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BY Mildred Europa Taylor, 7:41am June 21, 2018,

Here’s the real meaning of your African name

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by Mildred Europa Taylor, 7:41am June 21, 2018,

D-I

DAKARAI m Southern African, Shona
Means “rejoice” in Shona.

DALITSO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “blessing” in Chewa.

DAYO m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “joy arrives” in Yoruba.

DEJEN m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “foundation, support” in Amharic.

DESTA f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “joy” in Amharic.

DUBAKU m & f Western African, Akan
Means “eleventh born child” in Akan.

DUMISANI m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means “praise” in Zulu and Ndebele.

EFE m & f Western African, Urhobo
Short form of EFEMENA or other names containing efe “wealth”.

EFEMENA m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “here is my wealth” in Urhobo.

EJIRO m & f Western African, Urhobo
Short form of EJIROGHENE or other names containing ejiro “praise”.

EJIROGHENE m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “praise God” in Urhobo.

EKENE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “praise, thanks” in Igbo.

EKENEDILICHUKWU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “all praise to God” in Igbo.

EKUNDAYO f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “sorrow becomes joy” in Yoruba.

EKWUEME m  Western African, Igbo
Means “he says, he does” in Igbo.

EMEKA m Western African, Igbo
Means “great deeds” in Igbo. It also functions as a short form of CHUKWUEMEKA.

EMEM m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “peace” in Ibibio.

ENIOLA f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “person of wealth” in Yoruba.

ENITAN m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “person with a story, storied person” in Yoruba.

ENU m & f Western African, Akan
Means “fifth born child” in Akan.

ENYINNAYA m Western African, Igbo
Means “his father’s friend” in Igbo.

ESEOGHENE m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “God’s gift” in Urhobo.

ESKENDER m Eastern African, Amharic
Amharic form of ALEXANDER.

FARAI m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “rejoice” in Shona.

FARAJI m Eastern African, Swahili
Means “consolation” in Swahili.

FATSANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “be meek” in Chewa.

FEMI m Western African, Yoruba
Short form of OLUFEMI.

FILBERT m Eastern African
Variant of FILIBERT. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.

FOLAMI m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “respect and honour me” in Yoruba.

FUMNANYA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “love me” in Igbo.

FUNGAI m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “think” in Shona.

GADISA m Eastern African, Oromo
From Oromo gaaddisa meaning “shade”.

GANIZANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “think” in Chewa.

GUDINA m Eastern African, Oromo
Means “growth, advancement” in Oromo.

GWANDOYA m Eastern African, Ganda
Means “met with misery” in Luganda.

IBRAHIMA m Western African, Fula, Serer, Wolof
Form of IBRAHIM used in parts of western Africa.

IDIR m Northern African, Berber
Means “alive” in Tamazight.

IDOWU m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “born after twins” in Yoruba.

IFA m Eastern African, Oromo
Means “light” in Oromo.

IFIOK m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “wisdom” in Ibibio.

IKENNA m Western African, Igbo
Means “father’s power” in Igbo.

IMAMU m Eastern African, Swahili
Means “spiritual leader” in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إمام (Imam).

IMANI f &  m Eastern African, Swahili, African American
Means “faith” in Swahili, ultimately of Arabic origin.

IME m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “patience” in Ibibio.

INIOBONG m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “God’s time” in Ibibio.

INYENE m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “wealth” in Ibibio.

ISINGOMA m Eastern African, Ganda
Means “first of twins” in Luganda.

ITORO m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “praise, glory” in Ibibio.

ITRI m Northern African, Berber
Means “star” in Tamazight.

ITUMELENG m & f Southern African, Tswana
Means “joy” in Tswana.

IZEM m Northern African, Berber
Means “lion” in Tamazight.

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Last Edited by:Ismail Akwei Updated: June 21, 2018

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