19. All rights reserved. 95. It is also a display of honor for the eze or king in some parts of Igboland. [2] Outside Ethiopia, this is often mistaken for a surname or middle name but unlike European names, different generations do not have the same second or third names.[3]. It can be used for both boys and girls. 100 Unique and Most Common African Last Names (Surnames), While doing our research for African Names we found these interesting aricle parts and we feel like sharing them with you, My name (Noxolo) means peace in Xhosa. Kato, meaning the second twin, this has gained popularity due to Kato Kaelin, the witness in the O.J. Salana, this is a popular name that means sunshine., 28. im writng a short story and I was wondering if I could get a last name, that could work for the western part of Africa. Names in Ethiopia are not limited to the bible. 2. Throughout history, pagan, Christian, and Muslim religions have been embraced throughout its long history. There are ten countries found in this part of the continent, not counting the island of Madagascar. 27. I suppose it depends what you mean by most common . By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Akpabio (Nigerian origin) means "leader" or "noble," and is found among the Ibibio people. It is primarily masculine in essence. Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported. Omari, the name means God is exalted. This is the middle name of rapper Kanye West. In this context, the father can also mean God. 100 Ethiopian Names For Boys (and Amharic Meanings), 100 Ethiopian Names for Boys (and Amharic Meanings), 70 Muslim Boy Names (and Their Urdu Meanings). When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. 23. Kagnew, meaning bringing order out of chaos., 20. The same is true for Arabic names. Most Common Names in Ethiopia. Desalegn, meaning I am well pleased., 81. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Siddig (Arabic origin) meaning friend. Roughly 20 percent of South Korea's population (and 25 percent of North Korea) has this surname. Blue: male; red: female. You can never go wrong with Ethiopian names. They are mostly practicing Muslims and some Christians. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. Learn about Ethiopian naming traditions for boys and the meaning of each name in Amharic. The name Eden is derived from Hebrew. Mkerref (Moroccan origin) the meaning isnt quite certain. Yonas, the Arabic variant of Jonah, belonging to an Old Testament prophet. One of the most popular and optimistic Xhosa names is Gcobani, which means be joyful. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. However, it is important to know these 5 things before giving your child an Ethiopian name. Choosing the right moniker for your baby is not always a walk in the park. Abiodun (Nigerian origin) meaning "born during festivities," and is from the Yoruba ethnic group. Ethiopian last names starting with A 51. Bekele 1.6M. 48. Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you. It has its roots in Yoruba and it means a lot of wealth. Actually just after I was born, peace was restored in my family. This name has been brought to the big screen all over the world through a fictional character Okoye in a cultural phenomenon, the Black Panther movie. hausas are the most populous group in nigeria. The origin of the name Ahmed is Arabic. Nolawi, meaning God is our shepherd.. Ethiopia has a rich cultural and linguistic history. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. 53. Menu. And many of the names in Oromo (another Ethiopian language) that contain Waaq as in Waaqgari, or Waaqayoo are similar derivations from the Oromo word for God (Waq). 3. 24. 67. The name is used to refer rather than stand-alone. what are the parameters you have used to arrive at this results ? Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. 42. Black: color. Abimbola (Nigerian origin) meaning "born into wealth," the name is specific to the Yoruba people of western Nigeria. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. In contemporary post-independence Eritrea, a person's legal name consists of his or her given name, followed by the given name of one of the parents (written name position equivalent to a "middle name" in Western naming conventions) then the given name of a grandparent (position equivalent to a "last name" in Western naming conventions). Find your Ethiopian African last name and learn about its meaning and origins. Ethiopian names are as diverse as the country's cultures and religions. 59. I am having trouble picking the right name for her, and I want to get it correct so the first name and last name come from the same culture and make sense together. Mohammed, this is the name of Islams messenger, Prophet Mohammed. 20. Aguer (South Sudanese origin) means tree. