• A person take his name with him wherever he goes. —Ghana (Akan)
• One’s name is one’s most effective advocate abroad. —Benin, Nigeria, Togo (Yoruba)
• A name or nickname influences one’s character. —Benin, Nigeria, Togo (Yoruba)
• A good name shines in the dark. —Tanzania (Zanzibar)
• Happiness and a pure name are fragile things. —Benin, Nigeria, Togo (Yoruba)
• The purity of your name is worth more than the purity of your body. —Tunisia
• The worst you can do to a man is to break his name. —East Africa (Kiswahili)
• In order to find out evildoers, every human being is given a name. —Ghana (Twi)
• The owner of a name knows his name; you say to the thief, “Stop, thief!” and he bolts. —Niger, Nigeria (Hausa)
• If you inherit a name you must also adopt its affairs. —Africa
• A not-so-good-looking child is given a beautiful name. —Ethiopia
• The stream may dry up, but the watercourse retains its name. —Benin, Nigeria, Togo (Yoruba)
• If you have spoiled your name at home, go and live elsewhere. —DRC
• It is not what you are called, but what you answer to. —Africa
• Rivers dry up, but not their names. —Benin, Nigeria, Togo (Yoruba)
• One’s name remains above the grave.

A string helps one to wait for a leather strap. _-Kenya

You may want to consider the following in choosing a name that an individual will carry as a form of identity for a lifetime.

Family Tree

You can consider names already in your immediate and extended family, as societies in Africa regularly honor the dead by naming the living after the dead. Think of those persons you already love and feel closely connected to. I encourage you to speak to relatives or close community to see if there are family names (not of African descent) that you can be adopt or adapt. For instance:

• Allison can become Alisiri.
• Angela can become Angalia.
• Amanda can become Amandah.
• Ethan can become Etan.
• Emma can become Ema or Eme.
• Gina or Jeanna can become Jina or Ngina.
• Hannah can become Hana or Hanaa.
• Harold or Harry can become Hari.
• Isabelle can become Isabele or Isibili
• Jason can become Jasir.
• Jeffrey can become Jafari.
• Janeen can become Janaan.
• Kenneth can become Kenyatta.
• Lisa can become Lesa.
• Malcolm can become Malik.
• Olivia can become Olova.
• Robert can become Roblai.
• Thomas or Tom can become Thandiwe or Toma.

You many consider community family names as well. Many Black people name their children after leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Winnie Mandela, and more. People are named after distinguished persons to instill the newly named individual with the desire to emulate the characteristics of the person whose name they wear. Are there special people or names you want to honor? When exploring family trees, also ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the chosen name harmonious with the family surname?
• Should the names of siblings sound similar?

Spirituality and Religion

Parents may affirm their spiritual or religious beliefs through the name they give to a child, as African-descended people are traditionally spiritual. According to Stewart (1996), names with broad spiritual meanings tend to work better than names that are so specific as to limit children who may outgrow certain beliefs or decide to follow different directions during their life cycle.

Origin

Naming is an opportunity to express ethnic pride. Some names are clearly associated with groups, languages, or backgrounds, so as you prepare to select names, consider cultures for which you have an affinity and therefore might like the name to represent. Some names are African, but recognizable as non-African, including names such as Ava, Ada, Brook, China, Fanta, Fela, Jon, Linda, Lola, Nina, Tina, Yoko, Yolanda, and Zina. There are also English words that can easily be adapted into African names with similar sounds (and meanings). As examples:

• Muziki means music
• Suga means sugar
• Rozi and Iliroza mean rose
• Soja means soldier

When choosing, consider using African countries, lakes, rivers, or adapted English words as names. Or, take a word from an African language dictionary and use it as a name. There are millions of available African names from a myriad of sources.

Gender

Africans use a plethora of African names for both genders. Therefore, gender specificity (as far as it exists) need not limit name choice. According to legend, the great Zulu warrior Nozishada was given a typical female name because his father wanted a daughter. In my view, it is acceptable to ignore gender specificity, while still respecting and preserving African culture. Across cultures, parents tend to find it easier to name females than males. Data suggests parents often want to give their girl children names to reflect femininity, love, and individuality. On the other hand, parents frequently want their male children to have names to convey a sense of masculinity, strength, and virility. Because, for instance, women can be strong and men can be loving, I have made a determined effort to supply an equitable number of female, male, and unisex names in all categories (where possible). I denoted gender-specific names with an F or M.

Number

In the United States, where I live, people usually have three names—a first, middle, and last name. A person is usually called by the first name. Only a few people know a person’s middle name, and the middle name is used rather infrequently. The last name, or surname, is often the name of the father, reflecting a patriarchal system of naming. How many names would you like the child, individual, or business to have? Traditional Africans do not confine themselves to three names—a first, middle, and last name. Many African people have four, five, and even six or seven names. Giving many names is more the rule than the exception and there is no end to the giving of names, so that a person may acquire a sizeable collection of names during a lifetime.

