Enjoy this list of short African names with two syllables or less. If you don’t discover a name that 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
ADDAE | (ah-DAH-eh) | Morning sun. | Ghana (Akan) | M |
AFI | (ah-FEE) | Spiritual things. | West Africa | F |
AIDA | (ah-ee-dah) | Princess. | Ethiopia | F |
BELA | (BEH-lah) | To burst forth, to bubble up. | Azania (Zulu) | |
BUSI | (Boo-see) | Small worlds. | Uganda (Soga) | M |
CHIKU | (chee-koo) | Chatter box. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | F |
CHIPO | (chee-poh) | Gift. | Zimbabwe (Shona) | F |
DINI | (DEE-nee) | Faith, religion. | Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili) | M |
DOMME | (DOHM-meh) | I have been blessed. | Ghana (Akan) | |
DUMA | (DOO-mah) | Lightning, thunder. | Zulu | |
EFE | (EH-feh) | God’s wealth. | Nigeria (Edo) | M |
ELLA | (EHL-lah) | To move towards. | Southern Africa (Tsonga) | |
EZE | (EH-zeh) | King. | West Africa | M |
FAA | (FAAH) | Be useful. | Kiswahili | |
FARI | (FAH-ree) | The queen. | Gambia (Wolof) | F |
FEMI | (FEH-mee) | Love me. | Nigeria (Yoruba) | F |
FOLA | (FOH-lah) | Honorable. | Nigeria (Yoruba) | F |
GAMBA | (gahm-bah) | Warrior. | Zimbabwe (Shona) | M |
HALA | (HAH-lah) | Glorious. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | F |
HONDO | (hohn-doh) | Warrior. | Zimbabwe (Shona) | M |
IFE | (EE-feh) | Love. | Nigeria (Yorua) | F |
JAHI | (JAH-hee) | Dignity. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | M |
JAJA | (JAH-jah) | Honored; he is honored. | Nigeria (Igbo) | M |
JANNA | (JAH-nah) | Paradise, heaven. | Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili) | F |
JIRI | (GEE-ree) | Forest of wild fruits. | Zimbabwe | M |
JOMO | (JOH-moh) | Burning spear. | Kenya | |
JURU | (joo-roo) | Sky. | Rwanda, Burundi | M |
KAFI | (kah-fee) | Quiet, serene. | Central Africa | F |
KHARI | (KAH-ree) | Kingly. | West Africa | M |
KITA | (KEE-tah) | Be firm in the face of danger. | Kiswahili | |
KOSI | (koh-see) | To heal. | Gambia (Mandinka) | |
LAAH | (la-ah) | Fire. | Cameroon | M |
LALE | (LAH-lee) | Flexible. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | M |
LUNTU | (LOON-too) | Humanity. | Azania | M |
MEMA | (meh-MAH) | Goodness. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | F |
MOSI | (MOH-see) | first born. | Tanzania (Kiswahili) | M |
MOYO | (MOH-yoh) | Life, well-being, good health. | Malawi | M |
NATA | (NAH-tah) | To be faithful. | Kiswahili | F |
NIA | (NEE-ah) | Purpose. | Kiswahili | |
NOMBLE | Beauty. | South Africa (Xhosa) | F | |
NURU | (noo-roo) | To illuminate. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | F |
OKRA | (OHK-rah) | Soul. | Ghana | M |
OLEE | (oh-lee) | Happy moment. | Nigeria | |
ONA | (oh-nah) | Fire. | West Africa | F |
PAKI | (pah-kee) | Witness. | Xhosa | M |
RAMI | (RAH-mee) | Love. | Sudan | M |
SAMA | (SAH-mah) | Heaven. | West Africa (Hausa) | F |
SHA | (SHAH) | New. | Azania (Zulu) | |
SOJA | (SOH-jah) | Soldier. | West Africa (Yoruba) | |
SUDI | (SOO-dee) | Luck. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | |
SULA | (SOO-lah) | Disrespectful; to forget about a wrong that has been committed. | Zambia | |
TEZI | (TEH-zee) | One who stays. | Azania (Zulu) | |
TINDO | (TEEN-doh) | Active. | Kiswahili | M |
TISHA | (tee-shah) | Strong-willed. | East Africa (Kiswahili) | F |
TITA | (tee-tah) | Prince. | Cameroon (Mubako) | M |
TITI | (tee-tee) | Flower. | Nigeria | |
TOR | (toor) | King. | Nigeria (Tiv) | M |
UCHE | (OO-cheh) | Deep thought, reflection. | Nigeria | F |
UNA | (oo-nah) | Sweet as banana. | Nigeria (Igbo) | F |
URBI | (OOR-bee) | Princess. | Benin | F |
UWA | (OO-wah) | The world; universe. | Nigeria (Igbo) | M |
WALE | (wAH-leh) | Come home. | East Africa | F |
YANDA | (YAHN-dah) | Increase, expand. | Xhosa | M |
YARO | (YAH-roh) | Son. | West Africa (Hausa) | M |
YERO | (yeh-roh) | Warrior, born soldier. | DRC | M |
ZAHRA | (ZAH-rah) | Beautiful flower. | Kiswahili | F |
ZANTA | (ZAHN-tah) | Beautiful girl. | Kiswahili | F |
ZERA | (ZEH-rah) | Beauty, blooms, dawn. | F | |
ZINDZHI | (ZEHND-zee) | Warrior. | Azania | F |
ZINZO | (ZIN-zoh) | Stability. | Azania | M |
What are your favorite SHORT names? Do you have SHORT African names to share? If so, please share these names in the comments section.
Yero
I’m looking for a African name meaning light or enlightened one
I’m looking for a African name meaning light or enlightened one. I got a message that I said this befor, but still I haven’t been andwered
Nur
Nur is the Arabic word for Divine Light.
I know you said African, but I’ve always loved this name, so much so that it’s part of my own name
I need the pronunciation for Bisa it is a girls name and means greatly loved.
Thanks