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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harold | Army ruler | 👦 Boy | English |
| Harvey | Battle-worthy | 👦 Boy | English |
| Hendrik | Ruler of the home | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Henk | Ruler of the home (Hendrik) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Hennie | Ruler of the home (Hendrik) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Herbert | Bright army | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Herman | Army man | 👦 Boy | Germanic |
| Ian | God is gracious (John) | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Innocent | Innocent | 👦 Boy | English |
| Isaac | He will laugh | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Itumeleng | Rejoice | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Jabu | Joy (Jabulani) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Jabulani | Rejoice; Be happy | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Jaco | Supplanter (Jacob) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Jeff | God's peace (Jeffrey) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Jeffrey | God's peace | 👦 Boy | English |
| Jeremiah | God will exalt | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Jeremy | God will exalt | 👦 Boy | English |
| Jerry | Spear ruler (Gerald) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Jim | Supplanter (James) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Jimmy | Supplanter (James) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Joe | God will increase (Joseph) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Joel | Yahweh is God; The Lord is God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Joey | God will increase (Joseph) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Johnny | God is gracious (John) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Josh | God is salvation (Joshua) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Julius | Youthful | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Junior | Younger | 👦 Boy | English |
| Justice | Justice; Fairness | 👦 Boy | English |
| Kabelo | Gift | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Kagiso | Peace | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Kamogelo | Acceptance | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Katlego | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Katleho | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Keith | Wood; Forest | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Kelebogile | I am grateful | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Kelvin | Narrow water | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Kenneth | Handsome; Born of fire | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Kenny | Handsome; Born of fire (Kenneth) | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Kgomotso | Comfort | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Kgothatso | Encouragement | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Khomotso | Comfort | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Khutso | Peace | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| King | King | 👦 Boy | English |
| Kingsley | King's wood | 👦 Boy | English |
| Klaas | Victory of the people (Nicholas) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Kobus | Supplanter (Jacobus) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Koketso | Increase; Addition | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Koos | Supplanter (Jacobus) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Kwanele | Enough | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Kyle | Narrow; Strait | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Langa | Sun | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Lawrence | From Laurentum; Laurel | 👦 Boy | English |
| Lebogang | Be grateful | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Lebohang | Be thankful | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Lee | Meadow; Clearing | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Lehlohonolo | Good luck; Blessing | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Leonard | Brave as a lion | 👦 Boy | English |
| Lesego | Luck; Blessing | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Leslie | Holly garden | 🧒 Unisex | Scottish |
| Lethabo | Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Letlhogonolo | Good luck | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Lihle | Beautiful | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Lindani | Wait | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Lindokuhle | Wait for good things | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Lovemore | Love more | 👦 Boy | English |
| Lucky | Lucky | 👦 Boy | English |
| Lulama | Humble; Gentle | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Lunga | Right; Good | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lungelo | Right; Privilege | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Lungile | Good; Righteous | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Lusanda | Increase; Growth | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Luthando | Love | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Luyanda | Increasing; Growing | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Lwazi | Knowledge | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mahlatse | Luck; Fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Malcolm | Follower of St Columba | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Mandla | Power; Strength | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Marlon | Little hawk; Wild boar | 👦 Boy | English |
| Marvin | Sea friend; Eminent marrow | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Mashudu | Luck; Good fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Maxwell | Mack's stream | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Mduduzi | Comforter | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Melvin | Gentle chief; Mill settlement | 👦 Boy | English |
| Mfundo | Education; Learning | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mike | Who is like God? (Michael) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Milton | Mill town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Minenhle | Beautiful day | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Mlungisi | Fixer; One who puts things right | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Moeketsi | Adder; One who increases | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Morgan | Sea-born; Bright sea | 🧒 Unisex | Welsh |
| Moses | Drawn from the water | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mpumelelo | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Mthobisi | One who humbles | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mthokozisi | One who brings happiness | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Muzi | Home; Homestead | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mxolisi | Peacemaker | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzwandile | The household has grown | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Nathi | With us (God is with us) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Ndumiso | Praise | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nelson | Son of Neil; Champion | 👦 Boy | English |
| Nhlakanipho | Wisdom | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nhlanhla | Luck; Good fortune | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nicholas | Victory of the people | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Nick | Victory of the people (Nicholas) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Nicky | Victory of the people | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Nigel | Champion; Dark | 👦 Boy | English |
| Njabulo | Happiness | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkanyiso | Enlightenment | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkosi | Lord; King | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkosinathi | The Lord is with us | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkululeko | Freedom | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Norman | Northman | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ntando | Will; Love | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Ntokozo | Happiness; Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Obakeng | Praise him (God) | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Ofentse | Victorious | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Olwethu | Ours | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Owen | Well-born; Noble | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Pat | Nobleman (Patrick, Patricia) | 🧒 Unisex | English |