405 Radiant African Girl Names For Your Daughter

Embrace the beauty of Africa.

Written by Kavita Kankani, MBA, BEd Specialty: Child education & activitiesExperience: 7 years

Kavita has a diverse background in finance, human resources, and teaching. She did her MBA in Finance and HR at Solapur University, and bachelor in Education at Pune University. After working for three years in the banking industry, Kavita took up teaching before moving to writing.

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Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and content creation from NIELIT Imphal and presented papers at various national and international conferences.

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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

African baby girl names are often traditional and have unique stories behind them. Factors like the time a baby is born or the circumstances or the surroundings during the birth often influence choosing a name for the baby. These events and surroundings can be positive or negative. Some of the names are a complete picture of the conditions. For example, "Yetunde Nwaokeke” is the name of a baby girl whose grandmother died just before her birth. "Yetunde" means mother has come back. Before the parents decide the names of their children, circumstances also play a part. It happens among some Ghanaian ethnic groups where a name is automatically assigned based on the day a child is born. For example, a baby girl who was born on Friday was named "Ghanaian Efua" which means a Friday-born. Several local names also have strong religious faith in keeping their baby's name. Among the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups in Nigeria, baby names mostly start or end with "Chi" "Chukwu" or "Oluwa" which has some reference to God (1). Some groups in eastern or southern Africa choose certain names depending on the time of the day or season a baby is born. In Yoruba tradition, it is very common for each parent or grandparent of a baby to contribute in at least one name of the baby (2). As a result, a baby ends up with several names, each telling its own unique story. With Western influence, newer names have found their way into African families. In this post, we have curated a list of famous African baby names that you can choose using our baby names tool.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Zendaya	Girl	To give thanks; Be thankful
Aiyana	Girl	Eternal bloom; Ever-blooming flower; Flower; Silent
Ayana	Girl	Beautiful flower; Color; Design; Spring water; Delicate
Dalilah	Girl	Languish; Weak
Ayanna	Girl	Flower; Silent
Zella	Girl	Lacking nothing; Young warrior; Blessed; Happy
Emani	Unisex	Faith; Firm conviction in unseen
Nailah	Girl	Successful; Obtainer; Winner; Gracious; Charitable
Diya	Girl	Radiance; Light; Lamp; Splendor
Aiyanna	Girl	Eternal blossom; Everlasting bloom; Beautiful flower; Clear; Revelation; Going; Fountain; Downy-bearded

Sanaa	Girl	Brilliance; Radiance; Splendour; Work of art; Shining light
Dalila	Girl	Delicate; Guide; Weak; Languishing
Sade	Girl	Rain; Rule with nobility; Honor confers a crown
Aminata	Unisex	Feel safe
Ayra	Unisex	Respectable; Intelligence; Happiness; Honorable; Awe-inspiring; Vision-filled
Anaiya	Girl	Look up to God
Nyasia	Girl	East; Purpose or aim; Merciful; Kind-hearted
Siana	Girl	God is gracious
Becca	Girl	To bind or tie; To forecast
Kamaiyah	Girl	Unique; Confident; Ambitious

Niara	Girl	One with high purpose; Nebula; Mist
Becky	Girl	To bind or tie; To forecast
Taniya	Girl	Puzzle; Tangle; Confuse; Breath of life
Maha	Girl	Beautiful Eyes; Half moon; Sun; Planet; Mirror; Shining white pearl
Fatou	Girl	To abstain
Imara	Unisex	Strong; Firm; Stable; Resilient
Fatuma	Girl	To wean; To abstain
Ayani	Girl	Protector; Helper; Supporter; Path; Course
Assata	Girl	She who struggles
Adanna	Girl	Eldest daughter of father

Aissata	Girl	Living; Alive
Ziona	Unisex	Citadel located in the center of Jerusalem
Alima	Girl	Learned; Wise; Cultured; Intelligent; Educated; Intellectual
Bintou	Girl	Daughter; Girl
Kaari	Girl	Young girl; Pure
Abena	Girl	Born on Tuesday
Afia	Girl	A child who is born on Friday
Danasia	Girl	Bright; Gift of god; God is my judge
Jameelah	Girl	A chaste woman
Afiyah	Girl	Health

Keishla	Girl	Her life
Sarabi	Girl	Mirage; Illusion
Hidi	Girl	Root; Origin
Keniyah	Boy	The one having stripes; Mount Kenya
Oni	Girl	Today; Demon; Born on a holy ground; Shelter
Adana	Girl	Eldest daughter; Man
Adeola	Girl	Crown of wealth
Afiya	Girl	Health
Ayira	Girl	Chosen; Worthy of respect; Exalted; Revered
Nnenna	Girl	The one who is fond of her dad's mum

Nyemah	Unisex	Blessing
Zira	Unisex	Moonlight; Arena; Messenger; Dawning; Path; Visitor
Takiyah	Girl	Pious; Righteous
Fana	Girl	Wealth; Honour; One who provides light; To cease to exist
Mayela	Unisex	Intelligent
Olanna	Unisex	Father's jewel
Kanika	Girl	Seed; Piece of gold; Atom; A flower; Black cloth
Tenesha	Girl	Girl born on a Monday
Akia	Girl	Clear sky; Bright; Tomorrow
Rikita	Girl	Confusion; Mistake; Confuter; Empty; Blank; Movement; Stream; Brass

Akua	Girl	A child who is born on a Wednesday
Jamelia	Girl	Beautiful
Lakayla	Girl	Gift of God
Moremi	Girl	The child attracts my attention; A legendary Yoruba queen
Penda	Girl	Admired; Loved; Beloved; Pleasant; Brave; Third child
Jahia	Girl	One who is widely known
Adiah	Girl	God's gift; Of Adah; Nobleness; Nobility
Nyarai	Girl	Modest, not praising self
Annica	Girl	Sweetness of face; Favored; Graceful
Ayiana	Girl	Beautiful flower; Intelligent; Moving

Jamelle	Girl	One of great beauty
Nkechinyere	Girl	God's pleasure which came to this world
Zellah	Girl	Lacking nothing; One who knows the way
Manica	Girl	A town in Mozambique
Fara	Girl	Joyful; Happiness; To travel; Family
Jendayi	Girl	Thankful
Nkechi	Girl	The precious treasure from God
Kalasia	Girl	Grace; A graceful woman
Nathifa	Girl	Clean; Wholesome; Unpolluted
Tanda	Girl	Rice paddy; Field

Lakia	Girl	Treasure; Angel
Tamasha	Girl	A happy; Joyous occasion to meet
Abeni	Girl	We prayed for her; Now she is ours; Someone who is prayed for
Akosua	Girl	Born on Sunday
Araba	Girl	One who is born on a Tuesday
Kessa	Unisex	Chubby baby
Tawanda	Girl	A slender, young tree
Ronika	Unisex	Strong counsel; Victory bringer; True image
Binti	Girl	Daughter; Girl
Jameila	Girl	She who is beautiful

Kaniqua	Girl	Black dress
Becka	Girl	To forecast; To bind or tie
Brenya	Unisex	Suffer and then gain
Afua	Girl	Born on Friday
Nataki	Girl	Royal born
Oya	Girl	Lace; Youruban Goddess of storms and winds; She tore
Tabia	Girl	Talented
Sekai	Girl	Laugh; Humorous person; World; Universe
Olufunke	Girl	The one who was gifted from the highest place to be loved
Vitani	Girl	War; Demon of war

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African baby girl names have evolved over time while keeping their traditional essence. However, traditional names are still favored because of their cultural and religious significance. These names may be given in honor of ancestors or to praise the Lord. Many names are associated with nature and the personal traits of a person. These names are versatile and will carry forward your ancestral legacy and African heritage. Also, make sure the name you are choosing also rhymes well with your child’s last name.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some African baby girl names inspired by nature or animals?

Wambui is an African name that means 'zebra' in Kikuyu. Zahrah, on the other hand, means 'blooming flower' in Arabic. Ayanna is an elegant name meaning 'flower' in Amharic.

2. What are the specific traditions or cultures that influence African baby girl names?

Africa is home to several cultures, each with unique naming traditions and cultures. For instance, the Akan people from Ghana name their children based on their birth order. Conversely, the Shona people of Zimbabwe choose nature-inspired names for their babies, whereas the Tswana people from Botswana choose names based on the circumstances surrounding the child’s birth. Like these, several specific naming traditions and customs can vary across diverse African cultures.

3. What African names mean ‘star’?

Anangikwe, derived from the terms anang 'star' and ikwe' woman,' means star woman in Ojibwe. Nthanda is another name commonly used in Southern Africa and means 'star' in Tumbulka. Some other titles that are commonly used in Africa and are associated with stars are Danica and Aster.

4. What is the African name for ‘queen’?

Thema is a beautiful name that means 'queen' in Akan. Some other African titles associated with queens are Makeda, an Amharic name related to the Queen of Sheba, who is believed to have ruled over some parts of Ethiopia and Yemen. Nzinga is a Bantu name derived from Njinga. It was the name of the queen of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms in the 17th century.

Infographic: Auspicious African Baby Girl Names With Meanings

Africa is a great continent and has a variety of tribes and cultures with traditions and conventions attached to each of them. It may be challenging to encompass the entire range of names used throughout the continent. However, we brought you some of the most popular ones. If you are interested in African baby girl names with religious or gentle meanings, check out the infographic below.

appealing african baby girl names for your princess (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Geraldine Ifesinachi Nnamdi-Eruchalu; A Sociolinguistic Study of the Emerging Trends in Igbo Personal Names;
https://journals.scholarpublishing.org/index.php/ASSRJ/article/download/4408/2723/11625
African Names: A Guide for Editors.
https://www.csescienceeditor.org/article/african-names-guide-editors/

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.