Culture

Here’s the real meaning of your African name

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”.

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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Mildred Europa Taylor

Mildred Europa Taylor is a writer and content creator. She loves writing about health and women's issues in Africa and the African diaspora.

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