishing

Othenio (O-THEE-NEE-O) – Born at night

Paki (PAH-KEE) – Witness

Rafiki (RAH-FEE-KEE) – Companion

Rudo (ROO-DOH) – Love

Sadiki (SAH-DEE-KEE) – Faithful

Salehe (SAH-LEH-HEE) – Good

Salim (SAH-LEEM) – Safe and secure

Sefu (SEH-FOO) - Sword

Simba (SEEM-BAH) – Lion

Tahir (TAH-HEER) – Chaste

Talib (TAH-LIB) – Seeker of knowledge

Themba (TEHM-BAH) – Hope

Uchechi (OO-CHAY-CHEE) – God’s will

Unika (OO-NEE-KAH) – To shine

Walid (WAH-LEED) – Newborn

Wambua (WAHM-BOO-AH) – Born during the rainy season

Yafeu (YAH-FEH-O) - Bold

Zikomo (ZEE-KO-MO) – Thank you

Zuberi (ZOO-BEH-REE) – Strong

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

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

Afiya (AH-FEE-YAH) – Health

Aisha (AH-EE-SHAH) – Life

Akua (AH-KOO-AH) - Born on Wednesday

Alake (AH-LAH-KEH) – One to fuss over

Aluna (AH-LOO-NAH) – Come here

Anuli (AH-NOO-LEE) – Joyous

Asya (AHS-YAH) – Born at a time of grief

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

Chipo (CHEE-PO) – Gift

Chuki (CHOO-KEE) – Born during a time of hatred

Dada (DAH-DAH) – Child born with curly hair

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

Habiba (HAH-BE-BAH) – Sweetheart

Halima (HAH-LEE-MAH) – Kind and patient

Hasana (HAH-SAH-NAH) – First-born twin

Hawa (HAH-WAH) – Longing

Ikuseghan (EE-KOO-SHE-HAN) – Peace is better than war

Jaha (JAH-HA) - Dignity

Jamila (JAH-ME-LAH) - Elegant

Kamaria (KAH-MAH-REE-AH) – Like the moon

Khadija (KAH-DEE-JAH) – Born premature

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

Mesi (MEH-SEE) – Water

Muteteli (MOO-TAY-TAH-LEE) – Dainty

Naeemah (NAH-EE-MAH) – Benevolent and contented

Naki (NAH-KEE) – First-born girl

Neema (NEH-EH-MAH) – Born during good times

Nkosazana (N-KO-SAH-ZAH-NAH) – Princess

Nombeko (NOM-BEH-KO) – Respect

Nomusa (NO-MOO-SAH) – Compassionate

Ode (O-DEH) – Born along the road

Omolara (O-MO-LAH-RAH) – Born at the right time

Oni (O-NEE) – Desired

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

Sanura (SAH-NOO-RAH) – Kitten-like

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

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

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