The world of African baby girl names is vast and varied. A continent that is bigger than China, India, the U.S., and Europe combined—it’s no wonder there is such richness and depth when it comes to naming its children.
Born from a long line of different naming traditions, African girl names and meanings often have an interesting connection to one another.
Babies are often named in different parts of Africa based on the events in their family at the time they were born. The Xhosa girl’s name Phumsa, for example, meaning give people some rest, may be given to a baby who brings some comfort after a period of hardship. The name Lindiwe, also of Xhosa origins, is a girl’s name meaning waited for and might be given after a long line of boys has been born.
Baby names are often based on the day they were born (Adwoa would have been born on Monday), the order they were born in their family (Alaba is a Yoruba named meaning the second child after the twins), or any characteristics they might possess (the Swahili term Barika.
One thing’s for sure is that African girl names tend to come with a whole lot of history—and tracing those roots can help you make the most meaningful choice for your baby.
So, next question:
What are some African girl names that will be a good match for your new arrival?
Why don’t we start here:
In this article: 📝
What is the African word for princess?
Well, that depends on what language you’re speaking, but here are some of our favorites from various places:
- Jahzara (Ethiopian)
- Urbi (Egyptian)
- Shahina (Arabic)
- Nkosazana (Xhosa)
- Adaeze (Igbo)
And now let’s go on a whirlwind journey around the continent and beyond:
African names for girls
(Sidebar: we’ve divided these beautiful African girl names into the regions where they are perhaps best known—but we now live in a world where names travel far and wide. These names might be found all over the world.
West African girl names
(West Africa is made up of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.)
- Abeni, a girl who is prayed for.
- Ada, for your firstborn daughter.
- Alaba is the second child after twins.
- Amara, for a child filled with grace and mercy.
- Amma is born on a Saturday.
- Bamidele. Follow me home.
- Chidinma. God is wonderful. 💟
- Chimamanda, because God will not fail. And if you’re a fan of the famous author.📕
- Efua. Born Friday.
- Esi. Because she’s God’s gift. Another famous writer. 📘
- Hadiza. Always first.
- Ime means patience (either yours or theirs).
- Izara means part of a tree. A name that grows on your shoulders.
- Kehinde, for the twin who comes out second.
- Mariama Gift of God.
- Monifa. I am lucky.
- Oluchi means God’s work.
- Sade. Honor deserves a crown. An appropriate tribute to the singer. 🎵
- Taiwo, meaning “taste the world.” Delicious.
East African girl names (East Africa includes Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Somaliland, Tanzania, and Uganda.)
- Aberash, because they give off light.
- Asha. The best of life. Simple and straightforward.
- Barika, because success awaits.
- Chiumbo, a sweet name that means small child.
- Hibo means gift. 🎁
- Imani, because you gotta have faith.
- Kamaria, for your moon child. 🌛
- Abeba, for a little flower. 🌼
- Kes, a baby who was born when their father was in trouble.
- Makena. Happy one.
- Malaika. Angel. Pure and simple.
- Nala. Another gift. 🎁
- Nia, a baby born with purpose.
- Ramla, who will predict the future.
- Rehema. Comppassion. 💕
- Shani. Simply amazing.
- Taraji. There is hope.
- Zahara. A flower. 🌷
- Zuri. It is simply beautiful.
- Winda, a hunter.
Southern African baby girl names
(Think: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.)
- Anele. The Last born.
- Blessing. You have it.
- Elna, meaning beloved.
- Kaya, meaning home or restful place. 🏠
- Lerato. Love. 💌
- Gamuchirai. Receiving blessings from God
- Keitumetse. I am happy! 🧡
- Mandisa. Simply sweet. 🍯
- Marli. Star of the sea. 💫🌊A wish-for child.
- Masego. Blessings. Also, a shout-out to the musician.
- Mpho. A gift. 🎁
- Nandipha, meaning God’s gift.
- Oratile. The Origin? Origin. That’s what it means.
- Palesa. Flower. 💐
- Puleng, which is in the rain.
- Sibongile. We are grateful!
- Thabisa. To bring joy.
- Thandiwe. Love one. 💖
- Tsholofelo. Hope.
- Siphesihle. God has given us a precious gift.
- Zola. You can be quiet or peaceful.
Northern African girl names
(This area includes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.)
- Abdallah. Servant of God
- Abiba. The loved one.
- Aicha. You are alive and well!
- Alkebu-lan, known as the oldest name in Africa. It could be translated as Mother of Mankind.
- Anipe, daughter of the Nile.
- Ayaan. She is a beautiful bloom. 🌹
- Cleopatra, a classic, of course.
- Fatima. Motherly.
- Hasana. Beautiful.
- Khadija. Respected. Trustworthy
- Panya, a little mouse. 🐭
- Siman. Their child makes two people one.
- Sura, a multicultural name meaning brave, princess and traveling by night.
- Tadla. This name is rare and means branches.
- Umaler. Star of peace. 🌟
And finally, here are some names that have special significance in our American corner of the African diaspora:
African American girl names
- Aaliyah. Exalted. Elevated.
- Angel. Fly high.
- Aniyah. Caring. Affectionate. 💕
- Ava. Latin for bird. A tribute to Ava DuVernay. 🎬
- Breonna. 💔Noble one.
- Chantelle. French for candle. 🕯
- Destiny.
- Ebony. A deep black wood.
- Gabrielle, like the angel. It is a sign that God is my strength.
- Gayle. Father’s joy. If you love a particular TV personality.
- Keisha. Great joy!
- Kiara. A global name that means light.
- Makeba. A tribute to the inimitable South African singing sensation, Miram Makeba.
- Nevaeh. “Heaven” spelled backwards.
- Nia. Purpose. ➤
- Rihanna. What’s a badass name for a girl? You don’t need to look any further than this name which means Great Queen or Goddess.
- Shanice. God is generous.
- Toni. It is a priceless one. This one is for you, if the author is dear to your heart. 📘
- Yolanda. Violet flower. 💜
- Zari. Golden. ⭐
Uhambe kakuhle, mama.
👶 Find more baby girl names: Top Girl Names: The Ultimate List 161 Cool Baby Girl Names And Their Meanings 21 Girl Names That Start With A 90 Middle Names for Girls 57 Italian Baby Girl Names 168 Celtic Baby Girl Names for Your Daughter-to-Be 250 One Syllable Girl Names The 111 Best Japanese Baby Girl Names 85 Persian Baby Girl Names for Your Daughter-to-Be The 76 Best Turkish Baby Girl Names 100+ Russian Baby Girl Names for Your Baby 174 Indian Baby Girl Names for Your Little Daughter 212 French Baby Girl Names 153 Greek Baby Girl Names And Their Meanings 90 Strong Baby Girl Names & Their Meanings
FAQ:
1. What are some popular African baby girl names?
Some popular African baby girl names include Aisha, Amara, Ayana, Fatima, Kadija, Nia, Safiya, Zainab, and Zola.
2. What do African baby girl names mean?
African baby girl names often have significant meanings related to nature, spirituality, or cultural traditions. For example, Aisha means “life” in Swahili, while Amara means “grace” in Igbo.
3. How do I choose an African baby girl’s name?
Choosing an African baby girl’s name can involve researching different meanings and cultural backgrounds of names and considering personal preferences and family traditions.
4. Are African baby girl names unique?
African baby girl names can be unique and distinctive, often reflecting specific cultural and linguistic traditions. They can also offer a way to celebrate and honor African heritage and identity.
