Popular and traditional South African names with meanings, origin and religion — from every community and region of South Africa. 1,116 names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| George | Farmer | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Hannah | Grace; Favour | 👧 Girl | Hebrew, German |
| James | Supplanter (from Jacob) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Sebastian | Venerable; Revered (Greek) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Spanish |
| Beatrice | She who brings joy | 👧 Girl | Latin, Italian, French |
| Benjamin | Son of the right hand | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Blessing | Blessing | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Elijah | My God is Yahweh; My God is the Lord | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Elizabeth | God is my oath | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Emmanuel | God is with us | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, English |
| Faith | Faith; Trust | 👧 Girl | English |
| Favour | Favour; Grace | 👧 Girl | English |
| Grace | Grace; Goodwill; Elegance | 👧 Girl | Latin, English |
| Jacob | Supplanter; Holds the heel; Holder of the heel; One who follows | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, French |
| John | God is gracious | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Joseph | God will increase | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Joshua | God is salvation | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Joy | Joy | 👧 Girl | English |
| Karabo | Answer | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Lerato | Love | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Lesedi | Light | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Luke | From Lucania; Light | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Matthew | Gift of God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mercy | Mercy; Compassion | 👧 Girl | English |
| Michael | Who is like God? | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mpho | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Naledi | Star | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Nandi | Sweet; The mother of Shaka Zulu | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nathan | He gave; Gift | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, French |
| Neo | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Palesa | Flower | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Precious | Precious; Dearly loved | 👧 Girl | English |
| Rose | The rose flower | 👧 Girl | Latin, French |
| Sarah | Princess | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Sipho | Gift | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thabo | Joy; Happiness | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Thandiwe | Beloved | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Thando | Love | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Themba | Hope; Trust | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Theodore | Gift of God | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Thomas | Twin | 👦 Boy | Greek, Hebrew, French |
| Aaron | Mountain of strength; Brother of Moses; High mountain; Exalted | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Abigail | My father's joy | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Abongile | We are grateful | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Adèle | Noble | 👧 Girl | French |
| Akhona | They are present | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Alison | Noble (Alice) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Allen | Handsome; Rock | 👦 Boy | English |
| Amahle | The beautiful ones | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Amos | Carried by God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Amy | Beloved | 👧 Girl | English |
| Anathi | God is with them | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Andile | They have increased | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Andiswa | Increase | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Andrew | Manly; Strong; Brave | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Andries | Manly; Brave | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Andy | Manly; Brave (Andrew) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Anele | Enough | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Angela | Angel; Messenger | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Angie | Angel (Angela) | 👧 Girl | English, Arabic |
| Ann | Grace | 👧 Girl | English |
| Annah | Grace | 👧 Girl | English |
| Anneke | Grace (Anna) | 👧 Girl | Dutch |
| Annie | Grace (Anne) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Aphiwe | They have been given | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Arnold | Eagle power | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Áron | Exalted (Aaron) | 👦 Boy | Hungarian |
| Asanda | Increase | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Audrey | Noble strength | 👧 Girl | English |
| Ayanda | They are increasing | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Babalwa | They are blessed | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Bafana | Boys | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Beauty | Beauty | 👧 Girl | English |
| Belinda | Bright serpent; Beautiful | 👧 Girl | English |
| Bennie | Son of the right hand (Benjamin) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Benny | Son of the right hand (Benjamin) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Berenice | Bringer of victory | 👧 Girl | Greek |
| Bernice | Bringer of victory | 👧 Girl | English |
| Bertha | Bright; Famous | 👧 Girl | Germanic |
| Betty | God is my oath (Elizabeth) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Beverley | Beaver meadow | 👧 Girl | English |
| Bheki | Watch over | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Billy | Resolute protector (William) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bob | Bright fame (Robert) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Boitumelo | Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Bonga | Be grateful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bongane | Be grateful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bongani | Be grateful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bongeka | Be grateful | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bongi | Gratitude | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bonginkosi | Thank the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bongiwe | We are grateful | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bonolo | Ease; Gentleness | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Bradley | Broad meadow | 👦 Boy | English |
| Brenda | Sword; Flame | 👧 Girl | English |
| Brent | Hill; Burnt land | 👦 Boy | English |
| Brett | From Brittany | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bright | Bright; Shining | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bruce | From Brix; The willowlands | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Buhle | Beauty | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bulelwa | We are thankful | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Busisiwe | Blessed | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Byron | Barn; Cowshed | 👦 Boy | English |
| Cameron | Crooked nose | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Candice | After the Kandake, queens of Kush | 👧 Girl | English |
| Candy | Sweet; White, pure (Candace) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Carl | Free man | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Carol | Free woman; Song of joy | 👧 Girl | English |
| Casper | Treasurer | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Cathy | Pure (Catherine) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Cedric | Kindly; Loved | 👦 Boy | English |
| Chad | Battle | 👦 Boy | English |
| Charity | Love; Generosity | 👧 Girl | English |
| Chelsea | Chalk landing place | 👧 Girl | English |
| Cheryl | Dear; Beloved | 👧 Girl | English |
| Chris | Bearer of Christ (Christopher, Christine) | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Christiaan | Follower of Christ | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Christo | Follower of Christ | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Christopher | Bearer of Christ | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Cindy | From Mount Kynthos (Cynthia) | 👧 Girl | English |