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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percy | Pierce the valley | 👦 Boy | English |
| Peter | Rock; Stone | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Petrus | Rock (Peter) | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Philani | Be well; Live | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Philip | Lover of horses (Greek) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, Greek |
| Phillip | Lover of horses | 👦 Boy | English |
| Phumlani | Rest; Be at peace | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Piet | Rock (Peter) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Pontsho | Show me | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Prince | Prince | 👦 Boy | English |
| Promise | Promise | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Prosper | Prosperous; Fortunate | 👦 Boy | English |
| Pule | Rain | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Ralph | Wolf counsel | 👦 Boy | English |
| Randall | Shield wolf | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ray | Wise protector (Raymond); King | 👦 Boy | English |
| Reid | Red-haired | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Rethabile | We are happy | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Reuben | Behold, a son | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Riaan | Little king | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Richard | Powerful ruler | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ricky | Powerful ruler | 👦 Boy | English |
| Rob | Bright fame (Robert) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Robert | Bright fame | 👦 Boy | English |
| Robin | Bright fame; Robin bird | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Roger | Famous spear | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ronald | Ruler's counsel | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Roy | Red; King | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Ruan | Little red one | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Sabelo | Gift; Portion | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sakhile | We have built | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sam | Heard by God (Samuel); Listener (Samantha) | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Samkelo | Welcome | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Samson | Sun; Man of the sun | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Sandile | We have increased | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sanele | We are satisfied | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sbonelo | Example | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sboniso | Example; Sign | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Scelo | Request; Plea | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sello | Cry; Call | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Senzo | Our deeds | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sfiso | Wish; Desire | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sibusiso | Blessing | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sidney | Wide island | 👦 Boy | English |
| Sifiso | Wish; Desire | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sihle | Beautiful | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Simphiwe | We have been given (a gift) | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Sinethemba | We have hope | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Siphesihle | Beautiful gift | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Siphiwe | We have been given | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Siyabonga | We thank (God) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Siyabulela | We are grateful | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Siyanda | We are increasing | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Sizwe | Nation | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Skhumbuzo | Reminder; Memorial | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Solly | Peaceful (Solomon) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Solomon | Peaceful | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Sphamandla | Give us strength | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sphelele | We are complete | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sphesihle | Beautiful gift | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Sphiwe | We have been given | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Stanley | Stone clearing | 👦 Boy | English |
| Stephen | Crown; Garland | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Steve | Crown (Stephen) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Steven | Crown | 👦 Boy | English |
| Stewart | Steward | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Sthembiso | Promise | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Stuart | Steward | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Syabonga | We are grateful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sydney | Wide island | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Sylvester | Of the forest | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Tebogo | Gratitude; Thanks | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Teboho | Gift; Thanks | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Terence | Tender; Gracious | 👦 Boy | English |
| Terry | Ruler of the people (Terence) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Thabang | Be happy | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Thabani | Be happy | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thabiso | Joy | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Thami | Pious; Perfect | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thamsanqa | Luck; Good fortune | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thapelo | Prayer | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Thato | Will; Desire | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Thembinkosi | Trust in the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thobani | Be humble | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Thulani | Be calm; Be quiet | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Tim | Honouring God (Timothy) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Timothy | Honouring God | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Toby | God is good | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Tommy | Twin (Thomas) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Trevor | Large settlement | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Tshegofatso | Blessing | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Tshepang | Have faith; Trust | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Tshepiso | Promise | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Tshepo | Hope | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Tumelo | Faith | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Tumi | Faith; Famous | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Unathi | God is with us | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Vusi | Awaken; Revive | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Vuyo | Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Wandile | He has increased (the family) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Wayne | Wagon maker | 👦 Boy | English |
| Wellington | Rich temple town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Wesley | West meadow | 👦 Boy | English |
| Willie | Determined protector | 👦 Boy | English |
| Wilson | Son of William | 👦 Boy | English |
| Xolani | Peace; Be at peace | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Xolile | Peaceful | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Yonela | Enough; Satisfied | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Zakhele | He has built | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Ace | Number one; Excellent | 👦 Boy | English |
| Adriaan | From Hadria | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Ally | Short form of Alexander or Alison | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Amogelang | Accept (God's gift) | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Aphelele | They are complete | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Athenkosi | We thank (God) | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Ayabonga | They thank (God) | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Bandile | They have increased | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Banele | They are enough | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Barend | Bear; Brave | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Bethuel | Dweller in God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |