African Girl Names
Here is a list of African girl names along with their meanings. For a list of African boy names click here.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aba | Born on Thursday |
| Abba | Born on Thursday |
| Abeba | Flower |
| Abebi | We asked and got her |
| Abena | Females born on Tuesday |
| Abina | Born on Tuesday |
| Abiona | Born on a journey |
| Abrihet | She has made it light – She emanates light |
| Acacia | Thorny |
| Acanit | Hard times |
| Achan | Female child in the first pair of twins |
| Achen | A twin |
| Ada | First born females |
| Adama | Beautiful child – Queenly |
| Adanech | She has rescued them |
| Adanna | Father's daughter |
| Adeola | Crown of honor |
| Adesina | The way is opened for more |
| Adetoun | Princess |
| Adhiambo | Females born after sunset |
| Adina | She has saved |
| Adjoa | Females born on Monday – Peace |
| Adowa | Noble |
| Adwoa | Females born on Monday – Peace |
| Afafa | Firstborn child of a second husband |
| Afia | Females born on Friday |
| Afiya | Health – Good health |
| Afra | Peaceful ruler |
| Afua | Born on Friday |
| Afya | Health – Good health |
| Agbenyaga | Life is precious |
| Aina | Difficult birth |
| Aisha | Woman – Life – Alive |
| Aissa | Grateful |
| Aja | High Priestess of Mecca. |
| Akanke | To know her is to love her |
| Akilah | Intelligent one who reasons |
| Akili | Wisdom |
| Akim | Nigeria folktale – Akim was a gorgeous – fat – young woman made of oil who melted in the sun while doing farm labor. |
| Akosua | Females born on Sunday |
| Akpena | Thanks to God |
| Akpenamawu | Thanks to God |
| Akua | Females born on Wednesday |
| Alake | One petted |
| Alike | Girl who drives out beautiful women |
| Alitash | May I not lose you – May I find you always my precious |
| Ama | Females born on Saturday – Happy |
| Amachi | Who knows what God has brought us through this child |
| Amadi | General rejoicing |
| Amani | Peace |
| Amanishakhete | Peace |
| Amara | Paradise |
| Amber | Brownish-yellow – Precious jewel |
| Aminia | Trustful – Honest – Referring to Prophet Muhammed's mother |
| Amma | Females born on Saturday – Happy |
| Amoke | To pet her |
| Anaya | Look up to God |
| Andromeda | Ruler of men – African princess |
| Annakiya | Sweet face |
| Anulka | Happiness is the best |
| Anyango | Friend |
| Apara | One who comes and goes |
| Aret | Female children born on market day |
| Armani | Faith |
| Artemis | Source of water |
| Arusi | Wedding – Girls born at the time of a wedding |
| Arziki | Prosperity (Hausa) |
| Asa | Grateful |
| Asabi | One of select birth |
| Asha | Woman – Life – Alive |
| Ashaki | Beautiful |
| Ashia | The prophet Muhammad's wife |
| Assaggi | Strong |
| Asura | Female children born during the Muslim month of Ashur |
| Atsukpi | Female twin |
| Aurora | Dawn |
| Ayan | Bright |
| Ayana | Beautiful flower |
| Ayisha | Woman – Life – Alive |
| Ayo | Joyful |
| Aza | Powerful |
| Azalyn | Powerful |
| Azinza | Mermaid |
| Aziza | Precious |
| Azize | Precious |
| Azland | Powerful |
| Azmera | Harvest |
| Azy | Precious |
| Baako | First born |
| Bacia | Family deaths ruined the home |
| Bahati | Luck – Fortune |
| Balinda | Patience – Endurance – Fortitude |
| Barika | Bloom |
| Bathsheba | Daughter of the Queen of Sheba – the legendary ruler of Abyssinia – Daughter of the oath |
| Batsheva | Daughter of the Queen of Sheba – the legendary ruler of Abyssinia – Daughter of the oath |
| Bayo | To find joy |
| Bela | To Perch |
| Bella | Slave – Freed slave |
| Berhane | My light |
| Bibi | Daughter of a king – Lady – Grandmother |
| Binta | With God |
| Binty | Daughter |
| Bupe | Hospitality |
| Caimile | Name from a proverb |
| Catava | Name from a proverb |
