African Girl Names

Although the best-known Kehinde is the male painter Kehinde Wiley, this name is used for both genders in its native Nigeria and can be just as attractive for a girl.

For parents searching for an African name that is wearable in the US, Sekai is a wonderful option for a daughter.

The Luhya people of Kenya have male and female names that denote the season the child was born in — Harvest, Planting, Rain, Weeding, Drought, or Hunger Season. Naliaka is the feminine name for weeding season, the male counterpart is Wanyonyi.

In Akamba culture, children were historically given names with animal meanings if their mother's first pregnancy was a stillbirth. It was thought that these names promoted survival and kept the bad omens away from the child. Additionally, this saved the "good" names — typically those of grandparents — for later-born children, who were considered more likely to survive.

A striking option among African girl names, reminiscent of the up-and-coming name Alaia.

A unisex name used among the Urhobo people of Southern Nigeria.

Bouncy South African girl name whose sound doesn't quite match its meaning.

West African naming tradition dictated that children were named for their time of birth or birth order — Nsia would have been given to a sixth-born baby girl.

West African name best known as that of Yetunde Price, half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams who was tragically murdered in 2003.

Sassy alternative to Cassandra -- maybe too sassy.

A sonorous, if mournful, name from the Tumbuka language of Malawi and Zambia.

Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.

Upbeat and attractive girl name from Nigeria.

A gender-neutral name in its native Nigeria, but more often borne on males in the US.

This name of the capital of an ancient Egyptian dynasty makes Lois X-rated.

One African choice that might be easier to understand if spelled phonetically: it's pronounced TAH-shee.

A rarer version of the charming Yoruba name Abeni.

A perky African name with a downright charming meaning.

Traditionally given to girls who were thought to be reincarnations of their paternal grandmother.