Beautiful African names. African surnames, names and their carriers

Wordcloud: 50 MOT important African last names

Hundreds of different languages ​​on the African continent. Cultural and social differences between different countries in Africa are often significant. But what all people from Africa have in common is their roots. They appear in the name of an African family, and are also still very importance for African culture. The inhabitants of Africa can be divided by more than a thousand ethnic groups. Most profess more different tribal religions. Many others have become famous in Islam, but Christianity is found in African countries.

He erstplatziere is an African surname Azikiwe translates “Full force”, What is the name of the owner, a lot of good. A very well known representative is Nnamdi Azikiwe, First President of Nigeria 1963 to 1966. He also held the title of “Great zik of Africa”, one or even the most important politicians of West Africa in the transition from colonialism to independence.

Second place: Avolovo

The most famous bearers of the name were Jeremiah Obafemi Avolovo, Nigerian Politician, Unionist, Lawyer and Entrepreneur. We couldn't definitely learn the importance of Nachnames Avolovo, on our own, using searches in several languages. Learn more, We are counting on your mail!

Third place goes to Bello

The third most common surname in Africa is similar to Italian, or Spanish. Bello, which translates as "beautiful" means.

List of 50 most common surnames in Africa

1 Azikiwe
2 Avolovo
3 Bello
4 Balewa
5 Akintola
6 Okotie-Eboh
7 Nzeogwu
8 Onwuatuegwu
9 Okafor
10 Okereke
11 Okeke
12 Okonkwo
13 Okoye
Episode 14
15 Obasanjo
16 Babangida
17 Bukhari
18 Dimka
19 Diya
20 Odili
21 Jabar
22 Igbinedion
23 Alamiesiga
24 Yar'Adua
Chapter 25
26 Attah
27
28 Akuniili
29 Iweala
30 Okonjo
31 Ezekwesili
32 Achebe
33 Soinka
34
35 Gbadamosi
36 Olanrewaju
37 Magoro
38 Madaki
39 Jang
40
41 Oyenusi
42 Onyejekwe
43 Onwudiwe
44 Jakande
Chapter 45
46 Igwe
47 Eze
48 OBI
49 Independents
50 UBA

Africa is an amazing continent, the culture of which differs from the usual European and American ones. Striking trees grow here, rare and unique representatives of the fauna live, and also live mysterious people. Civilization reached this first stronghold of mankind, surprisingly intertwined with the local culture. Particularly interesting African names, often beautiful, sometimes strange, incomprehensible modern man. We invite you to familiarize yourself with them.

Africa is a rather large continent, on the territory of which a huge number of tribes and peoples live. There are many countries here that are not similar to each other, so there are plenty of name options. The history of the continent is amazing, it was here that life was born and the first great civilization appeared. That is why it is not possible to fully tell how African names originated, what sources were used by the peoples, why this or that option appeared.

However, let's get acquainted with the main ways of the emergence of anthroponyms:

  • Initially, the child was given a playful name, for example Kidagaa - "fish", Panya - "mouse". At the same time, the gender of the child did not matter, often boys and girls had identical nicknames.
  • Then the baby was named differently (in a week, 40 days or a year, depending on the traditions of a particular area), giving him the nickname of one of the parents or relatives. Finally, at the time of initiation, the child, having become a teenager, already received his true name.
  • In addition, the kids also had secret names that could not be told to anyone, they received one of them from their father, the second from their mother. The name received from the father was then passed on to the son, received from the mother was not transmitted.
  • Finally, the traditions of Christianity and Islam became another source of African names. When these world religions came to the black continent, they made their impact, many residents began to name their children after the Prophet Muhammad or Orthodox and Catholic saints.

Note that there was a special tradition of chastising the twins. So, people believed that a woman gave birth to two babies for a reason, that there was some higher meaning in this, which is why such children were called in some unusual way, for example, Doto and Curva in Swahili.

Nature

Many female African names have their source in various natural phenomena, the names of plants, animals:

  • Abangu - "who came from the thicket";
  • Agak - "hawk";
  • Agwang - "she-wolf";
  • Aded, Grandfather - "green grasshopper";
  • Anyang - "crocodile";
  • Apanda - "donkey";
  • Kamaria - "resembling the moon";
  • Marjani - "coral";
  • Ntanda - "asterisk".

Such options are very poetic, but in modern world almost never occur, giving way to Muslim and Christian borrowings. So, in African countries there are many Johns, Jacks, Roberts, Adams, Charles, as well as Sophie, Margaret, Elizabeth, Chloe, Alison. And traditional options are used only by residents of remote areas.