| Chane | Dependability |
| Chicha | Grated coconut |
| Chiku | Chatterer |
| China | Thursday |
| Chinaka | God decides |
| Chinara | May God receive |
| Chip | Gift |
| Chipo | Gift |
| Circe | Greek mythology – this African witch transformed the Greek troops of Odysseus into swine |
| Cleopatra | Queen of Egypt |
| Crispina | Curly haired |
| Dada | Children with curly hair |
| Dalila | Gentle |
| Deka | One who pleases |
| Dela eden | Saviour |
| Dela o kande | Girls born after many males |
| Dembe | Peace |
| Desta | Happiness |
| Ebere | Mercy |
| Edet | Female children born on market day |
| Efia | Born on Tuesday |
| Eshe | Life |
| Esi | Born on Sunday |
| Esiankiki | Young maiden |
| Esinam | God has heard |
| Faizah | Victorious |
| Fana | Light |
| Fanta | Beautiful day |
| Fatuma | Weaned |
| Fayola | Luck |
| Femi | Love me |
| Finn | Dark skinned |
| Fola | Honour |
| Gogo | Grandmother |
| Gzifa | One is at peace |
| Habiba | Beloved – Sweetheart |
| Habika | Sweetheart |
| Hadiya | Gift |
| Hadiyah | Gift |
| Halima | Gentle – Humane – Kind |
| Halimah | Gentle – Humane – Kind |
| Hasana | First born of twins |
| Hasina | Good |
| Hawa | Longing |
| Hola | Saviour |
| Ice | Supreme Goddess |
| Ifeoma | It's a good thing – Beautiful |
| Ili | Blessed |
| Ilisa | Blessed |
| Ilisapesi | Blessed |
| Iman | Faith |
| Isa | Grateful |
| Isis | Supreme Goddess |
| Ismitta | Daughter of the Mountains of the Moon |
| Isoke | Satisfying gift |
| Issa | Grateful |
| Iverem | Blessing – Favor |
| Iyangura | To arbitrate – To perform ceremonies for the birth of twins |
| Izza | Grateful |
| Jaha | Dignity |
| Japera | Offer thanks |
| Jendayi | Give thanks |
| Jendyose | Have done good to produce a child |
| Jifunza | Teach oneself |
| Juba | Born on Monday |
| Jumoke | Everyone loves the baby |
| Jwahir | Golden lady |
| Kadee | The prophet Muhammad's wife |
| Kadija | The prophet Muhammad's wife |
| Kakra | Younger of twins |
| Kamaria | Like the moon |
| Kambiri | Allow me to join this family |
| Kambo | Must work for everything |
| Kanene | A little thing in the eye is big |
| Kanika | Black cloth |
| Kapera | This child will die too |
| Karimah | Generous |
| Kasinda | Born to a family with twins |
| Katura | Take a burden off my mind |
| Kaya | Stay and don't go back |
| Keash | Pretty |
| Keasha | Pretty |
| Kehinde | Second of tiwns |
| Keisha | Favourite |
| Kengi | Whose child? – Taken from the subject of a Loma folktale |
| Kenya | Artist |
| Kenyangi | White egret |
| Kesi | Born when father was in trouble |
| Kesia | Favourite |
| Kessie | Born fat |
| Khadija | Born prematurely |
| Khatiti | Tiny – Little |
| Kibibi | Little lady |
| Kifle | My class |
| Kisha | Pretty |
| Kissa | Born after twins |
| Kisser | Born after twins |
| Koko | Born second |
| Kwesi | Born on Sunday |
| Laila | Born at night |
| Lakeisha | Favourite one |
| Latasha | Favourite one |
| Lateefa | Gentle – Pleasant |
| Lateefah | Gentle – Pleasant |
| Latifa | Gentle – Pleasant |
| Latiffa | Gentle – Pleasant |
| Latonya | Favourite one |
| Latoya | Favourite one |
| Lawanna | Favourite one |
| Layla | Born at night |
| Leila | Born at night |
| Leta | Bring |
| Leyla | Born at night |
| Leza | One who besets |
| Limber | Joyful |
| Linda | Wait |
| Lindiwe | Have waited |
| Lishan | Award – Medal |
| Lulu | Pearl – Precious |
| Maizah | Discerning |
| Makda | Woman from Magdala – One who is elevated – A high tower |
| Makeda | Beautiful armrest |
| Makemba | A Congolese Goddess. |
| Makena | The happy one |
| Malika | Queen – Princess |
| Mandisa | Sweet |
| Mapenzi | Beloved |
| Mariama | Gift of God |
| Marjani | Coral |
| Massassi | Makoni of Zimbabwe legend name for first woman on earth |
