Swahili Names for Girls
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
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Swahili is one of the most familiar African languages and cultures in the US, taught in many colleges and even some high school, and so Swahili baby names are of interest to anyone looking for African names for their children. Nameberry's Swahili names for girls are collected here. Most familiar to Americans, of course, are names that are a spin on the Presidential Barack, but other Swahili names for girls familiar in the west include the Muslim Aisha and the celebrity-connected Zahara and Taraji. But there are still other Swahili girl names that may be of interest to the expectant parent or name lover.
Below, our complete list of Swahili girl names. 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.
Below, our complete list of Swahili girl names. 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.
- Asha
Origin:
Sanskrit; SwahiliMeaning:
"hope; life"Description:
Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s, all baby names Ash-related have been used in the U.S. for both girls and boys, from Ashlyn to Ashby, Ashton to Asher. Despite its separate roots, Asha is part of this group.
- Dalia
Origin:
Hebrew, Spanish, or SwahiliMeaning:
"branch; dahlia; gentle"Description:
Similar in sound to the flower name Dahlia, this gentle but distinctive name, heard in many cultures, hits that Golden Mean between too popular and too unusual. In Lithuanian mythology, Dalia is a goddess of weaving and of fate.
- Nia
Origin:
Swahili; Welsh form of the Irish NiamhMeaning:
"resolve; brilliance"Description:
Short but energetic and substantial, Nia has special meaning for African-American parents, as it's one of the days of Kwanza. Nia also benefits by its similarity to (yet differentness from) the megapopular Mia.
- Aisha
Origin:
Arabic; SwahiliMeaning:
"living, prosperous"Description:
Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.
- Aziza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful and beloved"Description:
Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize. In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
- Zaina
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beauty, grace"Description:
Zaina is the simplified form of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad. Zayna is another accepted spelling; the name is also found as Zainabu, which exists in both the Arabic and Swahili languages. These are all feminizations of the male Zayn, also spelled Zain, which sounds exactly like but is a fundamentally different name from Zane, rooted in Western culture as a variation of John. Confused yet? Zaina is an unusual name that is simple to understand and pronounce, all pluses, though the many spelling variations may cause mixups.
- Zahara
Origin:
Hebrew; SwahiliMeaning:
"to shine; flower"Description:
Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you want something simpler than Zahara, consider Zara, a royal name in England--but also the name of a Spanish-based clothing store chain.
- Kamaria
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"moonlight"Description:
Lush and unusual.
- Sanaa
Origin:
Swahili; ArabicMeaning:
"work of art; shining light"Description:
Simple-yet-unusual name with a creative meaning. Actress Sanaa Lathan promoted it, and it was on the U.S. popularity list from 2003 to 2011. Shaquille O'Neal used it as the middle name of his daughter Amirah. And spelled Sana'a, it's the capital of Yemen.
- Siri
Origin:
Norse, diminutive of SigridMeaning:
"fair victory"Description:
Siri is a charming and lively Scandinavian name that is no longer on the table given the ubiquity of Apple's digital Siri. Too bad, because Siri -- along with variations Syrie and Cyrie -- is unique, enchanting, and adorable. But now taken.
- Aleela
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"she cries"Description:
Lilting African name that translates perfectly into other cultures.
- Alika
Origin:
Hawaiian; SwahiliMeaning:
"truthful; most beautiful"Description:
Alika is a multicultural choice that's far off the beaten track.
- Ali
Origin:
Short form of Alison or Alice or ArabicMeaning:
"supreme, exalted"Description:
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own. Ali can either be used as a shortening of Al- beginning names and is also an Arabic name in its own right.
- Dalila
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"guide"Description:
Names that sound and/or are spelled like Dalila exist in several languages, from the Swahili Dalili to the Arabic Dalil to the Hebrew Delilah. A beautiful cross-cultural choice.
- Neema
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"born during good times"Description:
Offbeat name sometimes heard in the African-American community.
- Eshe
Origin:
African, SwahiliMeaning:
"life"Description:
A variant of Asha, which is related to the classic Arabic name Aisha, yet another way to say life. Other on-the-rise names with this uplifting meaning: Zoe and Vivian varieties such as Viviana, Viveca, and Vivienne.
- Taraji
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"hope"Description:
This name gained widespread attention via the actress Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A variant is Taraja.
- Marjani
Origin:
Arabic, SwahiliMeaning:
"coral"Description:
A name with the kind of pan-cultural feel that's in vogue now... and forever. A French variant, Marjane, belongs to the author of the iconic graphic memoir Persepolis.
- Panya
Origin:
African, Swahili; or, Russian, diminutive of StephaniaMeaning:
"mouse, tiny one; or, crowned one"Description:
Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.
- Shany
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"marvelous, wonderful"Description:
Peppy cheerleader with African roots.