Every animal knows how to suckle its baby. —Kenya (Agikuyu)
Enjoy these names for animals and creatures. If you don’t discover a name that you like, our site does have a list of names for dogs. If you still don’t discover a name you like, please review the 5,508 names in The African Book of Names or try our African Name Generator. Much like The African Book of Names, AfrikanNames.com takes a unique approach to names by focusing on meaning while still working to maintain the integrity of sound, region, and gender distinction (where applicable). However, please do not accept meanings as exclusive or absolute. Where there are errors in meaning, no disrespect is intended. Names have been researched to the best of our competence.
| NAME | PRONUNCIATION | MEANING | ORIGIN | GENDER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKASI | (ah-KAH-see). | Horse. | Nigeria (Ishan) | |
| AVU | (AH-voo). | Dove. | Azania (Xhosa) | |
| AZINZA | (ah-ZEEN-zah). | Mermaid. | Togo (Mina) | |
| BATTE | (bah-teh). | Elephant. | Uganda (Luganda) | (M) |
| BETOTO | (beh-TOH-toh). | Owl. | Azania (Sotho) | |
| CHANDU | (CHAHN-doo). | Octopus. | Kiswahili | |
| COYAH | (koh-yah). | Snake. | Guinea | |
| DANGALA | (dahn-GAH-lah). | Baboon. | Azania (Zulu) | |
| DUDU | (DOO-doo). | Insect. | Kiswahili | |
| FEZELA | (feh-ZEH-lah). | Scorpion. | Azania (Nguni) | |
| FINYEZI | (feen-YEH-zee). | Firefly. | Azania (Zulu) | |
| FIRIFIROO | (fee-ree-fee-roh). | Butterfly. | Gambia (Mandinka) | |
| FUDU | (FOO-doo). | Tortoise. | Azania (Zulu) | |
| GAMKA | (GAHM-kah). | Lions. | Azania (Khoikhoin) | |
| GATARE | (gah-tah-reh). | Small lion. | Rwanda, Burundi | (M) |
| GIWA | (GEE-wah). | Elephant. | West Africa (Hausa) | |
| GOYA | (goh-yah). | Wild cat. | Southern Africa (Tsonga) | |
| IMFEZI | (ee-FEH-zee). | Cobra. | West Africa (Yoruba) | |
| INAMA | (ee-NAH-mah). | Wild animals. | Zambia (Bemba) | |
| INGWE | (eeng-weh). | Leopard. | Azania (Zulu) | |
| KADA | (KAH-dah). | Crocodile. | West Africa (Hausa) | |
| KAKEMBO | (kah-kehm-boh). | Small monkey. | Uganda (Ganda) | (M) |
| KAMBUJI | (kahm-BOO-jee). | Goat. | Malawi (Ngoni) | (M) |
| KAMPOGO | (kahm-poh-goh). | Antelope. | Rwanda, Burundi | |
| KANONI | (kah-NOH-nee). | Little bird. | Tanzania (Ulaya) | (F) |
| KASUKU | (kah-SOO-koo). | Parrot. | Kiswahili | |
| KHOLA | (KOH-lah). | Deer. | Kiswahili | (F) |
| KINYONGA | (keen-YOHN-gah). | Chameleon. | Kiswahili | |
| KOLA | (KOH-lah). | Snail. | Tanzania | |
| KWENA | (KWEH-nah). | Crocodile. | Azania (North Sotho) | |
| LENCHO | (LEHN-choh). | Lion. | Ethiopia, Kenya (Oromo) | (M) |
| MUTENITENI | (moo-TEH-nee- TEH-nee). | Firefly. | DRC | (F) |
| NGOMBE | (n-GOHM-beh). | Cow. | Malawi (Yao) | (M) |
| NGUNI | (n-GOON-nee). | Honey bird. | Zambia (Bemba) | |
| NJAGI | (n-JAH-gee). | Zebra. | Kenya | |
| NJOFU | (ndjh-oh-foo). | Elephant. | Tanzania (Chaga) | (M) |
| NKUKU | (n-koo-koo). | Rooster. | Malawi (Yao) | (M) |
| NSOMBA | (n-SOHM-bah). | Fish. | Malawi (Yao) | (M) |
| ONI | (OH-nee). | Bird. | Azania (Nguni) | |
| PAA | (PAH). | Gazelle. | Kiswahili | |
| PAKA | (PAH-kah). | Cat. | Kiswahili | |
| PANYA | (PAHN-yah). | Mouse. | Kiswahili | |
| POPO | (POH-poh). | Butterfly. | Kiswahili | |
| SEMPALA | (ssehm-pah-lah). | An antelope. | Uganda (Ganda) | (M) |
| SENGO | (ssehn-goh). | Leopard. | Uganda (Ganda) | (M) |
| SENKIMA | (ssehn-tch-ee-mah). | Monkey. | Uganda (Ganda) | (M) |
| SENTASHYA | (sehn-TAH-shah). | Sparrow. | Rwanda, Burundi | (M) |
| SIRI | (SEE-ree). | Tiger. | Nigeria | |
| SULUWO | (soo-LOO-woh). | Wolf. | Gambia | |
| SUNDIATA | (soon-dee-AH-tah). | Hungry lion. | Guinea | (M) |