| Mawunyaga | God is great |
| Miremba | Peace |
| Misrak | East |
| Monifa | I am lucky |
| Mpenzi | Beloved |
| Nabelung | Beautiful one |
| Nadifa | Born between two seasons |
| Nadira | Unusual |
| Nadra | Unusual |
| Nagesa | Born in the harvest season |
| Nailah | Success |
| Najja | Second born |
| Naki | First born girl |
| Naliaka | Wedding |
| Namazzi | Water |
| Nana | Mother of the Earth |
| Nangila | Born while the parents were traveling |
| Nantale | Clan totem is a lion |
| Nar | Pretty |
| Narkeasha | Pretty |
| Nashwa | Wonderful feeling |
| Nashy | Wonderful feeling |
| Nasiche | Born during locust season |
| Nazi | Coconut |
| Ndila | Billy goat |
| Neema | Born at a prosperous time |
| Nehanda | The beautiful one has arrived |
| Nia | Purpose |
| Nigesa | Born in the harvest season |
| Nini | Stone |
| Nishan | Award – Medal |
| Njemile | Upstanding |
| Nkechi | Loyal |
| Nuru | Light – Born during the day |
| Nyaga | Life is precious |
| Obax | Flower |
| Ola | Precious – Worth |
| Olayinka | Honors surround me |
| Onaedo | Gold |
| Oni | Desired – Born in a sacred location |
| Pangi | Sweet |
| Panya | Mouse – Small child (Swahili) |
| Panyin | Older of twins |
| Pemba | The force of present existence |
| Penda | Love |
| Phin | Dark skinned |
| Phineas | Dark skinned |
| Phinny | Dark skinned |
| Pinchas | Dark skinned |
| Pinchos | Dark skinned |
| Pincus | Dark skinned |
| Raashida | Righteous |
| Rachida | Righteous |
| Radhiya | Agreeable |
| Ramla | Prophetess – Fortune-teller |
| Rasheeda | Righteous |
| Rashida | Righteous |
| Raziya | Sweet – Agreeable |
| Rehema | Compassion |
| Rhaxma | Sweet |
| Saada | Help |
| Sade | Honor confers a crown |
| Sadio | Pure |
| Safia | Pure – Wise – Lion's share |
| Safiya | Pure – Wise – Lion's share |
| Safiyeh | Pure – Wise – Lion's share |
| Safiyyah | Pure – Wise – Lion's share |
| Saida | Helper |
| Saidah | Happy – Lucky |
| Salama | Peace – Safety |
| Salihah | Correct |
| Salma | Peace – Safety |
| Sanura | Kitten-like |
| Saran | Joyful |
| Sauda | Black skinned |
| Seble wengel | Harvest of the New Testament |
| Sekai | Laughter |
| Sela | Saviour |
| Selam | Peace |
| Selamawit | She is peaceful |
| Shani | Marvelous |
| Sharufa | Distinguished – Outstanding |
| Shas | Princess |
| Shasmecka | Princess |
| Sibongile | Thanks |
| Simba | Lion |
| Sisay | Omen of good things – A blessing |
| Sisi | Born on Sunday |
| Sitembile | Trust |
| Siti | A lady |
| Sroda | Respect |
| Sukutai | Hug |
| Suma | To ask |
| Tabia | Make incantations |
| Tafui | To appreciate God – Glory to God |
| Takiyah | Pious – Righteous |
| Tale | Green |
| Tandra | Mole – Beaty marks |
| Tani | Born on Monday |
| Tanisha | Born on Monday |
| Tapanga | Sweet |
| Tarana | Born during the day |
| Tash | May I not lose you – May I find you always my precious |
| Tata | Sweet |
| Tatu | Third born |
| Tawia | First child born after twins |
| Teru | Good |
| Tisa | Ninth born |
| Titi | Flower |
| Toa | Woman of the Sea |
| Toakase | Woman of the Sea |
| Uchenna | God's will |
| Ulu | Second born |
| Urenna | Father's pride |
| Wagaye | My sense of value – My price |
| Wamboi | Singer |
| Wambui | Singer |
| Wanyika | Of the bush |
| Winda | Hunt |
| Wub | Gorgeous – Beautiful |
| Xetsa | Twin |
| Yejide | Image of her mother |
| Yeshi | For a thousand |
| Yumoke | Everyone loves the baby |
| Zahara | Flower |
| Zahra | Flower |
| Zainabu | Beautiful |
| Zakiya | Smart – Intelligent |
| Zalika | Well born |
| Zauditu | She is the crown |
| Zawadi | A gift – A present |
| Zawditu | She is the crown |
| Zeinab | Good |
| Zena | News – Fame |
| Zina | Name |
| Zinsa | Twin |
| Zola | Productive |
| Zuwena | Good |
| Zwena | Good |