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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Nikki | Victory of the people (Nicole) | 👧 Girl | 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 |
| Nobuhle | Mother of beauty; Beautiful | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nokubonga | Gratitude | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nokulunga | Goodness; Righteousness | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nokuthula | Mother of peace | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nokwanda | Increase; Abundance | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Noluthando | Love | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nolwazi | Knowledge | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nombulelo | Gratitude | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nombuso | Kingdom; Reign | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomfundo | Education; Learning | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomonde | Patience | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nompilo | Life | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nompumelelo | Success | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomsa | Mother of kindness | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomthandazo | Prayer | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomusa | Mercy; Kindness | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nomvula | Mother of rain; Born in the rain | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nondumiso | Praise | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nonhlanhla | Luck; Good fortune | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nonkululeko | Freedom | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nontobeko | Humility | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Norman | Northman | 👦 Boy | English |
| Nosipho | Gift | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nothando | Love | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Noxolo | Peace | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nozipho | Gifts | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nqobile | Victorious; Conqueror | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Ntando | Will; Love | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nthabiseng | Make me happy | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Ntokozo | Happiness; Joy | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Ntombi | Girl; Daughter | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Ntombifuthi | Another girl | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Nwabisa | Joy | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Obakeng | Praise him (God) | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Ofentse | Victorious | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Olwethu | Ours | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Owen | Well-born; Noble | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Pam | All honey (Pamela) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Pamela | All honey; Sweet | 👧 Girl | English |
| Pat | Nobleman (Patrick, Patricia) | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Patience | Patience | 👧 Girl | English |
| Patti | Noble (Patricia) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Peace | Peace | 👧 Girl | English |
| Pearl | Pearl | 👧 Girl | English |
| Peggy | Pearl (Margaret) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Percy | Pierce the valley | 👦 Boy | English |
| Peter | Rock; Stone | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Petrus | Rock (Peter) | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Philani | Be well; Live | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Philile | She is alive; Healthy | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Philip | Lover of horses (Greek) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew, Greek |
| Phillip | Lover of horses | 👦 Boy | English |
| Phindile | Returned; Born again | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Phumla | Rest | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Phumlani | Rest; Be at peace | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Phumzile | We have rested | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Piet | Rock (Peter) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Pinky | Pink | 👧 Girl | English |
| Pontsho | Show me | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Portia | Offering; Pig farmer (Roman clan name) | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Pretty | Pretty | 👧 Girl | English |
| Prince | Prince | 👦 Boy | English |
| Princess | Princess | 👧 Girl | English |
| Prisca | Ancient; Venerable | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Promise | Promise | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Prosper | Prosperous; Fortunate | 👦 Boy | English |
| Prudence | Prudence; Good judgement | 👧 Girl | English |
| Pulane | Rain; Born in the rain | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Pule | Rain | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Puleng | In the rain | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Puseletso | Restoration; Consolation | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Queen | Queen | 👧 Girl | English |
| Ralph | Wolf counsel | 👦 Boy | English |
| Randall | Shield wolf | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ray | Wise protector (Raymond); King | 👦 Boy | English |
| Rebecca | To bind; Captivating; To tie | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Refiloe | We have been given | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Refilwe | We have been given | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Reid | Red-haired | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Rethabile | We are happy | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Reuben | Behold, a son | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Ria | River; Maria | 👧 Girl | Dutch |
| 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 |
| Sally | Princess (Sarah) | 👧 Girl | English |
| 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 |
| Sandy | Defender of mankind | 👧 Girl | English |
| Sanele | We are satisfied | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sbonelo | Example | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Sbongile | We are thankful | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Sboniso | Example; Sign | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Scelo | Request; Plea | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Selina | Moon; Heaven | 👧 Girl | Greek |
| Sello | Cry; Call | 👦 Boy | Sotho |