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African Names

African baby names derive from a wide range of languages and cultures, from Ethiopian to Nigerian, Yoruba to Xhosa. African names often originate with days of the week or times of the year denoting when the baby was born. Another source for African name meaning is place in the family: first-born of twins, for instance, or youngest son. Nature also figures as a source for African baby names, with names relating to animals, weather, and landscape. Some African names derive from the Muslim religion while others relate to individual tribal mythology and beliefs.

If you're looking for African names for your baby, here is our full list of possibilities. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

Ngozi

Meaning: blessing

Origin:African, Nigerian-Igbo
4430
Zenebe

Meaning: raining

Origin:Amharic
2589
Kenyatta Kenyatta has several meanings, origins, and ...
Origin:African hero name
2854
Ayu

Meaning: joy

Origin:African, Yoruban
9530
Zaire Zaire is a name of African origins, given bo...
Origin:Place-name
7328
Zaire

Meaning: the river that swallows all rivers

Origin:Place name
1245
Kymani

Meaning: adventurous traveler

Origin:Eastern African
2058
Zella

Meaning: lacking nothing, one who knows the way

Origin:African, Bobangi
1481
Zendaya

Meaning: to give thanks

Origin:Shona
893
Taci

Meaning: washtub

Origin:African, Zuni
7646
Kenya

Meaning: mountain of white

Origin:Place name, Kikuyu
16158
Kenya

Meaning: mountain of white

Origin:Place name, Kikuyu
3293
Maaza

Meaning: aroma or essence

Origin:Amharic
7110
Makenna

Meaning: happy one

Origin:Spelling variation of McKenna or Eastern African
1366
Behati

Meaning: blessed; she who brings happiness

Origin:Afrikaans version of Beatrice
2226
Kofi

Meaning: born on Friday

Origin:Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
1001
Obi

Meaning: heart

Origin:African, Igbo
948
Kwame

Meaning: born on Saturday

Origin:Ghanaian, Akan
1320
Ogun

Meaning: god of war

Origin:African, Yoruba
6045
Ayan

Meaning: fortune

Origin:Somali
2508