The realities of nature for boys

Among the male African names, there are many that also have various natural phenomena and animals as their source. Here they are:

  • Budd - "night";
  • Bovaddin - "large-sized dog";
  • Buru - "bull";
  • Ganju - "cat from the wild";
  • Gachi - "a small river";
  • Delmar - "endless sea";
  • Giconi - "bird";
  • Dub - "zebra";
  • Kobe, Fudu - "slow turtle";
  • Simba, To - "the king of animals, the lion";
  • Ffamb - "viverra".

Some names are the same for boys and girls, for example Grandfather - "green grasshopper", Ntanda - "star".

Order at birth

Speaking about African names and their meaning, it should be noted that a very large number of them are connected with the order in which the child was born. So, among women it can be noted:

  • Apayon, Apiio, Babiray - "the first of the twins";
  • Adongo, Nakato - "the second girl from the twins";
  • Kanto - "third baby";
  • Anan - "fourth";
  • Enu - "fifth";
  • Nsiya - "sixth";
  • Nsonoua - "seventh";
  • Oovti - "eighth";
  • Nkrumah - "ninth".

As you can see, African families were large, many children were born.

Men's options are also presented:

  • Baako, Chilongola - "first son";
  • Isingoma, Wasswa - "first twin";
  • Kato is the "second twin".

Options for the fourth, fifth and subsequent babies are the same as for women.

Birthday

Another source for beautiful African names is the day the baby was born. Let's look at some examples:

  • Adjoa, Aduora - "born on Monday";
  • Quadro, Kojo - "Born on Monday";
  • Abena - "was born on Tuesday";
  • Jumaan, Kwabena, Kobina - "a boy born on Tuesday";
  • Akua, Ekua (female); Kwaku, Kweku (male) - "on Wednesday";
  • Yaa (female), Hamizi, Yav (male) - “on Thursday”;
  • Afia, Afua, Mwanajuma, Efua (female); Kofi (male) - "on Friday";
  • Ama (female), Barasa, Kvam (male) - "on Saturday";
  • Akozua, Yezi (female); Bozed, Kwasi, Kwezi (male) - "on Sunday".

Characteristics

There are a lot of African names and those based on certain human qualities or occupations. Consider examples of options for girls:

  • Abuto - "secret", "mysterious";
  • Advar - "huntress";
  • Akoko - "noisy";
  • Amaka, Zeri - "beauty";
  • Atich - "hard-working";
  • Boipelo - "proud";
  • Kajiso - "peaceful";
  • Lindive - "long-awaited child";
  • Katlego - "successful";
  • Meikna - "happy";
  • Ndidi - "patient";
  • Ntombi - "real lady";
  • They are "born in a sacred place";
  • Ramla - "sorceress";
  • Soda - "dark-faced";
  • Tsholofelo - corresponds to the Russian name Nadezhda;
  • Eyira - "chosen one".

There are many similar names for boys:

  • Abimbola - "born to live rich";
  • Adio - "pious";
  • Boipelo - "proud";
  • Bomani - "fighter";
  • Bohleil - "wise";
  • Gwala - "cowardly";
  • Jebhuza - "sword-bearer";
  • Jero - "cruel";
  • Zikimo - "great";
  • Kamo - "humble warrior";
  • Kernils - "playing the trumpet";
  • Nkozana - "prince";
  • Fangei - "thinking";
  • Khlenjiv - "saved."

These are the main names of African peoples. Of course, many of them have ceased to be actively used, giving way to European borrowings, but in remote corners of the continent, where the influence of civilization was not so strong, you can meet a girl or a young man named in best traditions of his people.

African names: male and female, beautiful and interesting on the site.

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It is difficult to imagine something more original and exotic than male and female African names. Zuberi, Kvasi, Nsiya, Ukhoma, Oludzhimi, Ambala - for the hearing of Europeans and Russians, all this sounds extremely unusual and extravagant. Such a large discrepancy between the names of Africa and European countries has quite logical grounds. In order to explain it, it is enough to look at the countless cultural, ethnic, historical and linguistic differences between the inhabitants of these continents. To be fair, it should be noted that in last years beautiful African names for boys and girls are becoming more common. Many of them are borrowed from European languages. By naming their children by Western names, African parents are trying to secure a prosperous future for them in the progressive world. In addition, superstitious natives believe that in this way they attract good luck, gaining the opportunity to repeat the fate of prosperous Europeans.

