100+ South African baby names and their meanings

Children are a bundle of joy and blessings in our lives. Therefore, childbearing and naming are a big deal. The inner desire to give your child the best name may end up in frustrations for failing to get the right meanings. Notice that the significance of a name is far much powerful than how good it sounds. For this reason, South African baby names and their meanings are useful for anyone expecting a little one.

The process of choosing between different child names is overwhelming and often ends up with undecided or disagreeing parents. The choice can be effortless with a full list of popular South African names at hand. The fact that a name influences a child’s future is yet to lose its meaning and, therefore, an essential factor to consider.

South African baby names

There are hundreds of South African baby names from where you can find a suitable identity for your kid. Luckily, these names reflect the diversity of South African culture and way of life.

South African names for boys: South African origin

South African baby boy names have evolved and are now a good pick for 21st-century boys. Most of these revolve around preferable moral characters as well as desirable masculine traits.

• Amo – an Eagle, pronounced AR-nou (Afrikaans origin)
• Jabulani/Jabu - rejoice (Southern African origin
• Kgosi – chief or king, Tswana
• Loyiso - victory
• Luan – a white lion, pronounced LU-han in Afrikaans
• Mandla – strength, pronounced MAN-dhla
• Onkarabile – God has responded to our supplications
• Sandile – means we extended in Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele
• Sbusiso – means blessings
• Sifiso - means wish in Zulu
• Sipho – gift, in Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele
• Siyabonga – feeling grateful to you, common among Zulu and Ndebele
• Sizwe – refers to a nation
• Tau - means lion in both Tswana and Sotho
• Teboho - thankfulness in Sotho
• Thabani refers to being happy in both Zulu and Ndebele
• Thabo – means happiness
• Thmba – means faith, trust, and hope among the Zulu, Ndebele, and Xhosa
• Thulani - be quiet or peaceful in Zulu
• Xolani – peace, common across South Africa

South African boy names: foreign origin

• Andre – means man and signifies the strength of a warrior (Greek origin)
• Friedrich - (Frid) peaceful (Ric) ruler (Germanic origin)
• Johan - God is gracious (Hebrew origin)
• Melisizwe – nation leader, Xhosa
• Tjaart – God givesn (Greek origin)

South African baby girl names

Mzansi treasures their women with endearing names revolving around feminine characteristics. Such include notable characters such as grace, love, gift, and beauty. We take an in-depth look into famous South African girl names you should know.

South African female names: South African origin

• Amahle - the beautiful one, pronounced Ah-MAH-she among the Zulu
• Annika – grace, a derivative of Anna in Swedish tweaked to Afrikaans
• Bakang – praises to the Lord
• Bonolo - means ease among the Sotho.
• Busisiwe – the blessed one
• Charlize – A free woman, common among the Afrikaans
• Elna – beloved, a derivative of the Dutch name Helena
• Gugulethu – our treasure or pride
• Hlengiwe – helped, rescued, or redeemed, shared among the Ndebele, Xhosa, and Zulu people
• Imka – means water, pronounced IEM-ka
• Kaya - restful place, pronounced KAH-yah among the Zulu
• Kholwa – means believe, pronounced Col-u-WHA in Zulu and Ndebele Lerato – means love, pronounced LE-raa-too in Sotho
• Lerato – love pronounced LE-raa-too in Sotho
• Lindiwe –the awaited one, pronounced as LIN-dee-we among the Ndebele, Swazi, and Zulu
• Liyabona – the name of the eye of God, a derivative of the biblical Maria the mother of Jesus
• Marietjie – a wished-for child, a derivative of the biblical Maria, the mother of Jesus
• Mbalenhle – a beautiful flower
• Mbali – flower, Zulu
• Nandipha – a gift from God, derived from Nandi, the mother of King Shaku Zulu
• Nkosazana – princess, common among the Xhosa
• Nomusa –one granting mercy, in Ndebele
• Nonhle – a fair looking woman, a derivative of Nonhle
• Nosipho -gift, suggests femininity among the Zulu and Xhosa
• Nosizwe - feminine nation, Xhosa
• Noxolo - a woman of peace, Ndebele and Xhosa
• Ntakeko - a blessing
• Nthabiseng - make me happy
• Ntombi –simple meaning a girl in Zulu
• Ntombifuthi - a girl once more
• Ntombizodwa - girls only, famous girl name among the Zulu, Ndebele, and Xhosa
• Palesa –means flower in Soth
• Puleng –means in the rain in Sotho
• Sibongile – feeling grateful, popular in Zulu and Ndebele
• Sibusisiwe - feeling blessed in Ndebele, Zulu, and Swazi, Zulu

