Origins

African names

The 90 most-given names of African origin in the US today.

  1. Amariunisex · Of African (Yoruba/Amharic) origin meaning 'eternal' or 'strength'#352 · 2,804
  2. Amaragirl · Means 'grace' or 'eternal' in several African languages (Igbo, Hausa)#114 · 2,630
  3. Kamariunisex · Of African origin, possibly from Swahili#888 · 1,014
  4. Kasaiboy · Japanese surname and African river name meaning 'fire' in Japanese - rare modern first name#601 · 437
  5. Nalagirl · In Zulu/Sotho means 'successful' or 'beloved'#739 · 317
  6. Kamaziboy · Of African usage, meaning uncertain - appears as modern masculine given name in East Africa and diaspora#928 · 219
  7. Sekaniunisex · From Tumbuka 'rejoice, be merry' - also name of Sekani First Nations people in Canada#2,408 · 219
  8. Ayanagirl · From Sanskrit meaning eternal blossom#380 · 200
  9. Amarahgirl · Variant of Amara meaning 'grace, eternal' - modern feminine spelling widely used in the US#114 · 195
  10. Zolagirl · From Zulu meaning 'tranquil, calm'#1,108 · 167
  11. Maziboy · Igbo title meaning 'sir, respected elder' - also used as affectionate given name#1,089 · 161
  12. Masaiboy · Named for the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania - evokes warrior heritage and pride#1,286 · 116
  13. Nairobigirl · Place-name meaning 'cool water' in Maasai#1,451 · 106
  14. Fatoumatagirl · West African form of Arabic Fatima meaning 'one who abstains'#1,541 · 95
  15. Mamadouboy · West African French form of Arabic Muhammad meaning 'praised' - very common in Senegal, Mali, Guinea#1,347 · 92
  16. Damaniunisex · African name widely used in Swahili-speaking regions - embraced in the US as a modern distinctive choice#4,375 · 83
  17. Nyahgirl · Variant of Nia#451 · 80
  18. Kahariboy · African name often said to mean 'king' or 'one who is loved'#1,603 · 77
  19. Mariamagirl · West African form of Maryam, from Hebrew Miryam - meaning debated as 'beloved, bitter, wished-for child'#1,770 · 76
  20. Aminatagirl · West African form of Arabic Amina meaning 'trustworthy' - common in Senegal, Mali and Guinea#1,814 · 73
  21. Nyagirl · Swahili/East African: 'purpose, aim'#451 · 62
  22. Fatougirl · Arabic Fatima 'captivating' - West African short form of Fatimata, common in Senegal/Mali#2,132 · 56
  23. Abdoulayeboy · West African French form of Arabic Abdullah meaning 'servant of God' - very common in Senegal#1,953 · 54
  24. Kamoniunisex · Modern American name with African sounds, sometimes linked to Swahili roots - recent unisex invention with melodic feel#2,585 · 54
  25. Senagirl · Meaning varies: praise, good, destiny - short multicultural name used in Turkey, Japan and Africa#2,254 · 51
  26. Ibrahimaboy · West African form of Arabic Ibrahim (Abraham) meaning 'father of multitudes' - very common in Senegal and Guinea#2,218 · 44
  27. Aïssatougirl · West African form of Arabic Aisha meaning 'alive' - very common Fulani name in Senegal#2,565 · 42
  28. Amadouboy · Praised, West African form of Arabic Ahmad - common Fulani name in Senegal and Mali#2,358 · 40
  29. Adamaunisex · Hebrew 'adamah' meaning 'earth, ground'#4,189 · 40
  30. Kamaragirl · African surname and Arabic 'moonlit' - multicultural name used as feminine given name in US#2,816 · 37
  31. Maligirl · From African country name Mali#196 · 37
  32. Kadiatougirl · West African form of Arabic Khadija meaning 'early child' - very common in Mali, Guinea, Senegal#2,949 · 35
  33. Oumougirl · West African form of Arabic Umm meaning 'mother' - common feminine name in Mali and Senegal#2,971 · 35
