African Dog Names

Kia

Diminutive of Kristina, used in Albanian, Croatian, Czech and other languages

Kimba

English, borrowed from Barngarla dyimba, "ashes"

Kimbo

Recorded as a masculine given name in Australian English

Kinta

A name of African origin meaning 'the one who has a strong will'

Kito

The meaning of Kito is 'gift' in Swahili

Kofi

Means "born on Friday" in Akan

Kombo

A word meaning 'to combine' or 'to mix'

Kony

Korro

No documented meaning in the sources checked

Kovu

Recorded as a masculine given name in Swahili (user-submitted)

Kwame

Means "born on Saturday" in Akan

Lerato

Means "love" in Sotho

Lulu

A diminutive of names beginning with Lou or Lu, such as Louise or Lucinda; also the Arabic word for "pearls"

Maji

A Bengali surname, also spelled Majee

Makeda

Possibly means "greatness" in Ethiopic

Makena

Means "happy one" in Kikuyu

Malaika

Means "angel" in Swahili, from Arabic malak

Mali

A city in West Africa, also means 'to make' in several languages

Manani

Mayana

No meaning is documented in the sources checked

Mazi

Recorded as a given name in modern Hebrew (feminine) and Persian (masculine)

Mendi

Recorded as a feminine given name in Hungarian

Mosi

Means "first (child)" in Swahili

Mufasa

Name of a character in Disney's The Lion King franchise

Najo

Nala

Sanskrit for "stem"; a king of the Nishadha people in the Mahabharata

Naledi

Means "star" in Tswana and Sotho

Nali

Recorded as a feminine given name in Hmong

Nalla

A name that can mean 'successful' or 'prosperous' in various cultures

Nedi

Nia

Welsh form of Niamh; also Swahili for "purpose, aim"; also a short form of Antonia and Sidonia.

Nimba

Niya

English word from Uyghur نىيە (niye); recorded as a given name in English and Sanskrit

Njeri

Means "travelling one" in Kikuyu, a language of Kenya

Nye

An African name meaning 'to be' or 'exist'.

Nyota

Star in Swahili and Lingala

Obasi

Igbo name, from "Obasi bi n'igwe", "the Almighty God who resides in the heavens"

Obi

Means "heart" in Igbo

Oby

A variant of the name 'Obi', meaning heart in some African languages.

Okito

A name that means 'little one' in some African cultures

Oko

Recorded as a given name in Ga, a language of Ghana

Okoye

A character from the Marvel comics and films, known for her bravery and strength

Olisa

Recorded as a given name in Albanian (feminine) and Igbo (masculine)

Omara

No documented meaning in the sources checked

Omari

Meaning uncertain; possibly a Swahili variant of Umar

Omo

Abbreviation of English "O sum", with o as a placeholder

Omu

Orisa

A name that often signifies a deity or spirit in some cultures.

Oshun

Orisha of water, fertility, and love in Yoruba mythology

Paka

Finnish, from Spanish paca, from Old Tupi paka

Penda

Recorded as a given name in African American, Anglo-Saxon, Ovambo and Fula use

Pumba

From Swahili pumbaa, "to be foolish, silly, weakminded, careless, negligent"

Pumbaa

The name of a character in Disney's 'The Lion King', known for being a funny and carefree warthog.

Riro

Recorded as a masculine given name in Rapa Nui

Rudo

Means "love" in Shona

Rufaro

Means "happiness" in Shona

Sade

Recorded as a given name in Yoruba, English and Finnish

Safari

From Swahili safari, 'journey', originally from Arabic safar, 'to journey'

Sarabi

A name of Swahili origin meaning 'mirage' or 'illusion'.

Sasa

A given name recorded in Japanese and Greek, both rare and feminine

Shaka

The name 'Shaka' is derived from the legendary leader and founder of the Zulu Empire in South Africa, recognized for his military prowess and governance.

Shango

Yoruba Ṣàngó, the orisha of thunder, lightning and fire

Shoka

A Japanese era name (nengō), written 正嘉

Shuri

The name of the Wakandan princess and scientist in the Marvel Comics Universe.

Simba

Swahili for "lion"; also a Shona name meaning "power, strength"

Suku

Means 'smiling' in some cultures

Taraji

No documented meaning in the sources checked

Tasani

Thandie

A given name recorded in Southern Africa

Thandiwe

Means "loving one" in Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele, from thanda "to love"

Thando

From Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele thanda, "to love"

Timon

A character from 'The Lion King', known for his humorous personality

Tobo

Twiga

Uhura

Ukato

Upendo

Means "love" in Swahili

Ushindi

Swahili, formed from u- and -shinda ("to win") with the ending -i

Usiku

Swahili and Chichewa word for night

Vusi

The name Vusi means 'to come forth' or 'to bring' in Zulu.

Wakanda

A fictional African nation known for its advanced technology and rich culture.

Wanja

German borrowing of Russian Vanya, a diminutive of Ivan and Ivanna

Wanjana

Wemba

A byname derived from Old English wamb, meaning "belly"

Wenga

Wusela

Xaba

Xabo

Xambo

Xango

The god of thunder and lightning in Afro-Brazilian religion

Ximbo

An Otomi word, from nximbo, meaning "the heart of the maguey"

Xola

Xhosa avoidance term formed from -phola

Xolani

Means "peace" in Zulu

Yarwa

Yemmi

Yenja

Yero

Yimbo

Yinka

Yoruba unisex name, a contraction of Yímiká, meaning "surround(s) me"

Yumo