Western cultures tend to choose names that are historical, or have been passed down in families, or represent beloved characters from literature. In many African cultures, parents choose names for their children with very strong, complex meanings. Here are 10 awesome African names you’ll want to name your baby.
Azubuike
Azubuike is a name you’ll find a lot among Igbo speakers of West Africa. It means “the past is your strength” or “unity, the past is your strength,” implying the generations that came before this baby have built up strength for the baby.
If you like the name “Bell” or “Bella” but want something more unique, you can get the same sound from this name, but with a very cool meaning: Ebele means “mercy” and “kindness” and in the Igbo language.
Katlego is from the Twsana language spoken in Southern Africa. It means “success,” which is probably something you thought when you finally finished hours of labor — but also you can pass on good luck and success to your baby.
If you want to steer away from Monica but like some of the sounds, Monifa has a wonderful meaning: it means “I am lucky.” The name comes from the Yoruba culture of Southwestern Nigeria and Benin.
Nkiruka can be shortened to just “Nki” (pronounced Nikki) as a nickname. It means “the best is still to come” or “the future is bright” in the Igbo language.
If you’ve been estranged from your family, or perhaps were put up for adoption as a child and have been looking to build your own family, you’ll love the name Omolara. It means “a child is family” in the Yoruba culture.