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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kopano | Unity; Togetherness | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Kutlwano | Understanding; Harmony | 🧒 Unisex | Tswana |
| Kwena | Crocodile | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Lance | Land; Lance | 👦 Boy | English |
| Lazarus | God has helped | 👦 Boy | Greek |
| Lee-Ann | Meadow and grace | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lehlogonolo | Good luck; Blessing | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Lelethu | Ours | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Lettie | Joy; Happiness | 👧 Girl | English |
| Liezel | God is my oath (Liesel) | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Lillian | Lily | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lilly | Lily | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lindelani | Wait (for the gift) | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Lindelwa | Awaited | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Lindi | Awaited (Lindiwe) | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Lindy | Gentle; Soft | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lisakhanya | It is still light | 🧒 Unisex | Xhosa |
| Livhuwani | Be grateful | 👧 Girl | Venda |
| Lizelle | God is my oath | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Llewellyn | Leader; Lion-like | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Lloyd | Grey-haired | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Londeka | Protected; Kept safe | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Lonwabo | Joy; Happiness | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lorato | Love | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Louisa | Famous warrior | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lourens | From Laurentum; Laurel | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Loveness | Lovingness | 👧 Girl | English |
| Loyiso | Victory | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lubabalo | Grace; Blessing | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lucinda | Light | 👧 Girl | English |
| Lufuno | Love | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Lukhanyo | Light | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lungisani | Make things right | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Luvuyo | Joy | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Luxolo | Peace | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Luzuko | Glory | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Lwandile | Increased; Grown | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Lwando | Increase | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Madelein | Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Madoda | Men | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Magdeline | Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | English |
| Maggy | Pearl (Margaret) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Malibongwe | Let it be praised | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Malusi | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mamello | Patience | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mandlenkosi | Power of the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Manqoba | Victorious | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mapaseka | Born at Easter | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Marietjie | Little Marie | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Masibulele | Let us be thankful | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Masixole | Let us be at peace | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mathabo | Mother of joy | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Matshediso | Comfort | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mawande | They have increased | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mazwi | Words | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mbongeni | Be thankful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mbongiseni | Thank him | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mbulelo | Gratitude | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mbuso | Reign; Government | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mcebisi | Adviser; Counsellor | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Melody | Melody; Song | 👧 Girl | English |
| Melusi | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Menzi | Doer; Creator | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mercia | Mercy | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mervin | Sea friend; Eminent marrow | 👦 Boy | English |
| Meshack | Guest of a king (Meshach) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mfanafuthi | Another boy | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mhlengi | Saviour; Redeemer | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mildred | Gentle strength | 👧 Girl | English |
| Minnie | Love; Resolute protector (Wilhelmina) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mirriam | Wished-for child (Miriam) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mkhululi | Liberator; Saviour | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mlondi | Protector | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mluleki | Adviser; Guide | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mmabatho | Mother of the people | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Mmapula | Mother of rain | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Mncedisi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mnqobi | Conqueror; Victor | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Modise | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Mogomotsi | Comforter | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Mokete | Celebration | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Molebogeng | Thank (God) | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Moleboheng | Thank (God) | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Molefe | One who pays | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Moloko | Generation | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Monde | Patient | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mondli | Provider; One who feeds | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mongezi | One who adds | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Monwabisi | One who brings joy | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Morne | Morning | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Morongwa | Messenger | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Morris | Dark-skinned; Moorish | 👦 Boy | English |
| Mothusi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Motlatsi | Successor; One who follows | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Motsamai | Traveller | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Mpendulo | Answer | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mpilo | Life | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Msizi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mthunzi | Shade; Shelter | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mulalo | Peace | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Musawenkosi | Mercy of the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mzamo | Effort; Attempt | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzukisi | One who honours the home | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzwakhe | His home | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Namhla | Today | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nceba | Mercy | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Ncebakazi | Mercy | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Ncumisa | One who makes things pleasant | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Ndivhuwo | Gratitude; Thanks | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Nduduzo | Comfort; Consolation | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nellie | Torch; Bright light (Helen) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Neville | New town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Nicolene | Victory of the people | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Nikiwe | We have been given | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Nkateko | Grace; Blessing | 👧 Girl | Tsonga |
| Nkhensani | Gratitude; Thanks | 👧 Girl | Tsonga |
| Nkosana | Prince; Little chief | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkosikhona | The Lord is here | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nkosingiphile | God has given me | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Nokthula | Mother of peace | 👧 Girl | Zulu |