African Names

Choosing African names is the beginning of a journey into self knowledge. If you are looking for a name for a new child it is also an exciting journey. The African traditional names are a description of the child, the day he or she is born, the conditions of their birth, - feet first, and may represent the ease or difficulty of the birth. The African name may represent tan ancestor that has returned or a special blessing for the spirit realm that has been visited on the family or community.

Names may be descriptive of the child’s station in life such as Abimbola, meaning ‘born wealthy’ or the happiness felt by the parents such as Ayodele which - ‘joy has come home.”

Yoruba Names

In the traditional culture children will be named after their ruling Deity. Names also express the love of god, such as Oluwaseun meaning ‘we thank God.” This is found to be true of African Names in general.

Orisa Names

Ogun has honor – Ogunniyi

Ogun is brave – Ogunsakin

Obatala benefits me – Orisagbemi

Obatala gives me – Orisabunmi

Oya benefits me – Oyagbemi

Oya owns the household – Oyagbile

Sango gives me – Sangobunmi

Sango finds me – Sangowande

Osun fits me – Osunyemi

General Yoruba Names

ABENI f - "we asked for her, and behold, we got her".

ABIDEMI m - "born during father's absence"

ABIMBOLA m & f -"born wealthy".

ABIODUN m & f -"born on a festival"

ABIOYE m - "born into royalty"

ADEBOWALE m & f - "my crown has come home"

ADEGOKE m - "the crown has been exalted"

ADETOKUNBO m & f - "the crown came from over the sea"

ADISA m - "one who is clear"

AFOLABI m - "born into wealth"

ALABA f - "second child after twins"

AMADI (2) m - "seemed destined to die at birth"

AYO f & m - "joy"

AYODELE m & f - "joy has come home"

AYOKUNLE m - "joy has filled the home"

AYOMIDE f & m - "my joy has arrived"

AYOTUNDE m & f - "joy has returned"

BABAJIDE m - "father has returned"

BABATUNDE m - "father has returned"

BAMIDELE m - "follow me home"

BOLANLE f - "finds wealth at home"

DADA f - "curly hair"

DAYO f - "joy arrives"

EKUNDAYO f & m - "sorrow becomes joy"

ENIOLA f & m - "person of wealth"

ENITAN m - "person of story"

FEMI m Short form of OLUFEMI

FOLAMI m & f - "respect and honour me"

GBEMISOLA f - "carry me into wealth"

IDOWU m & f - "born after twins"

IFE f - "love"

IGE f - "born feet first"

KAYIN m & f - "celebrated child"

KAYODE m - "he brought joy"

LEKAN m Short form of OLAMILEKAN

MOJISOLA f - "wake up to wealth"

MONIFA f - "I am lucky"

OLABODE m - "wealth returns"

OLAMIDE f - "wealth has arrived"

OLAMILEKAN m - "my wealth is increased"

OLANREWAJU m - "my wealth is the future"

OLAYINKA f - "wealth surrounds me"

OLUBUNMI f - "gift of God"

OLUFEMI m - "God loves me"

OLUFUNKE m & f - "God has cared for"

OLUFUNMILAYO f & m - "God gave me joy"

OLUFUNMILOLA f & m - "God gives me wealth"

OLUJIMI m - "given by God"

OLUKAYODE m - "God brings happiness"

OLUMIDE m - "God has come"

OLUWAFUNMILAYO f & m Variant of OLUFUNMILAYO

OLUWASEGUN m & f - "God has been victorious"

OLUWASEUN m & f - "we thank God"

OLUWASEYI f & m - "God made this"

OLUWATOYIN m & f - "God is worthy to be praised"

OLUWAYEMISI f & m - "God honours me"

OMOBOLANLE f & m - "a child who met wealth at home"

OMOLARA f - "a child is family"

ONI f - "born in sacred abode"

OPEYEMI m - "I should give praise"

SIMISOLA f - "rest in wealth"

TEMITOPE f & m - "enough to give thanks"

TITILAYO f - "eternal happiness"

YEJIDE f - "image of the mother"

YEWANDE f - "mother has returned"

The internet is a rich resource for African Names. To see a few click here for African Names.

footer for african names page