N-T
NDIDI m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “patience” in Igbo.
NEO f & m Southern African, Tswana
Means “gift” in Tswana, a derivative of naya “to give”.
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NGOZI f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “blessing” in Igbo.
NKEMDILIM m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “let mine be mine” in Igbo.
NKOSANA m Southern African, Xhosa
Means “prince” in Xhosa.
NKRUMA m & f Western African, Akan
Means “ninth born child” in Akan.
NNAMDI m Western African, Igbo
Means “my father is alive” in Igbo. This name is given to a child when it is believed that he is a reincarnation of his grandfather.
NSIA m & f Western African, Akan
Means “sixth born child” in Akan.
NSONOWA m & f Western African, Akan
Means “seventh born child” in Akan.
NTHANDA m & f Southern African, Tumbuka
Means “star” in Tumbuka.
NYONGESA m Eastern African, Luhya
Means “born on Saturday” in Luhya.
OBI m Western African, Igbo
Means “heart” in Igbo.
OCHIENG m Eastern African, Luo
Means “born when the sun shines”, derived from Luo chieng meaning “sun”.
ODHIAMBO m Eastern African, Luo
Means “born in the evening” in Luo.
OGHENEKARO m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “God first” in Urhobo.
OGHENEKEVWE m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “God provided for me” in Urhobo.
OGHENERO m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “God exists” in Urhobo.
OKAFOR m Western African, Igbo
Means “born on Afor” in Igbo, Afor being one of the days of the Igbo week.
OKEKE m Western African, Igbo
Means “born on Eke” in Igbo, Eke being one of the days of the Igbo week.
OKONKWO m Western African, Igbo
Means “born on Nkwo” in Igbo, Nkwo being one of the days of the Igbo week.
OKORIE m Western African, Igbo
Means “born on Orie” in Igbo, Orie being one of the days of the Igbo week.
OKORO m Western African, Urhobo
Means “man” in Urhobo.
OLABODE m Western African, Yoruba
Means “wealth returns” in Yoruba.
OLAMIDE m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “my wealth has arrived” in Yoruba.
OLAMILEKAN m Western African, Yoruba
Means “my wealth is increased” in Yoruba.
OLANREWAJU m Western African, Yoruba
Means “my wealth is the future” or “my wealth is moving forward” in Yoruba.
OLUCHI m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God’s work” in Igbo.
OLUFEMI m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God loves me” in Yoruba.
OLUFUNKE m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “God has cared for” in Yoruba.
OLUFUNMILAYO f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God gave me joy” in Yoruba.
OLUFUNMILOLA f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God gives me wealth” in Yoruba.
OLUJIMI m Western African, Yoruba
Means “given by God” in Yoruba.
OLUKAYODE m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God brings happiness” in Yoruba.
OLUMIDE m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God has come” in Yoruba.
OLUWAFEMI m Western African, Yoruba
Variant of OLUFEMI.
OLUWAFUNMILAYO f & m Western African, Yoruba
Variant of OLUFUNMILAYO.
OLUWAKANYINSOLA m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “God has added sweetness to my wealth” in Yoruba.
OLUWASEGUN m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “God has been victorious” in Yoruba.
OLUWASEUN m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “we thank God” in Yoruba.
OLUWASEYI f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God made this” in Yoruba.
OLUWATOYIN m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “God is worthy to be praised” in Yoruba.
OLUWAYEMISI f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “God honours me” in Yoruba.
OMOBOLANLE f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “a child who met wealth at home” in Yoruba.
OMONDI m Eastern African, Luo
Means “born early in the morning” in Luo.
ONYEKACHI f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “who is greater than God?” in Igbo.
ONYEKACHUKWU m & f Western African, Igbo
Variant of ONYEKACHI, using Chukwu as the last element, which is the extended form of Chi meaning “God”.
OPEYEMI m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “I should give praise” in Yoruba.
OTIENO m Eastern African, Luo
Means “born at night” in Luo.
OTOBONG m & f Western African, Ibibio
Means “from God” in Ibibio.
