African Names

Your name is your identity and a window on your culture and self. Your name links you with your past, your ancestors and is a part of your spirituality. Taking on an African name if you are of African descent or culture is a way to make these cultural linkages. Even if you only take the name privately without officially changing your name, you can still gain much satisfaction from making this link with your ancestral home - Africa. Even if you are not of African heritage perusing these lists will enable you to delve a little into the rich traditions and heritage of Africa and so give you new perspective and understanding of your own rich heritage and traditions. This site is intended to be the web's source for African personal names, listed complete with meaning and correct pronounciation. In Africa as in the rest of the world the birth of a child is
an event of great joy and significance. Much importance is attached to the naming of the child. The hopes of the parents, current events of importance and celestial events that may have attended the birth are all given consideration in naming the child. It is believed that the name chosen will exert an influence for better or for worse on the life of the child and on the family as well. These names have been culled from all over the continent and are listed as much for your enjoyment, as for your information and inspiration. If you feel inspired to take on one of them, so much the better. They are listed alphabetically with separate sections for female and male names. We are constantly adding new names to our gallery so please visit us often. We now have African proverbs displayed along with the names, just so you also get a touch of African wisdom. Enjoy