201 African Boy Names With Meanings

African boy names are strong and have meanings that are related to the African way of life. Africa is the biggest continent in the world.

First humans were from Africa, so we all have deep roots in Africa. First civilizations came from Africa, almost everything about human history came from Africa in the beginning.

Meanings In African Boy Names

African boy names have couple of different meanings. Some African names for boys got their meanings by birth order, such as the name Essien which means the Sixth-born son.

Other African boy names got their meanings from nature. For example, Kosey is African boy name meaning Lion.

There are African names for boys that have meanings expressing the personality or physical appearance. Such as the name Jelani that means Mighty or Elewa which means Intelligent.

There are quite a few African boy names with strong and powerful warrior meanings. For example, Adofo name which is a Ghanian word for warrior.

And, a lot of African boy names have spiritual or religious meanings. Such as Enam which is a Ghanian name meaning “gift from God”.

For more naming inspiration and African names, take a look at our African girl names with meanings.

African Boy Names With Meaning

Here are some traditional African boy names with meanings.

1. Abdalla – meaning Servant of God
2. Abdul – meaning Servant of the Lord
3. Abedi – meaning Worshipper
4. Abiola – African boy name meaning Born in Honor
5. Abu – meaning Father
6. Akiiki – meaning Friend (Ugandan)
7. Ade – meaning Crown, royal
8. Aganju – meaning In Yoruban mythology, Aganju was the son and husband of Ododua, the earth goddess
9. Ambonisye – meaning Tanzianian name meaning ‘God rewards me’
10. Andwele – meaning Tanzanian name meaning ‘God brings me’
11. Ajani – meaning He who wins the struggle
12. Aman – meaning Trustworthy
13. Amiri – meaning Prince
14. Ande – meaning Pillar
15. Ashur – meaning Born during the month
16. Ayize – African boy name meaning Let it come (Zulu)
17. Baakir – meaning Eldest
18. Babu – meaning Grandfather
19. Badrani – meaning Full Moon
20. Baruti – meaning Botswanan name meaning ‘teacher’
21. Bello – meaning Assistant
22. Betserai – meaning Zimbabwean name meaning ‘help’
23. Bour – meaning Rock
24. Bron – meaning Origin
25. Chacha – meaning Strong
26. Chane – meaning Plant
27. Chenzira – meaning Zimbabwean name meaning ‘born while traveling’
28. Chibale – meaning Kinship
29. Chikae – meaning God’s power
30. Chimalsi – meaning Proud
31. Chionesu – meaning Zimbabwean name meaning ‘protector’
32. Chiumbo – meaning Kenyan word meaning ‘small child’
33. Chuma – meaning Zimbabwean name meaning ‘bead’
34. Cilombo – African boy name meaning Camp by the road
35. Dabir – meaning Teacher
36. Dakarai – meaning Zimbabwean name meaning ‘happiness’
37. Daktari – meaning Healer
38. Danladi – meaning Born on a Sunday
39. Diallo – meaning Bold
40. Elewa – meaning Intelligent
41. Essien – which means Sixth-born son
42. Eze – meaning King
43. Fahim – meaning Learned
44. Farhani – meaning Happy
45. Fenyang – meaning Botswanan name meaning ‘conqueror’
46. Ghalib – meaning Winner
47. Godana – meaning Male Child
48. Haamid – meaning Grateful
49. Habib – meaning Beloved
50. Horus – meaning Hawk
51. Iggi – meaning Only Son
52. Iman – which means Faith
53. Issay – meaning Hairy
54. Jaafar – meaning Small River
55. Jabari – meaning Brave
56. Jabilo – meaning Medicine Man
57. Jamal – meaning Elegance
58. Jamilah – African boy name meaning Form of Jameelah – chaste (Somali)
59. Jamilia – meaning Form of Jameelah – chaste (Swahili)
60. Jelani – meaning Mighty
61. Kenyi – meaning Male Born after 3+ Girls
62. Kiros – meaning The King
63. Kosey – meaning Lion
64. Latif – which means Gentle
65. Maalik – meaning Experienced
66. Mkhululi – meaning Release or Free
67. Morathi – meaning Wise Man
68. Moswen – meaning Light in Color
69. Muhammed – meaning Praised
70. Naasir – meaning Defender
71. Nakiebra – meaning A bright child
72. Nanji – meaning Safe
73. Nassor – meaning Victorious
74. Odongo – meaning Second of Twins
75. Ogbanye – meaning First born
76. Oringo – meaning He Who Likes the Hunt
77. Paki – meaning Witness
78. Paulo – meaning Place of Rest
79. Polo – which means Alligator
80. Rafiki – meaning Friend
81. Rashad – meaning Righteous
82. Rasul – meaning Messenger
83. Reth – meaning King
84. Saad – meaning Good Fortune
85. Said – meaning Happy
86. Salaam – meaning Peach
87. Salim – meaning Peace
88. Senwe – meaning Dry Grain Stalk
89. Shaka – meaning The name of the Zulu tribal leader sometimes compared to Attila the Hun Shaka shaped an amalgamation of tribes into the great Zulu nation in the early 19th century (Zulu)
90. Tahir – meaning Pure
91. Taj – meaning Exalted (Urdu)
92. Taji – meaning Crown
93. Talib – which means Seeker
94. Tanishia – meaning Born on Monday
95. Tau – meaning Lion
96. Uba – meaning Father, Lord
97. Ubora – meaning Excellence
98. Ulan – meaning First Born Twin
99. Umar – meaning Longevity
100. Waitimu – African boy name meaning Born of the Spear
101. Yaro – meaning Son
102. Yohance – meaning God’s Gift
103. Zaci – meaning God of Fatherhood
104. Zahir – meaning Shining
105. Zaid – meaning Increase, growth
106. Zareb – which means Protector
107. Zuri – meaning Good Looking