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Ethiopia has an amazing history, beginning with the fact that our own species emerged from this geographical location as nomads, before making their way to the Fertile Crescent, where they became farmers. Are you looking for a last name thats not as common in Ethiopia? An appreciative masculine name that embraces a new arrival with positivity, it means the king/crown/royalty filled the house. Usually in both countries the grandparent's name of the person is omitted in a similar way to how the middle name is omitted in Western naming conventions excluding important legal documents. In Ethiopian culture, baby names are given at birth, followed by the fathers first and last names and possibly the grandfathers first and last names. In modern Ethiopia, a person's legal name includes both the father and the individual's given names, so that the father's given name becomes the child's "last name", there is no actual middle name. creative tips and more. The name Isreal is much known in Ethiopia. This surname is possibly derived from the Sonink word tr, which means elephant. A name that praises God is Chidubem, which means God is my guide in Igbo. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. Example Eritrean family tree explained below. And a Nigerian friend has told me that many Ibo names are equivalent compounds of the divines name and some desirable relationship. Daniel is another biblical figure, whose deeds were courageous and had an influence on Babylonian politics. In the example above, the progenitors, Feiven and Senai, may be differentiated from others in their generation by their father's name. Find out how surnames are ranked in popularity, how many people in the United States of America bear a particular name, and how the statistics change between 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. 29. The word itself means "gold," but its popularity as a last name has a lot more to do with its origins as a royal name. Some names describe the parents reaction to the birth (such as Kayode, Gwandoya, Abeni and Monifa) and still others are descriptive of the newborn or of desired characteristics (like Yejide, Dada, Chiumbo and Zuberi). It also functions both as the last name and a surname. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The northern part of Africa, according to the UN, is made up of seven countries. The genesis of this Ethiopian name is Amharic, and it means flower or blossom. 70 of the Most Popular Mexican Last Names. Fessehaye, meaning eternal happiness., 84. 13. And Its curious there arent many hausa names (if any at all). One of the most popular African names, Mensah comes from the Akan group, and means third child born to a couple. It's the first name of Ethiopian supermodel and philanthropist Liya Kebede. The names in this section are not just limited to the country, South Africa, but also to other regions in the southern part of the continent of Africa. It is a name that compliments a person, and it means one who does well. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. 27. It is a common given name to male children, which means firstborn son in Egyptian. For example Gebre-Egziabher in the Ethiopian/Eritrean languages of Amharic/Tigrinya means Servant of God and those are Christian names. Abad: This is an occupational surname of Spanish origin. In Ethiopia, and traditionally in Eritrea, the naming conventions follow the father's line of descent while certain exemptions can be made in Eritrea in which the family may choose to use the mother's line of descent. The one-stop destination for all the unique and amazing African surnames. Boipelo (Botswanan origin) means proud. Kim. Among the citizens of Senegal, Ndiaye is a ferocious surname as well as a given name. Mihret Fasika Alem. It is suitable for boys. 64. Albaz (Jewish origin) means falconer and originates from Morocco and Algeria. 40. The name means father of multitudes., 6. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for, 100+ Top Ethiopian Last Names With Meanings, 100 Huntress Names From Fiction And Mythology, 150 Batman Names From The Comics, TV Shows & Films, All Of The 'Shadow Of The Colossus' Names Including Every Colossi. Nenge (Nigerian origin) means "see," found among the Tiv people. Ebo, the name means born on Tuesday., 44. Some notable people with the name include Haile Selassie (1892-1975), Emperor of Ethiopia, and Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopian distance runner. (Both proud and amused!). But by the grace of God, my first and middle names are not only African but reflect the ethnic origin of where I know my maternal ancestors come from, the Mandinka people. As Sudan is filled with many different tribes and ethnicities. Check out these common African last names along with their meanings and origins. Dive into this post for some amazing and interesting African surnames. You will find the place of origin and the meaning of each name in this list too. A photo of a baby. And Gebresilassie is the fathers name. Bonolo (South African origin) means ease in the Sotho language. 42 Popular African Last Names Rich In Culture And History. It means "haunt of eagles.". As a result, many Ethiopian surnames are also first names. Usually earned, Agrinya means warrior in the Yala language. Ali, meaning elevated, the first name of the cousin of the prophet of Islam, this is also a common surname in Ehtiopia. The regional Ethiopian names from tribes like Oromo or the Amharic are among the most common names. Elmalik (Arabic origin) means the King, often found in the countries of northern Africa. 