  34. Sekouboy · West African name, often 'learned, scholar' - common among Mandinka in Guinea, Mali#2,614 · 35
  35. Maïmounagirl · West African form of Arabic Maymuna meaning 'blessed, fortunate' - common in Senegal and Mali#3,199 · 32
  36. Fantagirl · West African feminine name linked to Fatima - familiar globally from Fanta soft drink brand#3,336 · 30
  37. Obiboy · Igbo 'heart'#3,020 · 29
  38. Awagirl · West African form of Arabic Hawwa meaning 'living one' - very popular in Senegal and Mali#3,499 · 28
  39. Adannagirl · Igbo name meaning "father's daughter" - cherished name among Igbo people of Nigeria#3,587 · 27
  40. Nubiagirl · From ancient Nubia in northeast Africa - evokes rich kingdom and pride, used since the 20th century#3,753 · 26
  41. Bintagirl · From Arabic 'bint' meaning 'daughter' - West African feminine name common in Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone#3,803 · 25
  42. Aboubacarboy · From Arabic Abu Bakr meaning 'father of the young camel' - West African form common in Mali, Senegal and Guinea#1,157 · 24
  43. Adaezegirl · Igbo 'ada eze' meaning 'daughter of a king, princess' - prestigious traditional name in Nigeria#3,904 · 24
  44. Aïssatagirl · West African form of Arabic Aisha meaning 'alive, living' - very common feminine name in Mali, Senegal and Guinea#3,922 · 24
  45. Mamegirl · Wolof honorific meaning 'grandparent, elder' - widely used as a given name in Senegal, often for girls#4,139 · 23
  46. Serigneboy · Wolof title and given name from Arabic 'shaykh' meaning 'elder' - denotes respect in Senegal#3,645 · 23
  47. Chisomunisex · From Igbo 'Chisom' meaning 'God follows me' - unisex Nigerian name expressing faith#6,075 · 22
  48. Malickboy · From Arabic Malik meaning 'king' - also West African surname adopted as first name#367 · 22
  49. Boubacarboy · West African form of Arabic Abu Bakr meaning 'father of the young camel' - common in Senegal and Mauritania#3,846 · 21
  50. Lamineboy · West African form of Arabic al-Amin meaning 'trustworthy' - classic in Senegal/Mali, borne by footballer Lamine Yamal#3,918 · 21
  51. Thiernoboy · Fula honorific meaning 'teacher, learned man' - widely used as a given name in Senegal and Guinea#3,957 · 21
  52. Sokhnagirl · Wolof honorific meaning 'lady, wife of a marabout' - widely used as name in Senegal#4,486 · 21
  53. Bintougirl · West African variant of Binta from Arabic 'bint' meaning 'daughter' - very common in Mali and Guinea#4,747 · 19
  54. Alimagirl · From Arabic 'alima' meaning 'learned, wise' - feminine form widely used in Arab and West African communities#4,907 · 18
  55. Nnamdiboy · Igbo for 'my father lives' - common in Nigeria, e#4,435 · 18
  56. Ndeyegirl · Wolof feminine name from Senegal - often given to first daughter, spelled in French orthography#5,576 · 16
  57. Obinnaboy · Igbo for 'father's heart' - common masculine name in Nigeria, often with longer form#4,844 · 16
  58. Kelechiunisex · Igbo 'kelechi' meaning 'thank God' - unisex thanksgiving name, widely used in Nigeria and diaspora#4,692 · 14
  59. Ikennaboy · Igbo for 'father's power' - common masculine name among Igbo in Nigeria#5,298 · 14
  60. Mahamadouboy · West African form of Muhammad, Arabic for 'praised' - very common in Mali, Senegal and Guinea#1,347 · 14
  61. Efeboy · Turkish 'brave, older brother' - also West African name meaning 'wealth, riches'#5,596 · 13
  62. Saniunisex · Hausa and Arabic name meaning 'brilliant, second'#12,935 · 13