African American Boy Names With Meaning

Here are some African-American boy names with their meanings.

1. Adriel – meaning Beaver, symbol of skill
2. Cleavon – African American boy name meaning Cliff
3. Clevon – Form of Cleavon meaning Cliff
4. Deion – Form of Dion and it means God
5. Demarco – Of Mark
6. Demond – meaning Of man
7. Deon – Form of Dion meaning God
8. Dion – African American boy name meaning God
9. Elon – meaning Spirit
10. Elroi – Form of Elroy meaning The king
11. Elroy – meaning The king
12. Jaiveon –  African American boy name meaning Victorious
13. Kleavon – Form of Cleavon meaning Cliff
14. Klevon – Form of Cleavon meaning Cliff

Nigerian African Names For Boys

Here are African boy names with meanings that have origin from Nigeria.

1. Abayomi – meaning Nigerian name meaning bringer of happiness
2. Abejide – meaning Nigerian name for one who is born in the wintertime
3. Abiodun – meaning Nigerian name given to one born during war
4. Adebayo – meaning Nigerian for ‘he was happy’
5. Adejola – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘the crown needs honor’
6. Adesola – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘the crown honored us’
7. Adunbi – meaning Nigerian word for pleasant
8. Adio – African boy name meaning Righteous (Nigerian)
9. Adisa – meaning The clear one (Nigerian)
10. Aiyetoro – meaning Peace on earth (Nigerian)
11. Akanni – meaning Profitable encounter; our encounter brings wealth (Nigerian)
12. Akiiki – meaning Friend (Ugandan)
13. Akinlabi – meaning We have a boy (Nigerian)
14. Akinlana – meaning Brave (Nigerian)
15. Akono – meaning My turn (Nigerian)
16. Amadi – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘fated to die at birth’
17. Aniweta – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘brought by a spirit’
18. Apara – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘child that comes and goes’
19. Aren – African boy name meaning Eagle (Nigerian)
20. Atuanya – meaning A surprise; unexpected (Nigerian)
21. Ayo – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘happiness’
22. Azi – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘youth’
23. Babafemi – meaning Nigerian for ‘my father loves me’
24. Bem – meaning Nigerian word for ‘peace’
25. Boseda – meaning Nigerian name given to a child born on Sunday
26. Chi – meaning Nigerian word for ‘God’
27. Chike – meaning Form of Chuioke – Nigerian name meaning ‘talented’
28. Chinelo – meaning Form of Chuioke – Nigerian name meaning ‘talented’
29. Chinese – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘God protects’
30. Chinua – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘God’s blessings’
31. Chioke – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘God’s gift’
32. Chuioke – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘talented’
33. Cinese – meaning Form of Chinese – Nigerian name meaning ‘God protects’
34. Dada – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘curly-haired child’
35. Daren – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘born at night’
36. Dumaka – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘help out’
37. Ehioze – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘not jealous’
38. Ekon – meaning Strong (Nigerian)
39. Foluke – meaning Nigerian name meaning ‘placed in God’s hands’

