1. Home
  2. Topics

Boy Names from Africa

African names for baby boys represent the many languages and cultures from around the continent. Americans may be familiar with African names such as Chidi, Kamau, Neo, Kehinde, and Nnamdi through pop culture references. Barack, a Swahili name, is the widest known, as the name of 44th President Barack Obama.

Amari is currently the most popular African boy name in the United States. Along with Amari, other African boy names in the US Top 1000 are Omari, Ayan, Dakari, Sekani, Khari, and Zaire. Rare African boy names worth considering include Idir, Odion, Zenebe, and Uzochi.

African baby names for boys are historic choices that honor heritage. For our full list of African baby names, click here.

African Boy Names

Kofi

Meaning: born on Friday

Origin:Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
1001
Idir

Meaning: alive

Origin:Berber
6007
Obi

Meaning: heart

Origin:African, Igbo
948
Kwame

Meaning: born on Saturday

Origin:Ghanaian, Akan
1320
Ayan

Meaning: fortune

Origin:Somali
2508
Khari

Meaning: kingly

Origin:West African
2079
Zuberi

Meaning: strong

Origin:Swahili
4917
Omari

Meaning: populous, flourishing

Origin:Swahili, Arabic
3143
Uduak

Meaning: will, desire

Origin:Ibibio
6454
Ejiro

Meaning: praise God

Origin:Urhobo
12489
Anan

Meaning: cloud; fourth-born child

Origin:Hebrew, Akan
3846
Shango The name Shango comes from an African origin...
Origin:African, Yoruba, mythology name
3256
Dakari

Meaning: rejoice

Origin:African
3799
Chidi

Meaning: God exists

Origin:Igbo
3442
Origin:West African
7331
Farai

Meaning: rejoice

Origin:Shona
6160
Ajani

Meaning: the victor

Origin:Nigerian, Yoruban
2047
Akachi

Meaning: the hand of God

Origin:Igbo
13109
Dumi

Meaning: praise

Origin:African
10037
Congo

Meaning: gather

Origin:Place-name
4813