Popular and traditional South African boy names with meanings, origin and religion — from every community and region of South Africa. 611 names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| George | Farmer | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| James | Supplanter (from Jacob) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Sebastian | Venerable; Revered (Greek) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Spanish |
| 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 |
| Emmanuel | God is with us | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, 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 |
| Karabo | Answer | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Lesedi | Light | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Luke | From Lucania; Light | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Matthew | Gift of God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Michael | Who is like God? | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mpho | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Nathan | He gave; Gift | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, French |
| Neo | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Sipho | Gift | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thabo | Joy; Happiness | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| 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 |
| Abongile | We are grateful | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Akhona | They are present | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Allen | Handsome; Rock | 👦 Boy | English |
| Amos | Carried by God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Anathi | God is with them | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Andile | They have increased | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Andrew | Manly; Strong; Brave | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Andries | Manly; Brave | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Andy | Manly; Brave (Andrew) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Anele | Enough | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Aphiwe | They have been given | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Arnold | Eagle power | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Áron | Exalted (Aaron) | 👦 Boy | Hungarian |
| Asanda | Increase | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Ayanda | They are increasing | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Bafana | Boys | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bennie | Son of the right hand (Benjamin) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Benny | Son of the right hand (Benjamin) | 👦 Boy | 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 |
| Bonginkosi | Thank the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bradley | Broad meadow | 👦 Boy | English |
| Brent | Hill; Burnt land | 👦 Boy | English |
| Brett | From Brittany | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bright | Bright; Shining | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bruce | From Brix; The willowlands | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Byron | Barn; Cowshed | 👦 Boy | English |
| Cameron | Crooked nose | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Carl | Free man | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Casper | Treasurer | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Cedric | Kindly; Loved | 👦 Boy | English |
| Chad | Battle | 👦 Boy | 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 |
| Clinton | Hill settlement | 👦 Boy | English |
| Clive | Cliff; Slope | 👦 Boy | English |
| Colin | Young creature; Victory of the people | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Collen | Young creature (Colin) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Collins | Son of Colin | 👦 Boy | English |
| Craig | Rock; Crag | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Cyril | Lordly | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Danie | God is my judge | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Danny | God is my judge (Daniel) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Dave | Beloved (David) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Dean | Valley | 👦 Boy | English |
| Dennis | Devoted to Dionysus | 👦 Boy | English |
| Deon | Devoted to Dionysus | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Derek | Ruler of the people | 👦 Boy | English |
| Derrick | Ruler of the people | 👦 Boy | English |
| Dion | Devoted to Dionysus | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Dirk | Ruler of the people | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Dominic | Of the Lord | 👦 Boy | English |
| Don | World ruler (Donald) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Donald | World ruler | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Douglas | Dark river | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Dumisani | Praise (God) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Duncan | Dark warrior | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Eddie | Wealthy guardian (Edward) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Eddy | Wealthy guardian (Edward) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Edgar | Wealthy spear | 👦 Boy | English |
| Edwin | Rich friend | 👦 Boy | English |
| Elton | Old town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Elvis | All-wise | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ernest | Earnest; Serious | 👦 Boy | English |
| Eugene | Well-born | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Evans | Son of Evan | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Franklin | Free landholder | 👦 Boy | English |
| Frans | Frenchman; Free (Francis) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Fred | Peaceful ruler (Frederick) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Freddy | Peaceful ruler (Frederick) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gary | Spear | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gavin | White hawk | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Gerald | Spear ruler | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gerrit | Spear strength (Gerard) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Gert | Spear strength | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Gideon | Feller; Mighty warrior | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Gift | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Given | Given (by God) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Godfrey | God's peace | 👦 Boy | English |
| Godwin | God's friend | 👦 Boy | English |
| Goodluck | Good luck | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gordon | Great hill | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Graham | Gravelly homestead | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Grant | Great; Tall | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Greg | Watchful (Gregory) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gregory | Watchful | 👦 Boy | English |
| Happy | Happy | 🧒 Unisex | English |