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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh | God is salvation (Joshua) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Joyce | Lord; Joyful | 👧 Girl | English |
| Judy | Praised (Judith); Mount Judi (where Noah's ark rested) | 👧 Girl | English, Arabic |
| Juliet | Youthful | 👧 Girl | English |
| Julius | Youthful | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| June | Born in June | 👧 Girl | English |
| Junior | Younger | 👦 Boy | English |
| Justice | Justice; Fairness | 👦 Boy | English |
| Kabelo | Gift | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Kagiso | Peace | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Kamogelo | Acceptance | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Kate | Pure (Katherine) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Kathy | Pure (Katherine) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Katlego | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Katleho | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Kay | Pure (Katherine); Rejoice | 👧 Girl | English |
| Kayla | Pure; Slender | 👧 Girl | English |
| Kedibone | I have seen | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| 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 |
| Khanyisile | Shining; Bright | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| 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 |
| Lauren | From Laurentum; Laurel | 👧 Girl | English |
| 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 |
| Lesley | Holly garden | 👧 Girl | Scottish |
| Leslie | Holly garden | 🧒 Unisex | Scottish |
| Lethabo | Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Letlhogonolo | Good luck | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Letty | Joy; Happiness | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lihle | Beautiful | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Lilian | Lily | 👧 Girl | English, Arabic |
| Lindani | Wait | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Lindiwe | We have waited | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Lindokuhle | Wait for good things | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Liz | God is my oath (Elizabeth) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Liza | God is my oath (Elizabeth) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lizzy | God is my oath (Elizabeth) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Londiwe | Protected; Kept safe | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Lorna | From Lorne | 👧 Girl | Scottish |
| 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 |
| Lynn | Lake; Waterfall | 👧 Girl | Welsh |
| Maggie | Pearl (Margaret) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mahlatse | Luck; Fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Malcolm | Follower of St Columba | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Mandisa | Sweet | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Mandla | Power; Strength | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mandy | Worthy of love (Amanda) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Marcia | Warlike; Of Mars | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Marilyn | Mary; Beloved | 👧 Girl | English |
| Marlon | Little hawk; Wild boar | 👦 Boy | English |
| Marvin | Sea friend; Eminent marrow | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Mary | Beloved; Bitter; Mother of Jesus; Star of the sea | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Masego | Blessings | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mashudu | Luck; Good fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Mathapelo | Mother of prayer | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Matshidiso | Comfort | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mavis | Song thrush | 👧 Girl | English |
| Maxwell | Mack's stream | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Mbalenhle | Beautiful flower | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Mbali | Flower | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Mduduzi | Comforter | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Melvin | Gentle chief; Mill settlement | 👦 Boy | English |
| Memory | Memory; Remembrance | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mfundo | Education; Learning | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mike | Who is like God? (Michael) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Millicent | Strong in work | 👧 Girl | English |
| Milton | Mill town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Minenhle | Beautiful day | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Miranda | Admirable; Wonderful | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Mlungisi | Fixer; One who puts things right | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Moeketsi | Adder; One who increases | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Mokgadi | Keeper; Ruler | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Morgan | Sea-born; Bright sea | 🧒 Unisex | Welsh |
| Moses | Drawn from the water | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mpume | Success; Prosperity | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| 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 |
| Nancy | Grace (Anne) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Nandipha | We have been given (a gift) | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Naomi | Pleasantness | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Natálie | Born on Christmas Day | 👧 Girl | Czech |
| Nathi | With us (God is with us) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Ndumiso | Praise | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nelisiwe | We have been given enough | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Neliswa | We have been given enough | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nelly | Torch; Bright light (Helen) | 👧 Girl | English |