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150 African Names for Boys and Girls

These African girl names and African boy names reflect faith, family, and heritage — with lyrical sound and meaningful origins from across the continent.

Updated June 17, 2025
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A smiling baby is shown in close-up, looking directly at the camera with an open mouth. The baby, likely to be adorned with traditional African girl names, has curly hair and bright eyes. The background is softly blurred with warm and gentle light, capturing the baby’s cheerful and happy mood.
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Names have deep meaning across the African continent — often tied to ancestry, spirituality, strength, or the natural world. Whether you’re celebrating your heritage or simply love the language, rhythm, and significance behind these names, this curated list of African names offers rich inspiration. From lyrical African girl names full of beauty and strength to powerful African boy names rooted in history and culture, each name tells a story passed down through generations.

African Names for Boys and Girls

Whether they reflect faith, nature, ancestry, or tradition, these African baby names are rich with cultural pride and timeless meaning.

African Girl Names

From lyrical choices like Zuri (“beautiful”) and Amara (“grace”) to spiritually rooted names like Imani (“faith”) and Chidinma (“God is good”), these African names for girls carry powerful meanings tied to beauty, strength, and cultural pride. Whether you’re drawn to ancestral names, nature-inspired picks, or rare gems, this section highlights names full of heritage and heart.

Timeless and rich in meaning, African names for girls like Ada, Nia, and Mandisa continue to resonate across generations. With deep roots in tradition and elegance, this list highlights choices that feel both personal and powerful.

1. Aba

2. Abeba

3. Aberash

4. Abidemi

5. Abimbola

6. Abiona

7. Ada

8. Adamma

9. Adefunke, Adefunmike

10. Adjoa

11. Aduke

12. Adzoa, Adzowa

13. Afiya

14. Akosiwa

15. Akua, Akuwa

16. Alaba

17. Amara

18. Ameng

19. Anaca

20. Anecky

21. Anika

22. Annaka

23. Anuli

24. Asaye

25. Asong

26. Assibi

27. Aunika

28. Awo

29. Awushi

30. Ayaan

31. Ayaba

32. Ayana

33. Ayodele

34. Ayofemi

35. Babafunmike

36. Baduwa

37. Balaraba

38. Bosede

39. Chidera, Chidi

40. Chidinma

41. Chinagorom

42. Chinecherem

43. Chioma

44. Chukwuebuka

45. Cleopatra

46. Deka

47. Dipuo, Dipuonyane

48. Ebuka

49. Echerem

50. Eshe

51. Esi

52. Gugulethu

53. Hadiza

54. Hibo

55. Imani

56. Jahzara

57. Kenya

58. Kesia

59. Makena

60. Mandisa

61. Masego

62. Nala

63. Nia

64. Ola

65. Onika

66. Sade

67. Safiya

68. Sharik

69. Taraji

70. Zendaya

71. Zola

72. Zuri

African Boy Names

From strong choices like Amari (“possesses great strength”) and Kamari (“moon”) to culturally rich names like Nnamdi (“my God is alive”) and Obama (“crooked, somewhat bent”), these African names for boys reflect boldness, faith, and heritage. Whether you’re drawn to spiritual meanings, nature-based picks, or names tied to leadership and legacy, this section offers powerful options with deep cultural roots.

With roots in ancestry, community, and meaning, African names for boys like Babatunde and Tau reflect strength, pride, and tradition. This list highlights bold options passed down through generations.

