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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adriaan | From Hadria | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Aletta | Truth; Noble | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Ally | Short form of Alexander or Alison | 🧒 Unisex | English |
| Alta | Tall; High | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Amogelang | Accept (God's gift) | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Amukelani | Receive (God's gift) | 👧 Girl | Tsonga |
| Andisiwe | We have been increased | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Anelisa | They are enough | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Anthea | Flowery; Blossoming | 👧 Girl | Greek |
| Aphelele | They are complete | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Asiphe | Give us | 👧 Girl | 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 |
| Basetsana | Girls | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Bathabile | They are happy | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bethuel | Dweller in God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Bhekani | Look; Watch over | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Boipelo | Pride | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Bokang | Praise (God) | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Bongekile | Grateful | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bongumusa | Thankful for mercy | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Bonisiwe | We have been shown | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Bontle | Beauty | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Brighton | Bright town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Bronwyn | White breast; Fair | 👧 Girl | Welsh |
| Bulelani | Be thankful | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Busani | Rule; Govern | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Busiswa | Blessed | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Buyiswa | Returned; Brought back | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Carel | Free man (Charles) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Cathrine | Pure | 👧 Girl | English |
| Cebile | Good fortune | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Cecil | Blind (Roman family name Caecilius) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Celiwe | We asked (for her) | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Charl | Free man (Charles) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Clayton | Settlement on clay | 👦 Boy | English |
| Clifford | Ford by a cliff | 👦 Boy | English |
| Clint | Hill settlement (Clinton) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Cobus | Supplanter (Jacobus) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Collin | Young creature; Victory of the people | 👦 Boy | English |
| Cornelius | Horn (Roman family name Cornelius) | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Daleen | Valley; Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Dalene | Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Daphney | Laurel | 👧 Girl | English |
| Dawie | Beloved (David) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Denver | Green valley | 👦 Boy | English |
| Denzil | From Denzell, Cornwall | 👦 Boy | English |
| Derick | Ruler of the people | 👦 Boy | English |
| Dewald | Ruler of the people | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Dieketseng | It has been done | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Dimpho | Gifts | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Dinah | Judgement | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Dolly | Gift of God (Dorothy) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Dorah | Gift | 👧 Girl | English |
| Dorothy | Gift of God | 👧 Girl | English |
| Eben | Stone; Rock (Ebenezer) | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Elmarie | God is my oath and Mary | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Elsabe | God is my oath | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Emihle | The beautiful ones | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Enhle | The beautiful one | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Enock | Dedicated (Enoch) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Ephraim | Fruitful | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Errol | Nobleman; Earl | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Esethu | Ours | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Ethel | Noble | 👧 Girl | English |
| Felicity | Happiness | 👧 Girl | English |
| Fezeka | Complete | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Fortunate | Fortunate | 👧 Girl | English |
| Fortune | Fortune; Luck | 👦 Boy | English |
| Francina | Frenchwoman; Free | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Frederick | Peaceful ruler | 👦 Boy | English |
| Freedom | Freedom | 👦 Boy | English |
| Fundiswa | Educated | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Funeka | Wanted; Desired | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Garth | Garden; Enclosure | 👦 Boy | English |
| Gcina | Keep; Protect | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Gcobisa | Make happy | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Getrude | Spear strength (Gertrude) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Glen | Valley | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Glenda | Holy and good | 👧 Girl | Welsh |
| Gomolemo | It is God's will | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Gontse | Better | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Goodness | Goodness | 👧 Girl | English |
| Hannelie | Grace and God's oath | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Hein | Ruler of the home (Hendrik) | 👦 Boy | Dutch |
| Hendrick | Ruler of the home | 👦 Boy | English |
| Hester | Star (Esther) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Hilton | Hill town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Howard | High guardian | 👦 Boy | English |
| Innocentia | Innocent | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Ishmael | God hears | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Jabulane | Rejoice | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Jacobus | Supplanter (Jacob) | 👦 Boy | Latin |
| Johannah | God is gracious | 👧 Girl | English |
| Jolene | Pretty; God will increase | 👧 Girl | English |
| Kagisho | Peace | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Kamohelo | Gift | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Kealeboga | I am thankful | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Keamogetswe | I have been received | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Kefilwe | I have been given | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Kegomoditswe | I have been comforted | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Keitumetse | I am happy | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Keletso | Wish; Prayer | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Keneilwe | I have been given | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Kgalalelo | Glory | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Kgaogelo | Mercy | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Kgotso | Peace | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Khanya | Light; Shine | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Khanyisa | Illuminate | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Khaya | Home | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Khayelihle | Beautiful home | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Khensani | Thank you | 👧 Girl | Tsonga |
| Khethiwe | Chosen | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Kholofelo | Hope | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Khosi | Queen; Royalty | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Khotso | Peace | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Khumbulani | Remember | 👦 Boy | Zulu |