If there is a main road, there is also a short cut. _-Ghana

Enjoy this list of short African names with two syllables or less.

• ADDAE (ah-DAH-eh). Morning sun. Ghana (Akan) M
• ADE (ah-DEH). Royal. Nigeria (Yoruba)
• AFI (ah-FEE). Spiritual things. West Africa F
• AKA (AH-kah). Mother. Nigeria (Eleme) F
• AKO (AH-koh). The first son. West Africa M
• AMEN (AH-mehn). I am one with heaven. Egypt/Khamit
• ASHA (AH-shah). Life. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• AYAH (ah-YAH). Sparkling, twinkling. West Africa
• AYO (AH-yoh). Happiness, joyful. Nigeria F
• AZA (AH-zah). Powerful, strong. Kiswahili
• BASA (BAH-sah). Clean, pure, bright. Togo
• BELA (BEH-lah). To burst forth, to bubble up. Azania (Zulu)
• BENYA (BEHN-yah). To be bright, to shine. Azania (Sotho)
• BIA (BEE-ah). Home. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• BOBO (BOH-boh). Be humble. Nigeria (Hausa) M
• BUSI (boo-see). Small worlds. Uganda (Soga) M
• CHIDI (CHEE-dee). God is alive. Nigeria
• CHIEKE (chee-EH-keh). God is the creator. Nigeria
• CHIKA (CHEE-kah). God is great. Nigeria
• DARA (DAH-rah). Report, message. Azania (Xhosa)
• DAYO (DAH-yoh). Joy arrives. Nigeria (Yor
• DEMBE (dehm-beh). Peace. Uganda F
• DENE (DEH-neh). Water lily. West Africa
• DESTA (DEHS-tah). Happiness. Ethiopia
• DILA (DEE-lah). Courage. North Africa
• DINI (DEE-nee). Faith, religion. Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili) M
• DIYA (DEE-yah). Light. North Africa (Arabic) F
• DOLI (DOH-lee). Doll. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• DULU (DOO-loo). Highly priced, expensive. Azania (Xhosa)
• EBI (EH-bee). God bless. Nigeria
• EBO (EH-boh). Magic. Nigeria (Ishan)
• EBUN (EH-boon). Gift. West Africa F
• EFE (EH-feh). God’s wealth. Nigeria (Edo) M
• EJAU (eh-jahw). We have received. Uganda (Itetso) M
• EKA (EH-kah). Mother earth. West Africa F
• ELLA (EHL-lah). To move towards. Southern Africa (Tsonga)
• EMA (EH-mah). Good. Africa F
• EME (EH-meh). Peace. Nigeria (Efik)
• EMI (EH-mee). Ghost. West Africa (Yoruba)
• ENZI (EHN-zee). Majesty sovereign, power. Kiswahili
• ESHE (EH-sheh). Life, animated, spirited. East, West Africa
• EZE (EH-zeh). King. West Africa M
• EZI (eh-zee). Home; premises. Nigeria (Igbo) F
• FAA (FAAH). Be useful. Kiswahili
• FABU (FAH-boo). A beautiful woman. Ethiopia F
• FANA (FAH-nah). Spiritual joy; spirited day. Ethiopia F
• FARI (FAH-ree). The queen. Gambia (Wolof) F
• FATA (fah-tah). Different. Gambia (Mandinka)
• FELA (feh-lah). Love is saved. Nigeria (Yoruba) F
• FEMI (FEH-mee). Love me. Nigeria (Yoruba) F
• FIRI (fee-ree). To flower. Gambia (Mandinka)
• FURE (FOO-reh). Blossom. West Africa (Hausa)
• FUZI (FOO-zee). Shoulder. Kiswahili
• GHAZI (GHAH-zee). Warrior. North Africa (Arabic) M
• GILA (GEE-lah). Let this live. Sierra Leone
• GILO (GEE-loh). Let this live. Sierra Leone
• GOMBA (GOHM-bah). To quarrel. Kiswahili
• HAKI (HAH-kee). Justice; right. Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili)
• HALA (HAH-lah). Glorious East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• HALA (HAH-lah). Ring around the moon or sun. North Africa (Arabic) F
• HAYA (HAH-yah). Modesty. Kiswahili
• HIBA (HEE-bah). Gift. Kiswahili F
• HURI (HOO-ree). Free person. Kenya, Tanzania
• HURU (HOO-roo). Free. Kiswahili
• IKE (EE-keh). Power, authority. Nigeria
• INA (EE-nah). Fire. West Africa (Yoruba)
• INE (EE-neh). Mother. Nigeria (Ishan) F
• IRE (EE-reh). Blessing. Nigeria (Yoruba)
• IRO (EE-roh). Imagination. West Africa (Yoruba)
