Traditional African boy names hold the history and culture of any ethnic group.
There are thousands of tribes all over Africa, each with its own naming traditions.
Most naming ceremonies are done a few days after a baby is born and considered an important event.
From the day or time, a baby is born to birth, several factors influence the names parents to choose for their children.
If the bug to name your bouncy baby boy has caught on, here are some African boy names you could try out.
What is the most popular African boy name?
Addo:
The name features a variety of meanings, including ‘happy; ornament; the king of the path.’
Chidi:
From Nigerian Igbo origins, the name means ‘God exists.’
Chike:
It has African and Egyptian origins to mean ‘The Power of God.’
Dakarai:
The Egyptian name means ‘happiness.’
Fariji:
The Arabic and Swahili name means ‘consolation’ or ‘he brings comfort.’
Demarco:
Means ‘a demanding person; one who is of the mark.’
Odion:
Means’ first child of the twins.’
Obuya:
The Kenyan name means ‘born when the garden was overgrown.’
Selassie:
The African name meaning ‘one that refers to a trinity.’
What is a good name for a black boy?
Abioye:
A unique Yoruba name meaning ‘son of royalty.’
Bandile:
The name from Zulu means ‘the family is growing.’
Adeben:
A Ghanaian name meaning ‘twelfth born.’
Camarsa:
From African origin, it means ‘one who is born to teach, a born teacher or preacher.’
Dembe:
The South African name means ‘miracle,’ in Venda.
Fadhili:
The African Swahili name means ‘aid, favor, compassion, and kindness.’
Kofi:
The name with Ghanaian origins means ‘born on Friday.’
Kojo:
The Ghanaian name means ‘born on Monday.’
Saleem:
The Swahili name means ‘peaceful.’
What is a strong African name?
Ade:
The Nigerian name means ‘crown, or royal.’
Chibale:
The African name means ‘kinship,’ with the Egyptian version meaning ‘Kingsman.’
Ekon:
The Nigerian name means ‘strong.’
Eze:
The name with Igbo origins means ‘A person who is a king.’
Hasani:
Means’ handsome and amazing individual.’
Idi:
Used in Arabic and Swahili for a child born during the Id al-Fitr festival.
Kwame:
Means ‘born on Saturday’ and stems from Ghana.
Kwabena:
Means ‘born on Tuesday,’ and used in the African communities.
Shaka:
The South African name of the tribal leader of the Zulu community.
What is the rarest boy’s name?
Chiamaka:
The name with Igbo roots means ‘God is beautiful.’
Gogana:
Means ‘male child.’
Haji:
The name from Swahili origins means ‘born during the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.’
Jabari:
The Egyptian name means ‘fearless and brave.’
Luthando:
The unisex name is used in various African communities to mean ‘adoration and love.’
Jabarl:
The variation of Swahili Jabir means ‘comforter.’
Jomo:
The African Kenyan name means ‘burning spear’ or ‘to unsheathe a sword.’
Kariuki:
The African Kikuyu name means ‘the reincarnated one,’ given to the next child after the first one died soon after birth.
Unique African boy names
Abioye
It is a Yoruba name that means ‘son of royalty.’ They are known to be charming, open, and friendly.
Adisa
This name means “one who is clear” in Yoruba.
Amare
It means ‘one who builds.’ In Arabic, Amare is a variant of the name Amar. In Latin, this name means ‘cherished’.
Bandile
This is a Zulu name that means “The family is growing”
Abdala
A name that has Arabic origins means ‘the Servant of god.’ He is known to be charming and creative.
Addo
This name has several meanings from different parts of Africa, including ‘Happy; Ornament; King of the path.’
Ade
This is a Nigerian name that means ‘Crown, or Royal.’
Adeben
It is a Ghanaian name that means ‘twelfth born.’
Chiamaka
It is an African name meaning ‘God is beautiful.’ It is of Igbo origin
Chibale
In its African origin, this name means ‘Kinship.’ The Egyptian version means ‘Kingsman.’
Chidi
means ‘God exists’ It is of Igbo origins in Nigeria
Chike
The name has both African and Egyptian origin meaning ‘Power of God’
Camarsa
It is of African origin that means ‘One who is born to teach, a born teacher or preacher.’