  63. Salimatagirl · Arabic 'peaceful, safe' via Salima - West African form widespread in Mali and Senegal#6,733 · 13
  64. Beyagirl · Short modern feminine name used across cultures - often a pet form of Beatrice or Beyza in French use#4,742 · 12
  65. Abygirl · West African name, also short for Abigail from Hebrew 'my father is joy' - common in Ivory Coast#541 · 12
  66. Kamsiunisex · Igbo short for Kamsiyochukwu meaning as I asked God - modern unisex name in Nigeria#10,864 · 12
  67. Safiatougirl · Arabic 'pure, clear' via Safiya - West African feminine form common in Senegal and Mali#7,233 · 12
  68. Seydinaboy · Wolof form of Arabic Sayyiduna meaning 'our master' - used honorifically in Senegal, often Mouride#6,135 · 12
  69. Adjagirl · West African form of Arabic 'hajja' meaning 'pilgrim woman' - respectful title as given name in Senegal#7,326 · 11
  70. Daoudaboy · West African form of Arabic Dawud (Hebrew David) meaning 'beloved' - common in Mali and Senegal#6,308 · 11
  71. Khadygirl · West African short form of Khadija (Arabic: early baby, trustworthy) - very common in Senegal#7,616 · 11
  72. Saliouboy · West African form of Arabic Salih meaning 'righteous, pious' - very common in Senegal and Mali#6,579 · 11
  73. Salimatougirl · West African feminine form of Arabic Salima, from 'salim' meaning 'safe, peaceful' - common in Senegal and Guinea#7,797 · 11
  74. Chineduboy · Igbo name meaning 'God leads' - common masculine name in Nigeria expressing faith and guidance#6,762 · 10
  75. Djenebagirl · West African form of Zaynab, Arabic 'adornment, beauty' - very common in Mali, Guinea and Ivory Coast#8,051 · 10
  76. Ramatoulayegirl · West African feminine form from Arabic 'rahma' meaning mercy - very common in Senegal and Guinea#8,372 · 10
  77. Naledigirl · Tswana/Sotho for 'star' - widely used in Botswana and South Africa, symbolizing guidance and brightness#8,322 · 10
  78. Emekaboy · Igbo short form of Chukwuemeka meaning 'God has done great' - widely used in Nigeria#7,413 · 9
  79. Adesuwagirl · Edo 'in the midst of prosperity' - prominent Benin-Nigerian name for girls#8,533 · 9
  80. Alhassaneboy · West African form of Arabic al-Hassan meaning 'the handsome one' - variant of Alassane#7,252 · 9
  81. Rokiagirl · West African form of Arabic Ruqayya meaning 'gentle, exalted' - common in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea#9,136 · 9
  82. Aboubakarboy · West African French form of Arabic Abu Bakr, 'father of the young camel' - name of the first caliph#1,157 · 8
  83. Assaneboy · West African form of Hassan meaning 'handsome, good' - very common in Senegal and Mali#7,935 · 8
  84. Habygirl · West African short form of Habibatou, from Arabic Habiba 'beloved' - common in Senegal, Mali#9,656 · 8
  85. Moryboy · West African male name, Manding form of Maurice, Latin 'Moorish' - common in Mali, Guinea and Senegal#8,361 · 8
  86. Mamoudouboy · West African form of Arabic Mahmud meaning 'praised' - common in Senegal, Mali and Guinea#8,337 · 8
  87. Sarangirl · West African feminine name common among Mandinka in Mali and Guinea - traditional and melodic#10,121 · 8
  88. Chiamakagirl · Igbo name meaning 'God is beautiful' - often shortened to Amaka, popular in Nigeria#10,532 · 7
  89. Bayagirl · North African feminine name common in Algeria - often linked to Arabic meaning clear or evident#4,742 · 7
  90. Alassaneboy · West African form of Arabic Hassan meaning 'handsome, good' - common in Ivory Coast and Mali#8,683 · 7

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