Biblical African Names
When the music changes, so does the dance. -West Africa
Enjoy this list of African alternatives to Biblical names.
| AARON Mountain of strength, shining light. | KHANYISA (KAHN-YEE-sah) Bring forth light. Azania (Xhosa) M CHIONESU (chee-oh-NEH-soo) Guiding light. Zimbabwe (Shona) M DIYA (DEE-yah) Light. North Africa (Arabic) F |
| ABRAHAM Father of multitude. | DOLO (DOH-loh) Great multitude, abundance. Azania (Xhosa) ENYO (EHN-yoh) Enough children. West Africa MUNGI (moon-gee) One that has a lot. Uganda (Ganda) M |
| ADAM Man, earth. | NDODA (n-DOH-dah) The man. Azania (Xhosa) M NAMIJI (nah-MEE-jee) Male, masculine. West Africa (Hausa) M |
| DANIEL God is my judge. | CHIMAOBI (chee-mah-OH-bee) God knows the heart. Nigeria (Igbo) ONYECHI (ohn-yeh-chee) Humans cannot play God. Nigeria OSAWE (oh-SAH-weh) God says or decides. Nigeria (Edo) M |
| DAVID Beloved. | DAUDI (dah-OO-dee) Beloved one. East Africa (Kiswahili) M DAWUD (dah-OOD) Beloved. North Africa (Arabic) M |
| DELILAH Delight; tease, flirt. | JEMILA (jeh-MEE-lah) Charming and delightful girl. East Africa F FURAHISHA (foo-rah-HEE-shah) To delight. Kiswahili BAYINA (bah-yee-nah) They tease. Uganda (Ganda) |
| EMMA God is with us. | NATHI (NAH-tee) The Lord is with us. (South Africa) |
| ELIJAH The Lord is my God. | CHIKEZIE (chee-KEH-zee) God is the creator. Nigeria OLUWA (oh-LOO-wah) Our Lord. Nigeria (Yoruba) M |
| ELIZABETH God is perfection. | MATAYE (mah-tah-yeh) Only God is perfect. Nigeria (Igarra) |
| ESTER/ESTHER Star. | ISIO (ee-SEE-oh) Stars. Nigeria (Urhobo) JATA (JAH-tah) Star. Kenya (Agikuyu) F LUTANDA (loo-TAHN-dah) Star. Zambia (Bemba) LUTONDE (loo-tohn-deh) Star. DRC (Rega) F NAJMA (NAH-jh-mah) Star. East Africa (Kiswahili) F NYOTA (n-yoh-tah) Star. Kiswahili THORAYA (toh-RAH-yah) Star. North Africa (Arabic) THURAYA (too-RAH-yah) Star. North Africa (Arabic) |
| EVE Life, life-giver. | ASHA (AH-shah) Life. East Africa (Kiswahili) FESHE (EH-sheh) Life, animated, spirited. East, West Africa MAISHA (mah-EE-shah) Life. Kenya, Tanzania |
| EZEKIEL God will strengthen. | IKECHI (ee-KEH-chee) God’s strength. Nigeria (Igbo) M IKEDI (ee-KEH-dee) God’s strength. Nigeria (Igbo) M |
| HANNAH Favored, grace. | NEEMA (neh-EH-mah) Grace. (Kiswahili) NYASHA (neejh-ah-tch-ah) Grace of God. (Zimbabwe) |
| ISAIAH Salvation of God. | CHIDEBE (chee-deh-beh) God saves. (Nigeria) SINDISO (seen-DEE-soh) Salvation. (South Africa ) |
| JACOB To follow, to succeed. | ANDAMA (ahn-DAH-mah) To follow. Kiswahili MALANDELA (mah-lahn-deh-lah) The follower. Azania (Zulu) M ZUMME (zoo-meh) Teach me to follow the right path of God. Nigeria (Igarra) |
| JEREMIAH God will set free. | ANYABWILE (ahn-yah-BWEE-leh) God has unchained me. Tanzania (Nyakyusa) M |
| JOSEPH He will enlarge. | KEHFUN (KEH-foon) One who has brought prosperity. Cameroon (Mubako) M YUSUF (yoo-SOOF) He shall add to his powers. East Africa (Kiswahili) M |
| JOSHUA God is my salvation. | ISSA (ee-SAH) God is our salvation. East Africa (Kiswahili) M |
| JOHN Gracious gift of God. | JAMAL (JAH-mahl) Gift from God. North Africa (Arabic) NEO (NEE-oh) Act of God; free gift. Azania (Sotho) M |
| LUKE Bringer of light, morning. | ADDAE (ah-DAH-eh) Morning sun. (Ghana) SABAH (SAH-bah) Morning. (North Africa) |
| MATTHEW Gift of God. | NONI (noh-nee) Gift of God. (West Africa) |
| MARK Hammer, warlike, of Mars. | FELA (feh-leh) Warlike. Nigeria M |
| MARY Rebellion, overthrow. | KUBA (KOO-bah) Rebellion. Azania (Zulu) F |
| MIRIAM Bitterness. | MARIASHA (mah-ree-AH-shah) Perfect one; bitter with sorrow. Egypt/Khamit F |
| NATHANIEL Gift of God. | OKECHUKU (oh-keh-CHOO-koo) God’s gift. Nigeria (Igbo) M PREYE (preh-yeh) God’s gift or blessing. Nigeria (Igbo) M YAHYA (YAH-yah) God’s gift. East Africa (Kiswahili) M |
| NOAH Rest, comfort. | MTHUNZI (M-TOON-zee) Shade; where we can find rest. Azania (Xhosa) MPHUMLA (POOM-lah) Now we can rest. Azania (Zulu) DUDUZILE (doo-doo-zee-leh) The comforter. Azania ZINGIRA (ZEHN-GEE-rah) To comfort. Kiswahili |
| PETER Stone; rock. | JINJA (JEEN-jah) Stones. Uganda (Ganda) RUBUYE (roo-BOO-yeh) Stone. Rwanda, Burundi M |
| RUTH Friend; companion. | JAMALA (JAH-mah-lah) Friendly, good manner. East Africa (Kiswahili) F RAFIKI (rah-FEE-kee) Trusted friend. Kenya, Tanzania |
| SAMUEL God hears. | SESE (SEH-seh) God hears; God has heard. Ghana |
| SIMON God has heard. | OSAHAR (oh-SAH-hahr) God hears. Benin M |
| SOLOMON Peaceful. | SELAM (seh-lahm) Peace. (Ethiopia) |
| THOMAS Twin. | ATA (ah-tah) Twin. Ghana (Fante) M PATA (PAH-tah) Twin. Kiswahili |
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