Chimelu
The name Chimelu means What God Has Created and is of African origin.
Dakarai
the meaning of the name Dakarai is ‘happiness’. It is of Egyptian origin.
Demarco
It means ‘A demanding person; one who is of the mark’ DeMarco is also a reggae fusion and dancehall musician.
Dembe
Dembe means “Miracle, in Venda”. It is a language from South Africa
Eze
The name means ‘A person who is a King’ Igbo people use it as titles of respect and homage.
Ekon
This is of Nigerian origin, meaning ‘strong.’
Fadhili
The name is of Swahili origin meaning ‘Aid, favor, compassion, and kindness.’
Fariji
Fariji has its origins in the Arabic language. It is used mainly in Arabic and Swahili. The name Fariji means ‘consolation’. It also means ‘He brings comfort’
Gogana
This is one of the variations of the name Godana and means’ male child’.
Gother
It means ‘The one who loves to make friends and warmly welcomes all the good things in life.’
Haji
This name is of Swahili origin, meaning, ‘Born during the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca’
Hasani
It means ‘Handsome and amazing individual.’
Himayat
This is a name that means ‘Help; Protection; Guardianship; Support.’
Huba
With other variations like Hubab or Hubaab, this name means ‘Aim, Love, and Friendship.’
Idi
It is a name given to a child born during the Id al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan.’
Jabari
This is of Egyptian origin. It means ‘fearless and brave.’
Luthando
A name that means adoration and love, and in most communities, is considered a unisex name.
Melokuhle
A name that means standing for what is right or an individual who represents the good things in life. Some of the precious qualities we hope our children to adopt.
Jabarl
Another variation is Jabir, which is of Swahili origin and means’ comforter.’
Jaheem
It is a Swahili word that means ‘One who was raised up to be dignified’. Variants of Jaheem include Jaheim and Jahiem.
Jomo
It means burning spear or ‘to unsheathe a sword’ people with this name are jolly and possess a lifelong passion for their aims. They have a fun side and love laughing.
Kariuki
This is among the most common Kikuyu names. When a child died soon after birth, the family may decide to give the next child an alternative name like Kariuki or Muchoki – the reincarnated one.
Aasir
A name that means an individual with a fascinating or even captivating personality that draws people near.
Kofi
It is a Ghanaian name meaning ‘Born on Friday.’
Kojo
It means ‘Born on Monday.’ The name is of Ghanaian origin.
Kwame
This is of Ghanaian origin, meaning ‘Born on Saturday.’
Katungi
This name means ‘Rich and Pure as a Virgin.’
Abdi
The name initially originated from Hebrew origin but still a very unique and common name with the African community. A name meaning a slave of a servant of God.
Abdul muiz
It is a unique name that has originated from the African community, one that means servant of the giver.
Kwabena
This is an African name that means ‘Born on Tuesday’.
Odion
This name is of Egyptian origin meaning ‘First child of the twins.’
Obuya
It is of Kenyan origin and is a name given when ‘Born when the garden was overgrown.’
Ochieng
The name comes from the word “Chieng,” which means “sun” from a lake-side community found in Kenya known as Luos.
Okello
This is a Luo name describing ‘One who was born after twins.’
Okeyo
This is Luo for ‘One who was born during the harvest.’
Okoth
This name means Born When It Was Raining. Sometimes it is used to refer to a crow.
Owiti
This name is of Kenyan origin. It is the ‘One who was born after a misfortune.’
Selassie
This name is of African origin and is a name that means ‘One that refers to a trinity.’
Saleem
This name is also referred to as Salim. It is a Swahili name meaning ‘Peaceful.’
Shaka
Shaka shaped an amalgamation of tribes into the great Zulu nation in the early 19th century. A name given to the tribal Lead of the Zulu community is at times compared to Attila the Hun.
Last thing about African boy names
These are just a few examples of African boy names.
Some names reflect the mood or circumstance of the family at the time of birth. In many African cultures, children are named in order of their birth.
As parents, we tend to name our precious littles ones after the senior member of the community; this is whether they are still alive with us or dead and would like to honor their memory.
Among some other ethnic groups, a child is named corresponding to the week someone is born.
Across the continent, several local names have religious links, while some words could have been selected depending on the time that the newborn has arrived, the season, or just the day itself.
