B-H
BAAKO m & f Western African, Akan
Means “first born child” in Akan.
BABIRYE f Eastern African, Ganda
Means “first of twins” in Luganda.
BANDILE m & f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means “they have increased” in Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele.
BERHANE m & f Eastern African, Amharic
Means “light” in Amharic.
BOIPELO m & f Southern African, Tswana
Means “proud” in Tswana.
BOITUMELO f & m Southern African, Tswana
Means “joy” in Tswana.
BOLANLE f Western African, Yoruba
Means “finds wealth at home” in Yoruba.
BONOLO f Southern African, Sotho
Means “ease” in Sotho.
BONTU f Eastern African, Oromo
Means “proud” in Oromo.
BOSEDE f Western African, Yoruba
Means “born on Sunday” in Yoruba.
BUHLE f & m Southern African, Xhosa, Ndebele
From Xhosa and Ndebele buhle “beautiful, handsome”, from the root hle.
BUSINGE m & f Eastern African, Kiga
Means “peace” in Rukiga.
CHARLIZE f Southern African, Afrikaans
Feminine form of CHARLES using the popular Afrikaans name suffix ize. This name was popularized by South African actress Charlize Theron (1975-), who was named after her father Charles.
CHAUSIKU f Eastern African, Swahili
Means “born at night” in Swahili.
CHI m & f Mythology, Western African, Igbo
Means “god, spirtual being” in Igbo, referring to the personal spiritual guardian that each person is believed to have. Christian Igbo people use it as a name for the personal Christian god. This can also be a short form of the many Igbo names that begin with this element.
CHIAMAKA f African, Igbo
Means “God is beautiful” in Igbo.
CHIBUEZE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is the king” in Igbo.
CHIBUIKE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is strength” in Igbo.
CHIBUZO m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God leads the way” in Igbo.
CHICHI f Western African, Igbo
Diminutive of Igbo names beginning with the element Chi meaning “God”.
CHIDI m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God exists” in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chidi.
CHIDIEBERE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is merciful” in Igbo.
CHIDIEBUBE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is glorious” in Igbo.
CHIDIEGWU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is wonderful” in Igbo.
CHIDIMMA f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is good” in Igbo.
CHIFUNDO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “mercy” in Chewa.
CHIFUNIRO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “will, wish” in Chewa.
CHIJINDUM m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God holds my life” in Igbo.
CHIKA f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is the greatest” in Igbo.
CHIKE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God’s power” in Igbo.
CHIKELU m & f Western African, Igbo
Variant of CHIKERE.
CHIKERE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God created” in Igbo.
CHIKONDI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “love” in Chewa.
CHIKUMBUTSO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “memory” in Chewa.
CHIMWALA m & f Eastern African, Yao
Means “stone” in Yao.
CHIMWEMWE m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “joy, pleasure” in Chewa.
CHINASA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “God answers” in Igbo.
CHINEDU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God leads” in Igbo.
CHINONSO m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God is nearby” in Igbo.
CHINWE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns” in Igbo. It is also a short form of Igbo names beginning with Chinwe.
CHINWEIKE m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns power” in Igbo.
CHINWENDU m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns life” in Igbo.
CHINWEUBA m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God owns wealth” in Igbo.
CHINYELU f Western African, Igbo
Variant of CHINYERE.
CHINYERE f Western African, Igbo
Means “God gave” in Igbo.
CHIOMA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “good God” in Igbo.
CHIPO f Southern African, Shona
Means “gift” in Shona.
CHISOMO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “grace” in Chewa.
CHIYEMBEKEZO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “hope” in Chewa.
CHIZOBA m & f Western African, Igbo
Means “God protect us” in Igbo.
CHRIZANNE f Southern African, Afrikaans
Combination of CHRISTINE and ANNE (1) used in South Africa.
DADA f Western African, Yoruba
Means “curly hair” in Yoruba.
DALITSO m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “blessing” in Chewa.
DAYO m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “joy arrives” in Yoruba.
DESTA f & m Eastern African, Amharic
Means “joy” in Amharic.
DIKELEDI f Southern African, Tswana
Means “tears” in Tswana.
DUBAKU m & f Western African, Akan
Means “eleventh born child” in Akan.
EBELE f Western African, Igbo
Means “mercy, kindness” in Igbo.
EFE (2 )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.
EFUA f Western African, Akan
Variant of AFUA.
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.
EKUA f Western African, Akan
Variant of AKUA.
EKUNDAYO f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means “sorrow becomes joy” in Yoruba.
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.
ENYONAM f Western African, Ewe
Means “it is good for me” in Ewe.
ESEOGHENE m & f Western African, Urhobo
Means “God’s gift” in Urhobo.
ESHE f Eastern African, Swahili
Variant of ASHA (2).
ESI f Western African, Akan
Means “born on Sunday” in Akan.
FAƊIMATU f Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of FATIMAH.
FARAI m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “rejoice” in Shona.
FATIMATOU f Western African, Manding, Wolof, Serer
Form of FATIMAH used in parts of western Africa.
FATSANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “be meek” in Chewa.
FOLAMI m & f Western African, Yoruba
Means “respect and honour me” in Yoruba.
FUMNANYA f & m Western African, Igbo
Means “love me” in Igbo.
FUNANYA f Western African, Igbo
Means “love” in Igbo.
FUNGAI m & f Southern African, Shona
Means “think” in Shona.
FURAHA f Eastern African, Swahili
Means “joy, happiness” in Swahili.
GADISE f Eastern African, Oromo
Feminine form of GADISA.
GANIZANI m & f Southern African, Chewa
Means “think” in Chewa.
GBEMISOLA f Western African, Yoruba
Means “carry me into wealth” in Yoruba.
GUGULETHU f Southern African, Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele
From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele igugu “treasure, pride” and lethu “our”.
HADIZA f Western African, Hausa
Hausa form of KHADIJA.
HAREGEWOIN f Eastern African, Amharic
Means “vine tree” in Amharic.
HIWOT f Eastern African, Amharic
From Amharic həywät meaning “life”.
HLENGIWE f Southern African, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means “helped, rescued, redeemed” in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.
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