Southern African
names include those from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. See also
about African names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
BATLOKWA Tswana, Southern Africana branch of the Bakgatla section of the Bantu speaking communities which originated from the Great Lakes and Northern Central Africa. Batlokwa are said to have been a breakaway branch of the Bakgatla which is another Bahurutse section of the Tswana people.
BEKKER Afrikaansbekker is a regional form of Dutch bakker which means Baker
CHAMAPIWA ShonaChamapiwa means "that which you have been given".
It is a call to appreciate that which you have from God CHENAI ShonaChenai means "Be clean, be hygienic or come out clean"
CILLIËRS AfrikaansBrought to South Africa by settlers of French decent some time in the past 300 years. Sometimes also a given name for boys.
DAMBUDZO ShonaDambudzo means "that which causes suffering or trouble". #The Zimbabwean writer, Dambudzo Marechera is a famous bearer of this name".
DUBE Ndebele, ZuluIt means Zebra. It is usually a surname instead of a person's name used by Zimbabwean Ndebele people and South African Zulu people....
[more] ENGELBRECHT AfrikaansThe name Engelbrecht has multiple translations, including "Angle Glorious" and "Bright Angel".
JEYI ShonaPorcupine. Wamambo. Strong, Courageous, Joyful and loving.
KAT Dutch, Frisian, Afrikaans, JewishMeans "Cat" in Dutch, Frisian, and Afrikaans, perhaps originally a nickname for someone who owned a cat or somehow resembled a cat.
LOUW AfrikaansLouw is a surname that has pre 7th century Germanic origins. It is a Dutch/Flemish variant on the word Lowe, meaning Lion.
MUFARO ShonaMufaro means "Joy, happiness".
It is a name of rejoicing ONAI ShonaOnai means "See, observe". #It is a name that calls the hearer to see or observe that which happened".
PRINSLOO AfrikaansPrinsloo is an Afrikaans surname. The name is derived from the dutch word Prins (meaning prince), and a loo suffix meaning clearing in the forest. Variant spellings include Prinzloo and Prinslo.
TAFARA ShonaTafara means "We are happy or we rejoice".
It is a name of rejoicing TAWANDA ShonaTawanda means "We have increased or multiplied". #It is a name acknowledging the birth of a child as an increase to the family".
THERON Southern African, Afrikaans, OccitanHabitational name for someone from any of various locations in Occitanie named Théron or Thérond, ultimately from Latin
torus meaning "elevation, height, embankment". A famous bearer is South African and American actress
Charlize Theron (1975-).
TINETARIRO ShonaTinetariro means "We have hope".
Usually given to declare that we have our hope in God.
TONDERAI ShonaTonderai means "Remember".
This name is given as a call to remember a particular event or to remember one's origins.
VAN DER MERWE Dutch, South AfricanWhile the name is currently very common in South Africa, it originates in Holland, literally meaning "From the Merwe". The first van der Merwes hail from the Merwede river. The name went to South Africa with the Dutch settlers in 1652.
VAN NIEKERK Afrikaans, Southern AfricanTopographic name for any of the various locations named Nieuwerkerk in The Netherlands or Nieuwerkerken in Belgium. The name itself means "of the new church" from Dutch
van meaning "of" combined with
nieuw meaning "new" and
kerk meaning "church".
VAN ROOYEN Afrikaansvan Rooyen related to
van Rooijen, is an Afrikaans and Dutch toponymic surname. May be rooted from the Rhine area of the Netherlands, possibly having meant "from Rhine" originally...
[more] VIMBAI ShonaVimbai means "Have hope, trust".
It is a call to have hope or to trust in VONGAI ShonaVongai means "be thankful, or appreciative".
WADZANAI ShonaWadzanai means "Have fellowship, visit each other, be on good terms".
The name may be given as a call to family to come together in fellowship, visiting and being on good terms YEUKAI ShonaYeukai means "Remember".
This name is given as a call to remember a particular event or to remember one's origins.
ZADZISAI ShonaZadzisai means "you must fulfil - a pledge or promise".
The name is given as a reminder to fulfil a pledge or promise.
ZANAMWE Southern AfricanZimbabwean Surname, originally from the Chivi area, shona speaking people of the Shumba(lion) totem originate from the Masvingo province, Mwenezi, Chitanga,Chikombedzi, Boli Chibwedziva. Some migrated to the Mashonaland East province Mhondoro area and assumed the Moyo(heart) totem
ZIVANAI ShonaZivanai means "You must know each other". #This name is a call to family and relatives to get to know each other by visiting and fellowship - usually so that they do not drift apart"
ZORORO ShonaZororo means "rest". #It may be given to mean that the parent has rested after the birth of this child". Zimbabwean politician Zororo Duri was a well known bearer of this name.
ZVAITIKA ShonaZvaitika means "It has happened".
This name may be given as a celebration that something that was desired or awaited has finally happened.