However, one should not think that the original African names of girls and boys are losing their relevance. They still make up the bulk of the aboriginal names and continue to be the most popular among the population of this continent.

The meaning of modern male and female African names

The differences between European and African names are not only in sound, but also in semantic load. Aborigines very often give their children unattractive nicknames, thus trying to protect them from evil spirits. In view of this, many popular African names and surnames have a negative meaning. For example, Nkurinu means "nonsense" and Ouor means "greedy". However, the main part of the names of the natives, nevertheless, has a positive content. Their meaning can be associated with various natural phenomena, insects, time, personal characteristics, etc. For example, the beautiful African female name Monifa is translated as "lucky", and Ozumeir - "rainbow".

List of Uncommon African Boy Names

  1. Addis. Translated into Russian means "one who does not doubt"
  2. Ancoma. African boy name meaning "youngest in the family"
  3. Boypuzo. Interpreted as "independence"
  4. Gvala. Translated into Russian means "coward"
  5. Dade. Male African name which means = "curly"
  6. Zuri. Translated into Russian means "strong"
  7. Kamo. Interpreted as "silent warrior"
  8. Neo. African boy name meaning gift
  9. Rudo. Translated into Russian means "love"
  10. Tafari. Referred to as "fearful"

List of exotic African names for girls

  1. Adjambo. Translated into Russian means "born in the evening"
  2. Woman. Interpreted as "mother"
  3. Diarra. African girl name meaning "gift"
  4. Zecora. Corresponds to the name of the animal "zebra"
  5. Ife. Interpreted as "love"
  6. Keyshia. African female name meaning "valuable"
  7. Naema. Translated into Russian means "amazing"
  8. Tenday. Interpreted as "noble"
  9. Chica. African girl name meaning "God is the biggest"
  10. Hey. Translated into Russian means "joyful"

Choosing an African name for a boy and a girl

When choosing an African name for a boy or girl, parents quite often focus on the time of the baby's birth. Children born on Friday are called Efua, on Wednesday - Ekua, on Sunday - Ezi, etc. In addition, newborns are often named after their paternal and maternal grandparents.

It is a vast territory on which deserted deserts and densely populated countries are concentrated. There are still preserved tribes living in the wild, which coexist with peoples from modern megacities. People from Africa are not like typical representatives of European countries: they have a different skin color, different beliefs, traditions, languages ​​and dialects. That is why African surnames and names are so unusual.

How surnames are formed

According to the beliefs of the peoples of the Congo, a child becomes a person only after he is given a name. It can mean a lot: events preceding the birth, the day of birth, status, information about the family. For example, Ndimuban-zee says that its owner is surrounded by enemies. It is also known that names can change during a person's life. This happens among one of the peoples - the Bafuts. This is done in order to evil spirits couldn't do any harm.

With surnames, the situation is different; they appeared among the peoples of Africa relatively recently, as a result of colonization. For trade, interaction with other peoples, the inhabitants of the country needed documents. Accordingly, more identification data was needed than just a name. In some educational institutions African surnames are assigned to pupils or students after receiving a certificate of their completion.

Names and surnames in African countries

In Morocco, a person gets a surname when they leave native village to the next one. Until that time, he uses his own name and the names of his parents (most often his father). If a person leaves far from his lands, then his surname is formed by the name of the tribe where he comes from. This is how male African surnames are formed.

In some West African countries, the nickname of the ancestor is attached to the name, and then the name of the locality, hometown or village follows. In some cases, the personal name does not contain additions, but consists of several words.

Features of the names of the Hausa people

Among the Hausa people, it is customary to name children after Islamic prophets. It is popular to give appellative names. They contain information about the profession of parents, the physical qualities of the child. For example, a male name Afiri receives a baby born very small (premature). Ibrahim Dereba- means that its carrier works as a driver.

Among the Hausa, it does not happen that the surname is inherited or as a result of marriage. Women retain their own name, which is only joined by a title denoting marriage.

Popular names and surnames

When using African surnames in Russian, some of them are inclined, but not all. For example, the surname of the public figure Yamaro Semoko is indeclinable.

A very common surname on the continent Traore. In a lot of immigrants from other regions and countries. Therefore, Indian, European surnames are found there, some are modified or abbreviated for convenience.

Denoting the day when a person was born, for example, Jumaan(was born on Tuesday). Kwaku means the baby arrived on Wednesday morning. Giving my son a name Olhuuseun parents thank God. A popular female name is formed from the name of the capital city Dakar. There is a similar male, without the last vowel. Popular and so beautiful female names, as Naema, Abeni, which are translated as "amazing", "long-awaited". And from the men's Syed, which means "happy", and Eyo- "bringing joy."