88. Chalo (Zambian origin) means battle. It means supreme or a great warrior and is usually given to boys. It means valor is the worth of wealth or being brave, usually given to boys. Abera, this name carries the meaning of he shines., 5. In this convention, children are given a name at birth, by which name they will be known. YM, Ethiopia. Banchiamalck Dessalegn, Ethiopian in U.S. My name Derefaka figuratively means: Continuing the heritage of our fathers. 71. This ethnic group is primarily Christian, which explains why we see some Hebrew baby names in Ethiopia as well as many from the Amharic language. We can be baptised another Kenyan/African and more meaningful name than being another of the somewhat bland Peters and Janes of the world. In May 2003 I took a genetics test and found out that Im a direct descendent of the Mandinkas maternally. Surafel - the guardian and protector of the virgin Mary. It means born on a Friday. A hopeful name that reflects an uncertain situation is Biobaku, which means if he or she does not die. These days such names seem to lose their influence as they are deemed as old, and associated with grandmothers time. Another surname of Yoruba origin, Adebowale means return of the crown. Vocabulary words are also often used as given names. Keita (Malian origin) means "blessing," found among the people of Mali. 68. The infographic below includes some popular ones from the African continent and of African descent. For more parenting tips and tricks, find us on Pinterest: Are you a writer, expert, or influencer? Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 82. Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning. Names in Ethiopia probably have a similar concept to names in other nations. It means wealth has come home, and is predominantly considered a male name. 30. It is mostly given to boys due to its masculine connotation. Aguilar - This Spanish last name is a habitational name for a region in Spain. It depends on what region of Sudan the girl is from. Nowhere in the Bible does it say one should have a Christian name and it certainly did not require it to be English or Western. 46. Fatsani (Botswanan origin) means be meek in Chewa. Check out this list of unique Ethiopian last names for men and women. Other variants include Ali and Alioun. Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you. Then they add their fathers name. "May I not lose you". The known western use of first and last name and the family name is not widely used in Ethiopia. 31. The name Bethel is of Hebrew origin meaning House of God, and is a girls name. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. So Ndubueze means that life is king to live is to be a king. Naming conventions are different from many western cultures, and middle names do not exist in Ethiopia, and there are no official last names or surnames. Deressa (Ethiopian origin) the meaning of this name isnt quite clear. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Other variants are Efua, Afua, and its male version is Kofi. Answer (1 of 3): In your passport it is shown which part of your name is the Given name and which one is the sir name. This then becomes the family name they use for subsequent generations. 12. The name Abebe is synonymous with blooming and is known among children as some play poems use the name. First names in Ethiopia represent the persons name. 75. If he grows up and has a child called Dawit, the childs full name would be Dawit Abel. Owusu (Ghanaian origin) means "strong will and determined". Naming traditions in Ethiopia are quite different than the way babies are named in the U.S. and Europe. Origin: Ethiopian Meaning: Derives from the name Tekle Haymanot; the name of an Ethiopian monk and saint. Bekele, this popular name has a frequency of 1:153 and means one who is growing., 15. Derefaka Gogo, Canada, In Most West African countries (Togo, Benin, Ghana, Cote dIvoire), the majority of Southern people name their children based on their day of birth. Another surname of Igbo origin, Agwuegbo means the hardship is over. Ghirmai (Unknown origin) means my majesty. Abioye (Nigerian origin) means "born into royalty," from the Yoruba ethnic group. 3. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! From the time I got to know about the traditional meaning of my name, I developed a sense of responsiblity to my Family, my heritage and my culture. 100+ delightful names that mean water for your baby girl or boy. It is usually considered a male name. Tafari m Eastern African (Rare), Amharic (Rare) Possibly means "he who inspires awe" in Amharic. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Imari is a variant of the African name Imani, meaning loyal.. 25. But 32 years later the late Laurent Kabila kicked Mobutu out, and re-baptised the country the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you are looking for an Islamic name, Jemila is the most known female name in Ethiopia.