• ITA (EE-tah). The invited one. Kiswahili
• IZE (EE-zeh). Blessing. Nigeria (Igarra) F
• JAARA (jaah-rah). To heal. Gambia (Mandinka)
• JAHA (JAH-hah). Courageous. Azania (Nguni)
• JAHI (JAH-hee). Dignity. East Africa (Kiswahili) M
• JAJA (JAH-jah). Honored; he is honored. Nigeria (Igbo) M
• JAJI (JAH-jee). Judge. Azania (Xhosa)
• JALI (JAH-lee). Respect, honor. Kenya, Tanzania
• JAMAA (JAH-mah). Family, relatives. Kiswahili
• JANA (JAH-nah). Yesterday. Kiswahili F
• JANI (JAH-nee). A leaf. Kiswahili F
• JANNA (JAH-nah). Paradise, heaven. Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili) F
• JI (JEE Perceive. West Africa (Hausa)
• JIBOO (jee-boh). New mother. Gambia (Mandinka) F
• JIKI( jee-kee). Trust. Gambia (Mandinka)
• JILO (JEE-loh). The survivor. Sierra Leone (Mende) F
• JINI (JEE-nee). A genie. Kiswahili F
• JIRA (JEER-ah). Related by blood. Eritrea, Ethiopia (Tigrinya) F
• JIRI (GEE-ree). Forest of wild fruits. Zimbabwe M
• JUBA (JOO-bah). Fearless. Africa M
• JUNZA (joon-zah). Tomorrow. Zambia, Zimbabwe
• JURU (joo-roo). Sky. Rwanda, Burundi M
• KAABO (kah-AH-boh). Welcome. West Africa (Yoruba)
• KAFI (kah-fee). Quiet, serene. Central Africa F
• KALI (KAH-lee). Energetic. Cˆote d’Ivoire (Senufo) F
• KAREEM (KAH-reem). Generous. Sudan
• KARU (KAH-roo). Learn. West Africa (Hausa)
• KENTA (kehn-tah). Glowing. Gambia (Mandinka)
• KIAH (KEE-ah). Always. DRC (Bobangi) M
• KIFAA (kee-FAAH). Useful. Kenya, Tanzania (Kiswahili) F
• KIMYA (KEEM-yah). Calm, quiet. Kenya, Tanzania
• KINAH (kee-NAH). Willful; persistent. Nigeria (Bobangi) F
• KITA (KEE-tah). Be firm in the face of danger. Kiswahili
• KITO (KEE-toh). Precious jewel. Kenya, Tanzania
• KOBIE (KOH-bee). Warrior. West Africa M
• KONDO (KOHN-doh). Warlord. East Africa (Kiswahili) M
• KORO (KOH-roh). A golden child. West Africa M
• KOSI (koh-see). To heal. Gambia (Mandinka)
• KULU (koo-loo). Grow; mature. Uganda (Soga) M
• LAKE (LAH-keh). Getting better. Ethiopia M
• LALE (LAH-lee). Flexible. East Africa (Kiswahili) M
• LILA (LEE-lah). Good. Kiswahili
• LISHA (LEE-shah). Mysterious. West Africa (Hausa) F
• LITHA (LEE-tah). A bright beam of light. Azania (Xhosa) M
• LOMO (LOH-moh). Sunshine. Nigeria
• LONGE (LOHN-geh). Young warrior. Zambia (Bemba)
• LUNTU (LOON-too). Humanity. Azania M
• MADU (MAH-doo). Of the people. Nigeria (Igbo) M
• MAHA (MAH-hah). Beautiful eyes. Sudan F
• MANYI (mahn-yee). The mother of twins. Cameroon (Mungaka) F
• MARET (mah-reht). The earth. Ethiopia (Amharic)
• MEMA (meh-MAH). Goodness. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• MENDO (MEHN-doh). The way. Azania (Xhosa) M
• MONA (MOH-nah Jealousy. Swaziland M
• MOSI (MOH-see). First born. Tanzania (Kiswahili) M
• NANA (NAH-nah). Mother of the earth. Ghana F
• NATA (NAH-tah). To be faithful. Kiswahili F
• NAYO (NAH-yoh). We have joy. Nigeria (Yoruba) F
• NIMA (NEE-mah). Blessing. North Africa (Arabic) M
• NINA (NEE-nah). Mother. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• NOMPI (nohm-PEE). Mother of war. Azania (Xhosa) F
• NOMSA (NOHM-sah). Mother of kindness. Azania (Xhosa) F
• NONO (NOH-noh). Scholar. Southern Africa M
• NOSA (NOH-sah). What God has said. Nigeria (Edo) M
• NYAH (n-yah). Purpose. East Africa F
• OBI (OH-bee). Heart. Nigeria (Igbo)
• OLEE (oh-lee). Happy moment. Nigeria
• ONA (oh-nah). Fire. West Africa F
• OTA (OH-tah). Dream. Kiswahili
• RAI (RAH-ee). Strength, prudence. Kiswahili
• RAJI (RAH-jee). Hopeful. North Africa (Arabic) M
• RAMI (RAH-mee). Love. Sudan M