Famous all over the world

In 1960, for the first time in history, a black African won Olympic Games. It was a marathon participant from Ethiopia. known and remembered by the whole world. African got gold medal, having run a distance without shoes, for which, as it is assumed, he did not even have money. Since then, all the inhabitants of the hot continent began to take Abebe Bikilu as an example to follow.

Another famous African is a football player from Cameroon Roger Milla. The participation of this legendary striker played a decisive role for the national team of his country in the world championship. Milla was recognized as the oldest player, he scored the ball in his 42. Other famous Cameroonian footballers who played with him are Stefan Mbia, Andre Onana, Toma N'Kono.

Writer from South Africa John M. Coetzee(Kutsy) became He writes his works in English. Two of Coetzee's novels have been awarded the Booker Prize.

Famous politician Rolilahla Mandela Nelson was also Nobel Laureate and was for several years President of South Africa. He belonged to the Xhosa people, and his name (Rolilahla) means "rebellious in spirit." In his country, the politician also had a clan name.

Today, women around the world have begun to call their sons after Cameroonian athletes. Residents of other countries are attracted by the amazing sound of African surnames. And exploring the meanings and Interesting Facts about their appearance, you can learn a lot about the history of the continent and its population.

Oleg and Valentina Svetovid are mystics, specialists in esotericism and the occult, authors of 15 books.

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African names

African male names and their meaning

Male African names

Abig- chanting

Abidemi- born in the absence of a father

Abimbola- born to wealth

Abioy- born in royal family

Abrafo- warrior or executioner

Abubakar- noble

Adisa- one who has no doubts

Adio- pious

Aiko- pious

Anan- fourth child born

Arapmoi- son of war

Asita- Sun God

Afolabi- born in wealth

Baako- born first

Babajaid father is alive again

Babatand father returned

Budd- night

Bapoto- born among noise, quarrels

barasa- born on Saturday

Bozed- born on Sunday

Bocari- budding

Bomani- fighter

Bongani- grateful

Buru- bull

Vekesa- born during the harvest

Gakeru- spy

Gamyuk- second in command

Ganju- wild cat

Gathera- famous

Gachi- small river

gvala- coward

gotto- crushed

Gugu- treasure

Dakaray- happiness

Delmar– sea

Jelani- mighty

Jango- builder
Jero- cruel

Giconi- bird

Jitinji– butcher

Jituku- cunning

dubaku- eleventh child born

Dumis- random thunder

Duna- chapter

Dube- zebra

Zuberi- strong

Zemba- confidence

Izuba- walking slowly, furtively

Imu- darkness, dusk

Kamo- quiet warrior

Kato- second of twins

Cashil- hidden

Kwabena- Born on Tuesday

Quadvo- Born on a Monday

Kwaku- born on Wednesday

To you- born on Saturday

Kwasi- born on Sunday

Kwezi- born on Sunday

Kweku- born on Wednesday

Kirabo- present

Kobe- turtle

Kojo- Born on a Monday

coffee- born on Friday

Luzala- whip

Mwenai- owner

Mozi- firstborn

Munash- with God

matata- disturber of the peace

Ngozi- blessing

Ndidi- patience

Neo- present

Nkozana– prince

Nsia- sixth child born

Ntanda- star

Obi- cardiac

Odhiambo- born in the evening

Olabode- return of wealth

Olufemi- God loves me

Oluchi- God's work

Otino- born in the evening

Oching- born when the sun is shining

Peach– diamond

Rudo- love

Runako- attractive

Rutendo- Vera

Simba- a lion

Sipho- present

Tabo- joy

Taonga- grateful

Tafari- intimidating

Udo- peaceful

Uzoma- following the right path

famb- small predator

Fangei- thinker

Farage- improved

Faray- joy

Femi- God loves me

Firun- rain

foulami- respect and honor me

fudu- turtle

Hamizi- born on Thursday

Chakaid– weasel

Chijenda- traveler

Chidi- God exists

Chidiber- God is merciful

Chinwendu- God lives

Ching- creator

Chitemo- axe

Eyo- joy

Eyodel- joy came to the house

ekin- praise

Emeka- great things

enayola- rich

Enitana famous person

Enu- fifth born

I'm in- born on Thursday

Our new book "The Energy of Surnames"

The book "The Energy of the Name"

Oleg and Valentina Svetovid

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African names. African male names and their meaning

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