OYIBO m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “white” in Urhobo.
PEMPHERO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “prayer” in Chewa.
PENJANI m & f Southern African, Tumbuka
Means “seek for, look for” in Tumbuka.
PILIRANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “persevere, endure” in Chewa.
REFILWE m & f Southern African, Tswana
Means “we were given” in Tswana.
RUDO m f Southern African, Shona
Means “love” in Shona.
RUTENDO f & m Southern African, Shona
Means “faith” in Shona.
SANDILE m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means “we increased” in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
SEFU m Eastern African, Swahili
Means “sword” in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic سيف (sayf).
SEKANI m Southern African, Tumbuka
Means “laugh” in Tumbuka.
SEYDOU m Western African, Manding, Fula, Wolof, Serer
Form of SA’ID used in parts of western Africa.
SIBONAKALISO m & f Southern African, Zulu
From Zulu isibonakaliso meaning “sign, token, proof”.
SIBUSISO m Southern African, Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele
Means “blessed” in Zulu, Swazi and Ndebele.
SIFISO m Southern African, Zulu
Means “wish” in Zulu.
SIMBA m Southern African, Shona
Means “strength” in Shona.
SIMBA m Eastern African, Swahili
Means “lion” in Swahili. This is the name of the main character in the Disney movie ‘The Lion King’ (1994), about a lion cub who exiles himself after his father is murdered.
SIMIYU m Eastern African, Luhya
Means “born during the dry season” in Luhya.
SIPHO m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means “gift” from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele isipho.
SISAY m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “good omen” in Amharic.
SITHEMBILE f & m Southern African, Zulu
Means “we trust” in Zulu.
SIYABONGA m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means “we thank you” in Zulu and Ndebele.
SIZWE m Southern African, Xhosa
Means “nation” in Xhosa.
TADALA m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “we have been blessed” in Chewa.
TADESSE m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “revived” in Amharic.
TAFADZWA m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “we are pleased” in Shona.
TAFARI m Eastern African, Amharic (Rare)
Possibly means “he who inspires awe” in Amharic. This name was borne by Lij Tafari Makonnen (1892-1975), also known as Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Rastafarians (Ras Tafari meaning “king Tafari”) revere him as the earthly incarnation of God.
TAKONDWA m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “we are glad” in Chewa.
TAMANDANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “we have exalted” in Chewa.
TAMRAT m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “miracle” in Amharic.
TAONGA f & m Southern African, Tumbuka
Means “we are thankful” in Tumbuka.
TARIKU m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “history, story” in Amharic.
TATENDA m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “thank you” in Shona.
TAU m Southern African, Tswana, Sotho
Means “lion” in Tswana and Sotho. Tau was the name of the last ruler of the Rolong in South Africa (18th century).
TEBOHO m Southern African, Sotho
Means “gratitude” in Sotho.
TEMITOPE f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “enough to give thanks” in Yoruba.
TENDAI m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “be thankful” in Shona.
TENDAJI m Eastern African, Swahili
Means “makes things happen” in Swahili.
TESFAYE m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “hope” in Amharic.
TEWODROS m Eastern African, Amharic
Amharic form of THEODORE.
THABANI m Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele
Means “be happy” in Zulu and Ndebele.
THABO m Southern African, Tswana
Means “joy” in Tswana.
THANDO m & f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele thanda meaning “to love”.
THEMBA m Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means “trust, hope” in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
THOKO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Short form of THOKOZANI.
THOKOZANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “thank” in Chewa.
THULANI m Southern African, Zulu
Means “be quiet, be peaceful” in Zulu.
TICHAONA m Southern African, Shona
Means “we will see” in Shona.
TINASHE m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “we are with God”, from Shona ti “we”, na “with”, and ishe “lord, God”.
TIONGE f & m Southern African, Tumbuka
Means “let us be thankful” in Tumbuka.
TIYAMIKE m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “we praise” in Chewa.
TJAART m Southern African, Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of TJAARD.
TUMELO m & f Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Means “faith” in Sotho and Tswana.
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