African Names For Boys With Origins From Ghana

Here are African boy names that originated from Ghana, with meanings.

1. Abeeku – meaning Ghanaian word for one who is born on Wednesday
2. Addae – meaning Ghanaian word for the morning sun
3. Adeben – meaning Ghanaian name given to the twelfth-born son
4. Adika – meaning Ghanaian name given to the first child from a second husband
5. Adofo – meaning Ghanaian word for warrior
6. Adom – African boy name meaning God’s blessing (Ghanaian)
7. Adusa – meaning Ghanaian name given to the thirteenth-born child
8. Afram – meaning A river in Ghana, Africa
9. Akua – meaning Ghanaian name for one born on Thursday
10. Akwetee – meaning Ghanaian name for the second twin born
11. Anane – meaning Ghanaian name given to the fourth son born
12. Anum – meaning Ghanaian name given to the fifth born child
13. Ata – meaning Ghanaian name given to the first-born twin
14. Atsu – Ghanaian name given to the second-born twin
15. Atu – Ghanaian name given to a boy born on Saturday
16. Bobo – Ghanaian name given to a child born on Tuesday
17. Bodua – meaning Ghanaian name that means ‘animal tail’
18. Ebo – meaning Ghanaian name given to a child born on Tuesday
19. Enam – African boy name meaning Ghanaian name meaning ‘gift from God’
20. Fynn – meaning Name of a river in Ghana

Swahili African Boy Names With Meaning

Here are African boy names with meanings, that have Swahili language origin.

1. Bakari – Swahili name meaning ‘promising’
2. Darweshi – Swahili name meaning ‘devout’
3. Daudi – Swahili name meaning ‘beloved’
4. Dawud – Form of Daudi – Swahili name meaning ‘beloved’
5. Faraji – which means Consolation (Swahili)
6. Hasan – meaning Handsome (Swahili)
7. Hasani – African boy name meaning Handsome (Swahili)
8. Hassain – meaning Handsome (Swahili)
9. Jabarl – meaning Valiant (Swahili)
10. Jameelah – meaning Chaste (Somali) (Swahili)
11. Nuru – meaning Born at night (Swahili)
12. Omari – meaning God the highest (Swahili)
13. Omarr – meaning God the highest (Swahili)
14. Rashidi – meaning Thinker; counselor (Swahili)
15. Saleem – which means Peaceful (Swahili)

African Boy Names With Origins From Malawi

Next category are Malawian African boy names with their meaning.

1. Bomani – Malawian name meaning ‘strong soldier’
2. Bornani – Malawian name meaning ‘warrior’
3. Chisulo – Malawian name meaning ‘steel’
4. Dulani – African boy name, Malawian name meaning ‘cutting’
5. Fulumirani – Malawian name meaning ‘a journey’
6. Funsan – Malawian name meaning ‘request’

More Baby Names

Browse around on Kidzable. We have many more baby names for more naming inspiration. You can check our African names for girls to begin with. Next, you can take a look at our German boy names with meanings. And much more.