• RANA (RAH-nah). Sun. West Africa (Hausa)
• RO (ROH). Imagine. West Africa (Yoruba)
• RONU (ROH-noo). Contemplate. West Africa (Yoruba)
• RORO (ROH-roh). Fierce. West Africa (Yoruba)
• RUDO (ROO-doh). Love. Zimbabwe (Shona) M
• RUHI (ROO-hee). Spiritual. North Africa (Arabic) M
• SAFA (SAH-fah). Clarity. North Africa (Arabic)
• SAMA (SAH-mah). Heaven. West Africa (Hausa) F
• SANA (SAH-nah). Stranger. Burkina Faso (Mossi) M
• SANYU (SAHG-yoo). Happiness. Uganda (Luganda) M
• SANYU (SAHG-yoo). Happiness. Uganda (Luganda) M
• SARAN (sah-rahn). Joy. West Africa F
• SESI (seh-see). Sister. Azania (Sotho) F
• SHA (SHAH). New. Azania (Zulu)
• SHABA (SHAH-bah). Copper. Kenya M
• SHIBA (SHEE-bah). Beautiful lady. Ethiopia F
• SIFA (SEE- fah). Fame. Kenya, Tanzania
• SIHA (SEE-hah). Good health. Kiswahili
• SIKA (SEE-kah). Gold. Ghana (Akan)
• SIPHO (see-poh). A great gift. Azania (Nguni)
• SISA (SEE-sah). Benevolent; fondness. Azania M
• SOMA (SOH-mah). To read; go to school. Kiswahili
• SOOSI (SOO-see). Church. West Africa (Yoruba)
• SUBI (SOO-bee). Faith. Zambia (Bemba)
• SUNA (SOO-nah). Fame. West Africa (Hausa)
• TAJI (TAH-jee). Crown. Kiswahili
• TAWA (TAH-wah). A religious person. Kenya, Tanzania
• TEKE (TEH-keh). Prayer. Nigeria
• TEMBA (TEHM-bah). Gift. Azania
• TEZI (TEH-zee). One who stays. Azania (Zulu)
• THEMA (TAY-mah). Queen. Central Africa F
• TINDO (TEEN-doh). Active. Kiswahili M
• TISA (TEE-sah). Teacher. West Africa (Yoruba)
• TISHA (tee-shah). Strong-willed. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• TITA (tee-tah). Prince. Cameroon (Mubako) M
• TITI (tee-tee). Flower. Nigeria
• TOKO (TOH-koh). Kind, good. Azania (North Sotho)
• TOR (toor). King. Nigeria (Tiv) M
• TUZA (TOO-zah). To reward. Kiswahili
• TUZO (TOO-zoh). A prize; present. Kiswahili
• UCHE (OO-cheh). Deep thought, reflection. Nigeria
• UKI (OO-kee). Honey. Africa F
• UMI (OO-mee). My mother. Kiswahili F
• UMM (oom). Mother. North Africa (Arabic) F
• UNA (oo-nah). Sweet as banana. Nigeria (Igbo) F
• UPYA (OOP-yah Something new. Kiswahili
• UWA (OO-wah). The world; universe. Nigeria (Igbo) M
• VEGA (VEH-gah). Shooting star. North Africa (Arabic)
• VELI (VEH-lee). One who appears. Azania M
• WALE (WAH-leh). Come home. East Africa F
• WATA (WAH-tah). Moon. West Africa (Hausa)
• WAZA (WAH-zah). One who reflects; to think. Kiswahili
• YAMRO (YAHM-broh). Courteous. Central Africa M
• YANDA (YAHN-dah). Increase, expand. Azania (Xhosa) M
• YARO (YAH-roh). Son. West Africa (Hausa) M
• YATO (YAH-toh). Different. West Africa (Yoruba)
• YAYA (YAH-yah). Child’s nurse. Kiswahili F
• YENYO (yehn-yoh). Mother is rejoicing. Nigeria (Yoruba) F
• YERO (yeh-roh). Warrior, born soldier. DRC M
• YEYE (YEH-yeh). Second daughter. Nigeria (Eleme) F
• YINGI (YEEN-gee). My beloved mother. Nigeria
• ZADA (ZAH-dah). To grow. North Africa (Arabic)
• ZAHRA (ZAH-rah). Beautiful flower. Kiswahili F
• ZAHUR (ZAH-huhr). Flower. Egypt/Khamit M
• ZAMA (ZAH-mah). Try. Azania (Zulu) F
• ZANO (ZAH-noh). Idea. Niger M
• ZANTA (ZAHN-tah). Beautiful girl. Kiswahili F
• ZERA (ZEH-rah). Beauty, blooms, dawn. East Africa (Kiswahili) F
• ZINA (ZEEN-ah). Beauty. Kiswahili
• ZINZO (ZIN-zoh). Stability. Azania M
• ZO (zoh). Folk or traditional medicine. Liberia M
• ZOZO (zoh-zoh). The calm, meek one. Azania (Xhosa)
• ZUKA (ZOO-kah). Famous, renowned. Azania (Xhosa)
• ZWA (ZWAH). Live. Azania (Zulu)

If you’re feeling adventurous, try our Random African Name Generator, or try The African Book of Names.