Culture

Here’s the real meaning of your African name

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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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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