For example, the Congolese shot-blocking NBA player Dikembe Mutombo (the man with the largest shoe size in the NBA, along with Shaquille O’Neal) has seven names. Born in the Congo, Mutombo’s full name is: Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo. In order, these names are his uncle’s name, his family surname, his grandfather’s name, his nickname given by his village, his name given at birth, and his hometown village. Like Mutombo, I have seven African names.

Sound and Rhythm

Listen to the rhythm and the way a name sounds when said aloud. Say the name along with the other names that may precede or succeed the name. Consider whether the name sounds too similar to other names in the family or close community.Also ask yourself these questions:

• How does the name sound when you whisper it and when you say the name aloud?
• Do you want to only consider names starting with a certain letter of the alphabet?
• Are the desired numbers of syllables present in the name? (There are some who believe long first names go well with short last names and vice versa.)
• Does the name rhyme?
• Are there negative concepts or terms similar to, or rhyming with the name? (Parents especially need be aware of undesirable hidden rhymes or jokes associated with the names.)
• Will the sound of the name age well? (Some names sound nice for babies, but may not sound suitable for older adults.)

Once you have selected a name or names, say the name over and over again. You will probably not tire of hearing the right name.

Pronunciation

Write the selected name out and pronounce the name to see if the name rolls off the tongue. Some readers want names short and easy to pronounce. Other readers are attracted to polysyllabic names. The chosen name need not be easy to pronounce, but the name you select should begin to come naturally to you.

Spelling

Choosing the spelling of a name offers opportunities to avoid common spellings and also offers a way for a name to stand out. As an example, my rather popular name is traditionally spelled “Askari.” I added an “h” to 1) help my Askhari stand apart from other Askaris; and 2) to contribute to the similarity between my own name and Khary, the birth name of my biological brother.

With spelling, be creative, cautious, and respectful. There is the possibility that a nontraditional spelling of a name will change the meaning or affect the ability of others to correctly pronounce the name.Work for phonetic harmony between the spelling and actual pronunciation of a name.

Popularity

Consider the popularity of a name during name selection. Choosing a trendy name may mean sitting in a room full of people with the same name. Also, popular names don’t always age well. Certain names are “in” at times and “out” at others. You will want to pick a name that will grow with the person or entity being named.

To determine popularity of a specific name, visit the United States Social Security Administration’s URL: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/. The Social Security Administration’s database is far from comprehensive and does not include most African names. The popularity of many names can be determined to some degree, however, by searching the database by name, state, or year. Again, for a variety of reasons, including home and other unrecorded births, most African names will not be present in the database.

Uniqueness

Many African societies name individuals according to rules and norms. These names tend to indicate the time the child was born or circumstances of bi th. They may also locate individuals in space and time. This conventional naming system produces high-occurrence names. Many readers will be more comfortable with conventional, often used names, such as Aisha, Shaka, or Kwame.

And yet, some readers want uncommon or exotic-sounding names that stand out. Uncommon names emphasize individuality and convey identity.

Nicknames and Initials

According to the Baby Centre, four out of ten parents have nicknames for their children. Historically, people in Black communities use shortened names. Nickname usage is a direct survivor of continental African naming practices. Therefore, consider the following questions:

• What do initials spell out or represent?
• Is there the potential for undesirable letter combinations?
• Do shortened versions of the selected names sound good?
• Do you want all members of your family to have the same initials?

Meaning

Meanings give you opportunities to make significant statements. In the spirit of continental Africans, you may choose a name that represents day, time, or order of birth, location of birth, condition or circumstance of birth, or desired or physical characteristics.

You can choose themes to represent the entire family. In the name you give to an individual, express your life philosophy or the hopes, beliefs, joys, and worries of your community.

Alternately, the meaning of a non-African name can be used to find an African name. For example, the German name William means “protector,” or “protection.” Yet, instead of naming a child William, the child could be named Arisi, Asim, or Kafil, all of which mean “protector.” Or, instead of the popular name, Hannah, meaning “grace of god,” a child could be named Nyasha. Another popular non-African name is Matthew, meaning “gift of god.” The African name Noni also means “gift from God.”

Sometimes names reveal or confirm themselves to you during dreams, visions, or walks. Often, naming is simply amatter of listening. The name you are choosing should evoke positive or pleasant feelings and feel “right.” I trust each reader finds at least one name that brings a smile, an “aha moment,” or a sense of satisfaction.

For a (hopefully) helpful naming worksheet, please click here.