1. Aadan

2. Abdalla

3. Abebe

4. Abidemi

5. Abiodun

6. Abiola

7. Adelaja

8. Adeleke

9. Afro

10. Aiyetoro

11. Ajala

12. Akinlabi

13. Akintunde

14. Akinwunmi

15. Akinyele

16. Akrong

17. Amari

18. Amazu

19. Ambe

20. Amenyo

21. Awotwi

22. Ayo, Ayomide

23. Baako

24. Babafemi

25. Babatunde

26. Badu

27. Bahari

28. Bahati

29. Bakari

30. Balarabe

31. Bamidele

32. Bandele

33. Bomani

34. Botwe

35. Cairo

36. Chi

37. Chijioke

38. Chike

39. Chileogu

40. Chima, Chimaijem

41. Chinelo

42. Chineze

43. Chinua

44. Chiumbo

45. Chukwubuikem

46. Cowry

47. Dada

48. Danasabe

49. Danjuma

50. Danladi

51. Danlami

52. Diallo

53. Dubaku

54. Faraji

55. Femi

56. Idir

57. Ike

58. Imamu

59. Jabari

60. Kamari

61. Kibo

62. Kofi

63. Kwame

64. Nnamdi

65. Obama

66. Omari

67. Osiris

68. Scipio

69. Shaka

70. Tau

71. Thandiwe

72. Umi

73. Wole

74. Yared

75. Yuusuf

76. Zaire

Whether you’re honoring your heritage or simply love the beauty and meaning behind African names, we hope this list helped you find the perfect fit. From lyrical African girl names rooted in grace and strength to bold African boy names tied to tradition and faith, each one carries a story worth celebrating.

For more inspiration, take a look at our favorite Arabic baby names, Hebrew baby names, biblical boy names, biblical girl names, rare girl names, and rare boy names. You can also visit our baby names hub for even more meaningful ideas.

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Explore Baby Names by Letter

Find the perfect baby name — browse names that start with every letter from A to Z.

Boy names Girl names
A toddler with curly hair, wearing a green top with floral patterns, looks directly at the camera. They are holding a pink stuffed toy with both hands. The background is blurred, showing part of a wall and some artwork — perhaps perfect inspiration for girl names that start with "A.

250 Girl Names That Start With A
A baby girl, potentially with names like Bella or Brianna, is sleeping peacefully with hands folded under the chin, wrapped in a soft gray blanket, and wearing a headband with a tiny flower. The baby is nestled in a fluffy off-white cushion with some green leaves around it.

249 Girl Names That Start With B
A newborn baby, swaddled in a white blanket, is sleeping peacefully in a cushioned basket. The baby wears a pink headband with a flower. The scene is set on a white wooden floor—a perfect setting to welcome this little one with charming C names for girls like Clara or Chloe.

200 Girl Names That Start With C
A baby girl with a small ponytail on top of her head is lying on her stomach on a bed. The baby, potentially one of those charming Girl Names That Start With D, like Daisy or Delilah, is wearing a white outfit. The bedding boasts a red and white strawberry pattern against soft lighting and a white crib in the background.

198 Girl Names That Start With D
A sleeping baby wrapped in a pink blanket is lying in a cushioned basket. The baby, possibly one of those adorable girl names with E, is wearing a white knitted headband with a bow. The background is soft and out of focus, emphasizing the peaceful scene.

231 Girl Names That Start With E
A baby with a happy expression is lying on their stomach on a white bed. The baby, who could be one of the charming F girl names, is wearing a pink ruffled top, grey pants, and a grey headband with a bow. The background is softly blurred, focusing on the baby's smiling face.

247 Girl Names That Start With F
A young child with light brown, curly hair is smiling widely. She is wearing a sleeveless orange top and has a white bow in her hair. Indoors, with sunlight streaming through the window behind her, she looks like she could be one of those adorable girls named Grace or Gia.

237 Girl Names That Start With G
A baby girl, possibly named one of those unique girl names starting with H, is wearing a purple onesie with white polka dots and lying on her stomach, smiling. She is surrounded by colorful toys in the slightly blurred background.

225 Girl Names That Start With H
A young girl named Isla, with long hair, wears heart-shaped sunglasses and an orange and white polka dot dress. She appears to be surprised or excited, her mouth open wide. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting near water.

250 Girl Names That Start With I
A toddler with curly hair smiles brightly while looking slightly upward. The child, perhaps imagining a name like Julia or Jasmine, is wearing a white long-sleeve shirt with a subtle pattern. The background is blurred, featuring soft colors and indistinct shapes.