| TAUSI | (tah-OO-see). | Peacock. | Kiswahili | (F) |
| THETHE | (teh-teh). | Grasshopper. | Azania | (Nguni) |
| THUTIWA | (too-tee-wah). | Giraffe. | Azania (Sotho) | |
| TLOWANA | (ttloh-wah-nah). | Little elephant. | Azania (Sotho) | |
| TOLI | (TOH-lee). | A sparrow. | West Africa | (F) |
| TWIGA | (twee-gah). | Giraffe. | Kiswahili | |
| UFUDO | (oo-FOO-doh). | Tortoise. | Azania (Nguni) | |
| UGO | (OO-goh). | Eagle. | Nigeria (Igbo) | (M) |
| XOXO | (TSOH-tsoh). | Frog. | Azania (Nguni) | |
| YOLA | (YOH-lah). | Firefly. | Nigeria (Hausa) | (F) |
| ZAKI | (ZAH-kee). | Lion. | West Africa (Hausa) |
Do you have ANIMAL and/or CREATURE names to share? If so, please share those names in the comments section.
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Me again!! This list is a bit better! But what the heck is AZANIA?!
I had to Google it!! LOL! There is no country called Azania! If anything, this was used in 19th or whatever century to refer to specific areas in Africa that Romans used to do trade with.
I’m not expert….but the origin of a name can’t be “Azania” and be “Zulu”. Zulu is spoken in the South – in South Africa and Azania was supposedly in north-eastern parts of Africa!
Again – we all learn something new everyday! 🙂
AZANIA = South Africa
Azania is a name some individuals and groups use to refer to South Africa. The origin of a name can include a country and an ethnic group. Zulus are just one of the groups of people in the country formally named South Africa. When sharing names, I tried to share country and group. And, in some cases, the name crosses countries and/or ethnic groups. Hope this helps.
Azania means in our language *madness*
Good to know. What language is that? Can you please share?
Boufa
Agwo”Ah-gwor” means Snake
Ewu”Eh-woo”Goat
Udele”Uh-Deele”Vulture
Ebule”Eh-Bule” Ram
Ewe”Ar-Too-Roo”Sheep
Oke”Oh-Ke”Rat
Nkita”N-Kitaa” Dog
Ezi”Eh-Zzi”Pig
Mgbada”Nm-Gbaa-Daa”Antelope
Ewe”Eh-Weh”Monkey
You are so kind to share names with us. I love the variety. We have not updated in a while, but I hope to get these up very soon.
Very good initiative! I waslooking for some thing like this. it will help to get the big picture of african linguistic unity. Find here some animals name in KAKO (Cameroon, Centrafrica…):
1. Ngwey = N’gwei = Panther
2. None = NO’n = Bird
3. Nyamo = Gna-MOh = Animal
4. Mbiyé = mb’YE = Dog
5. Njoku = nJO-Ku = Elephant
6. Taboh = Tab’Oh = Goat
7. Nguileh = n’Gi-lè = Gorilla
8. Kubeh = KU-b’è = Hen, Chiken
9. Nguru = n’GU-ru = Tortoise
10. kossu = KO-su = Parrot
11. Nguemoh = NG’é-moh = Monkey
12. Ngonju = n’goo-n’ju = feline
13. Kwereh = ku-è-rè = Giraffe
14. Ngando = n’GA-n’do = Crocodile
15. Mbongo = m’BOO-n’goo = Zebra
Oh my. Thank you so much for the names/word; and for the proununciations. We appreciate you. I hope to add these to the page soon.
your welcome!
Hello everyone,
Please, can anyone provide the names of these animals in ibo language (Nigeria)
Geese
Lynx
Lion
Hyena
Ostrich
Emu
Baboon
Monkey
Crocodile
Monitor Lizard
Horse
Camel
Donkey
Jackal
Porcupine
Python
Antelope
In Igbo:
Lion : Agu (Awolor in some Delta Igbo dialects)
Monkey: Enwe
Baboon : Adaka
Crocodile: Agu Iyi
Horse : Anyinya
Camel: Anyinya IBU
Porcupine: Ebinta
Python: Eke
Antelope: Mgbada
Monitor Lizard: Olubulu
P:S — It is possible that I might have given basically names from less popular dialects of Igbo language,but I assure readers that I have tried my best to make this as accurate as possible,especially judging by the nature of the Igbo language with its many dialects and the lingering argument over which is the universal Igbo dialect.