©2009. Askhari Hodari, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Reprinted from The African Book of Names. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

If you sell a drum in your own village, you get the money and keep the sound. _-Madagascar

On such a diverse continent, the people of Africa differ from each other with regard to language, religion, philosophy, music, and appearance. Africa’s indigenous people come in all different sizes, skin colors, and shapes. They govern themselves in a myriad of ways, speak thousands of different languages, and worship different indigenous and imported gods. Despite enormous cultural variety throughout Africa, there are central themes common to African naming.

Day, Time, or Order of Birth
Quite often in African cultures, a name evidences the day of birth, time of birth, or the birth order. For example:

AKUA Wednesday.
DOTO Second of twins.
LAYLA Born at night.
MOSI First born.
NINA First female child.

Conditions or Circumstances of Birth and Reactions to Birth
Conditions of and reactions to birth vary. The people of Nigeria say, “We consider the state of our affairs before we name a child.” The following names evidence these assorted states of affairs:

ALFRYEA Born during good times.
ALANYO A child born at a time when parents were separated.
CHIFINI Child born after the mother has buried several young ones.
FALALA Born into abundance.
KIJITA Child born after the death of her father.
LESA Child born unexpectedly.

Location of Birth
Africans frequently reference geography and landscape when selecting names. The Yoruba people say, “Rivers dry up but not their names.” Recognizing this, many times names document the place or area of birth:

AFIBA By the sea.
JIRI Forest of wild fruits.
KUSI South.
SANGA From the valley.
SHARTATI Most beautiful mountain.
ZIZWE Child born in a foreign land.

Event or Season of Birth
As with location, African names also document the season of birth or events happening during the time of birth:

ARUSI Born during time of wedding.
BEJIDE Child born during the rains.
CHOZI Tear, born after a funeral.
DEMOKRASI Born during nationalist revolution.
KHEPHU Born during snow conditions.
RABIA Spring.

Religious and Spiritual Concepts
All available information suggests Afridiasporic people have some concept of God. There is no record of an African society devoid of a God concept (Mbiti 1972).  Certainly, one of the biggest categories of names relates to (1) the image of God; (2) the nature of God; (3) the activities of God; and (4) the relationships between God and woman and man. African names emphasize God as one who manifests through action rather than speech (what God does, rather than what God says). Following are examples of African names related to God, religion, faith, or spirituality:

EKEDI The existence of the creator is shown by what he does.
NATHI God is with us.
KEMBA She is full of faith.
BASHA Act of God.
CHIMA God has the answer.
SHEYI See what God did for me.
SUKU He who supplies the needs of his creatures.

Desired Characteristics
Frequently, Africans take the character, behavior, and attitude of the name bearer into account when selecting names. A Moroccan proverb reads, “a good name is more valuable than a velvet garment.” Accordingly, African names speak to desired characteristics. In a sense, these types of names are waiting for the person:

HODARI Brave; courageous.
IME Patient.
JINAKI Self-confident; proud.
KASHKA friendly.
OKAOME One who says and does what he says.
ZUBERI Strong.

Animals and Other Living Creatures
Sometimes, names of animals or other living creatures represent the physical attributes or personal qualities of individuals.

FEZELA Scorpion (a hurtful person, a mischievous person).
KASUKU Parrot (talkative person).
MUSOTA Snake (sly and mischievous person).
NAMA Lion (strong, powerful person).
NKUKU Rooster (early riser).
RASHA Gazelle (graceful runner).
TAUSI Peacock (person full of pride).
ZEKLE Cock (quarrelsome).

Deceased Persons, Relatives, and Royalty
In Ethiopia, the people say, “One’s name remains about the grave.” Africans often name their children after deceased persons, relatives, celebrities, or royalty. Common names of this type include:

NEFERTITI The beautiful one has arrived.
NOFOTO Child born in the image of her grandmother.
NZINGA From the river.
RAMSES Sun-born.
SESI Sister.
SHAKA Stomach disorder.
CLEOPATRA Famous.

Physical Characteristics
Not surprisingly, numerous Africans use names to describe physical appearance. When someone has a special or peculiar physical quality, he or she is likely to receive names such as:

KABIBI Fat and beautiful child.
MASHAVU Little baby with chubby cheeks.
NAJLA Having big eyes.
SHAKILA Shapely, well-rounded.
TABASAMU A beautiful smile.
YOZI The one with big sleepy eyes.

With 16 percent of the world’s population residing on the African continent, Africa has given birth to millions of lyrical, intriguing, and significant names—thousands of which are listed in THE AFRICAN BOOK OF NAMES.

©2009. Askhari Hodari, Ph.D. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the express written permission of the author. Author: Askhari Hodari |  The African Book of Names | afrikannames@gmail.com.