300 Girl Names That Start With J
A baby girl named Kayla wearing a light-colored, patterned outfit lies on a soft surface. The baby is smiling and raising one arm. The surroundings include fabric with bird and animal-themed prints. The bright light suggests a warm and cheerful atmosphere, perfect for capturing precious moments.

247 Girl Names That Start With K
A toddler with brown hair is crawling on a grassy lawn in front of a white house with a red roof. The young girl, perhaps named Lily or Leah, is wearing a white shirt with colorful patterns and has a joyful expression on her face. Trees and outdoor furniture are in the background.

247 Girl Names That Start With L
A close-up photo of a smiling baby with curly hair, possibly named one of those charming girl names that start with M. The baby is wearing a colorful sleeveless shirt with a playful pattern. The background is blurred, showcasing a building with a peach-colored wall and a white-framed window.

292 Girl Names That Start With M
A baby wearing a floral patterned dress is lying on a textured pink blanket. The baby, perhaps destined to have one of those charming girl names starting with N, is smiling and looking up. To the baby's left, there is a stuffed rabbit and a small red stuffed animal.

245 Girl Names That Start With N
A baby girl named Olivia, wearing a white onesie and a white knitted headband with a flower, is crawling on a bed. The background consists of neutral-colored curtains and a bright window behind the child.

200 Girl Names That Start With O
A baby with a white headband featuring a bow is lying on a soft, white surface. The baby is resting their head on their folded arms and has their mouth open, with one fist near their mouth. The scene appears gentle and serene, reminiscent of the calm you feel when picking girl names that start with P.

349 Girl Names That Start With P
A sleeping baby wearing a purple swaddle and a pink flower headband rests in a fluffy-lined basket. The baby, who might have one of those charming girl names that start with Q, appears content and peaceful in this cozy setting.

150 Girl Names That Start With Q
A newborn baby sleeps on their side atop a pink, fluffy blanket. The baby wears a silver headband with a decorative design, and their right hand is tucked under their head. You can almost imagine her parents contemplating r girl names as they watch her sleep peacefully. The background is smooth and matches the blanket.

300 Girl Names That Start With R
A baby wrapped in a pink towel with a hood lies on a pink textured surface, looking at the camera and sucking on their hand. The towel, adorned with small, colorful patterns, cradles the baby whose blue eyes and light skin resemble precious girl names starting with S.

298 Girl Names That Start With S
A baby wrapped in a beige blanket lies in a round, fluffy cream-colored cushion on a wooden floor. The baby girl, possibly named Talia or Tessa, is wearing a headband with a small flower and looking up at the camera.

263 Girl Names That Start With T
A young child with straight brown hair and bangs is smiling at the camera. The child, possibly named after u girl names like Uma or Ursula, is wearing a blue-buttoned shirt. The background is slightly blurred and appears to be an indoor setting.

152 Girl Names That Start With U
A baby girl in a light pink outfit lies on a quilted surface. She has a calm expression and appears to be touching her mouth with her hands. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the baby as the focal point of the image, perfect for parents considering V girl names like Violet or Vivian.

258 Girl Names That Start With V
A young girl with pigtails, possibly named Willow or Wendy, is standing outdoors with her eyes closed and mouth open in a cheerful expression. The background is blurred, showing some green foliage. The child is wearing a light-colored shirt.

216 Girl Names That Start With W
A newborn baby wearing a purple knit bonnet is sleeping in a curly position inside a round white basket filled with a purple knit blanket. The basket is placed on a cream-colored, fluffy rug. Looking serene and precious, she's sure to inspire parents seeking unique girl names that start with X.

210 Girl Names That Start With X
A newborn baby girl, one of those with beautiful y girl names, is swaddled in a pink knitted blanket and wearing a matching pink knitted hat. The baby is peacefully sleeping on a pink background.

212 Girl Names That Start With Y
A newborn baby dressed in a white, knit onesie and a floral headband is sleeping on a soft beige blanket. The baby, perhaps destined for one of those beautiful girl names that start with Z, has their arms tucked under their chin and is lying on their stomach.

213 Girl Names That Start With Z
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