South African female names: foreign origin

• Mieke – water – has a Dutch origin and is pronounced MY-khu in Afrikaans
• Retha – Pearl, a derivative of Margaretha with a Greek/Latin origin
• Thabisa -bringing joy, pronounced Tha-BEE-sa in Zulu
• Thandeka – the loved one, Zulu and Ndebele
• Thandi - one spreading love, also Thandiwe
• Thandiwe – a loving one, Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele
• Thulile – Quiet or peaceful, Zulu
• Tintswalo - mercy
• Zama - a girl from, often a prefix, for instance, Zamantungwa and Zamazizi
• Zodwa – means only, a shortened version of Ntombizodwa

Unisex South African names

Baby-names that suit both genders are an excellent option for any mom or dad eager to name their young one. These are not only convenient but also flexible in their use for both male and female children.

• Akani – means to build
• Amogelang – accept or receive
• Anathi - they are with us
• Andile - they have extended, shared among the Ndebele, Zulu, and Xhosa people
• Anele - the one who is enough or the last one
• Avethandwa - truly loved, Xhosa
• Ayanda – means they are increasing, shared among the Ndebele, Zulu, and Xhosa
• Bandile - increasing in number, Ndebele
• Bokamoso - the future
• Bokang – rejoice or praise
• Buhle – comes from the root, handsome or beautiful
• Jaivyn - light spirit
• Katlego - the successful or accomplished one
• Kganya – means light
• Lethabo – means happiness
• Letsatsi – means day or the sun
• Linathi – one the company of God
• Lungile – right, correct, or good, Ndebele and Zulu
• Minenhle – a beautiful day
• Mpho –gift, pronounced M-pho and popular among the Tswana

More unisex South African baby names

• Oratile - origin, pronounced O-ra-TEE-le in Tswana
• Rethabile - we are happy
• Sibabalwe – the blessed one
• Sibonakaliso – means token, proof, or sign in Zulu
• Simphiwe – the one gifted to us
• Sithembile - we are trusting, Zulu.
• Thandeka, lovable, Zulu
• Thando - to love, Xhosa, Ndebele, Zulu
• Thembeka - a trustworthy person
• Tumelo - faith in Sotho and Tswana
• Unathi - they are with us
• Zola – calm, comes from the Zulu root Zola

What is the most common name in South Africa?

While there are hundreds of lovely baby names in SA, most people prefer naming their children Enzokuhle (Do good). The name emerged in the top place following recent statistics mostly because it is suitable for both girls and boys. Dlamini also qualified as the most popular surname. Closely following were names such as Ndlovu and Nkosi.

Brainstorming on South African baby names is necessary before or during a child naming exercise. Our list makes it easier for Mzansi parents to find a name that perfectly describes their young one. Look at different baby boy, baby girl, and unisex names for inspiration.

Tuko.co.ke published 100+ Kenyan names for baby boys and their meanings. Some of the Christian names include Joshua, Matthew, and Noah. Kenyan English names include Eric, Arthur, Hunter, and Alexander.

Kenyan boy names in Swahili include Baraka, Bahati, Tumaini, and Zuberi. Some of the surnames include Kenyatta, Lemeiyan, Issa, and Kiserian.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tcHKqGWcp16gsnB%2FmG5va3FdZn1xedKorK2gXZazs7XCmqVmmpGXxm66wKacrGWdmq6vtc2gqmegpKK5