African Girl Names
- Ameyo
Origin:
Akan, EweMeaning:
"born on Saturday"Description:
Ameyo is a common name in West Africa, where it is traditional to give a child a name that reflects their time of birth. Ameyo means "born on Saturday" and is derived from the word mene. Kwame is the masculine counterpart.
- Masozi
Origin:
TumbukaMeaning:
"tears"Description:
A sonorous, if mournful, name from the Tumbuka language of Malawi and Zambia.
- Alaba
Origin:
Yoruba, NigerianMeaning:
"second child after twins"Description:
A striking option among African girl names, reminiscent of the up-and-coming name Alaia.
- Efemena
Origin:
UrhoboMeaning:
"here is my wealth"Description:
A unisex name used among the Urhobo people of Southern Nigeria.
- Sekai
Origin:
African, ShonaMeaning:
"be humorous"Description:
For parents searching for an African name that is wearable in the US, Sekai is a wonderful option for a daughter.
- Ndila
Origin:
KambaMeaning:
"billy goat"Description:
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.
- Sassandra
Origin:
African place-nameDescription:
Sassy alternative to Cassandra -- maybe too sassy.
- Yetunde
Origin:
YorubaMeaning:
"mother returned"Description:
West African name best known as that of Yetunde Price, half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams who was tragically murdered in 2003.
- Thulile
Origin:
ZuluMeaning:
"quiet; peaceful"Description:
Bouncy South African girl name whose sound doesn't quite match its meaning.
- Naliaka
Origin:
LuhyaMeaning:
"born during weeding season"Description:
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.
- Nsia
Origin:
AkanMeaning:
"sixth born child"Description:
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.
- Mayeso
Origin:
ChewaMeaning:
"test from God"
- Ndidi
Origin:
IgboMeaning:
"patience"Description:
Upbeat and attractive girl name from Nigeria.
- Uduak
Origin:
IbibioMeaning:
"will, desire"Description:
A gender-neutral name in its native Nigeria, but more often borne on males in the US.
- Nanjala
Origin:
Africa, LuhyaMeaning:
"born during famine"Description:
Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.
- Xois
Origin:
African place nameDescription:
This name of the capital of an ancient Egyptian dynasty makes Lois X-rated.
- Abebi
Origin:
Variation of Abeni, YorubaMeaning:
"we asked for her and she arrived"Description:
A rarer version of the charming Yoruba name Abeni.
- Taci
Origin:
African, ZuniMeaning:
"washtub"Description:
One African choice that might be easier to understand if spelled phonetically: it's pronounced TAH-shee.
- Kibibi
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"little lady"Description:
A perky African name with a downright charming meaning.
- Adeola
Origin:
YorubaMeaning:
"crown of wealth; crown has honor"Description:
A Yoruba surname as well as a unisex given name.