Some of My Favorite Boys Names

I have a thing for names. Seriously. I love the meaning of names, how they can shape someone's world, and how one can identify with their culture. Granted not all names have positive meanings, there's nothing to say that you can't change a negative into a positive. But, yes, I have a tendency to put names into sentences, which could be a long, long name. There are some names with very deep meanings that I have fallen in love with, from all kinds of cultures. I guess that's part of why I love names: some cultures have such a connection to them. Having a list of names from other cultures helps me feel connected to them, you know? Like, seriously, I will have a "DUDE!" moment behind reading someone's name. An "A-HA!" moment.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy this list of names. :D I have other names, but I figured it'd be easier to list by category. :D

"It's not what you are called, it is what you answer to." Answer to hope, love, faith, purpose, positivity, creativity, healing. "Let the weak say I am strong." :)

Names are/were taken from:

55,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, 2005, Meadowbrook Press

The Best Baby Names in the World by JM Congemy, 2007, Harper 

BOYS:

Sowande: a wise healer sought me out (Nigeria) (so-WAHN-day) (b)

Dibia: healer (Nigeria) (dih-BEE-ah) (b)

Idriis: prophet, one who studies (Tanzania) (ee-drees) (b)

Idris: eager lord (Welsh) (b)

Tyehimba: we are a nation (Nigeria) (tyeh-HIM-bah) (b)

Nolizwe: the nation (South Africa) (no-LEE-zway) (b)

Bankole: help build our house (Nigeria) (BAHN-kole) (b)

Banjoko: stay with me and wander no more (Nigeria) (BAHN-jo-ko) (b)

Gathii: a wanderer (Kenya) (GAH-thee-ee) (b)

Gethii: wanderer (Kenya) (GEH-thee-ee) (b)

Durojaiye: slow down and enjoy the world (doo-ro-jah-ee-yay) (b)

Kwesi: born on Sunday (Ghana) (kway-zee) (b)

Sisi: born on Sunday (Ghana) (see-see) (b)

Danladi: born on Sunday (Nigeria) (dahn-LAH-dee) (b)

Coujoe: born on Monday (Ghana) (koo-joe) (b)

Kojo: born on Monday (Ghana) (ko-jo) (b)

Kwakou: born on Wednesday (Ghana) (kwa-koo) (b)

Khamisi: born on Thursday (Swahili) (b)

Kofi: born on Friday (b)

Coffie: born on Friday (African) (b)

Kwame: born on Saturday (Ghana) (kwa-may) (b)

Kwame: born on Saturday (Kwa-may) (b)

Ode: born along the road (Nigeria) (o-day) (b)

Uzoma: born during a journey (Nigeria) (oo-zo-mah) (b)

Okoth: born when it’s raining (Kenya) (O-kot) (b)

Abayomi: born to bring me joy (Nigeria) (ah-bah-YO-mee) (b)

Setimba: river dweller (Uganda) (sa-TEEM-bah) (b)

Barasa: the meeting site (Kenya) (buh-RAH-sah) (b)

Khaliq: creative (Arabic) (b)

Chale: strong and beautiful (Spanish) (b)

Uche: thoughtful (Ibo/Nigeria) (oo-chay) (b)

Nnamdi: father’s name lives on (Nigeria) (NAHM-dee) (b)

Bede: prayer (English) (b)

Ayinde: we praised him and he came (ah-yihn-day) (b)

Ngozi: a blessing (Nigeria) (n-GO-zee) (b)

Chioke: God’s blessing (Nigeria) (chee-O-kay) (b)

Osaze: whom God likes (Nigeria) (o-SAH-zay) (b)

Joachim: God will establish (Hebrew) (b)

Joaquin: God will establish (b)

Joel: God is willing (Hebrew) (b)

Nyamekye: God’s gift (Ghana) (nya-MEH-kyeh) (b)

Olushola: God has blessed me (Nigeria) (o-loo-sho-la) (b)

Ambakisye: God has been merciful to me (Tanzania) (am-bah-kees-yeh) (b)

Chinua: blessings from God (Nigeria) (CHIH-noo-ah) (b)

Chijioke (CHIJIOKE): God gives talent (Nigeria) (chee-jee-O-kay) (b)

Olajuwon: wealth and honor are God’s gift (Nigeria) (o-lah-joo-wahn) (b)

Ambakisye: God has been merciful to me (Tanzania) (am-bah-KEES-yeh) (b)

Ambokile: God has saved me (Tanzania) (ahm-bo-KEE-lay) (b)

Asukile: the Lord has washed me (Tanzania) (ah-soo-KEE-leh) (b)

Kamukama: protected by God (Uganda) (kah-moo-KAH-mah) (b)

Zecharias: God remembered (German) (b)

Shane: God is gracious (b)

Mawuli: there is a God (Ghana) (ma-woo-lee) (b)

Malachi: angel of God (Hebrew) (b)

Chike: the power of God (Nigeria) (chee-kay) (b)

Chinelo: thoughts of God (Nigeria) (CHIH-neh-lo) (b)

Olujimi: God has given me this (Nigeria) (o-loo-jee-mee) (b)

Gamaliel: God is your reward; God is my rescue (Hebrew) (b)

Evan: young warrior (Irish); God is great (b)

Querido: dear (Spanish) (b)

Makalani: a writer (Kenya) (Mah-kah-lah-nee) (b)

Ayo: happiness (Nigeria) (ah-yo) (b)

Nikusubila: optimistic (Tanzania) (nee-koo-soo-bee-lah) (b)

Abiola: born in honor (Kenya) (ah-bee-O-lah) (b)

Olufemi: wealth and honor favor me (Nigeria) (o-loo-fem-ee) (b)

Olatunji: honor reawakens (Nigeria) (o-lah-toon-jee) (b)

Baha: brilliance (Tanzania) (b)

Gonza: love (Uganda) (b)

Dembe: peaceful (Uganda) ((DEHM-beh) (b)

Bem: peace (Nigeria) (BEHM) (b)

Salim: peaceful (Swahili) (b)

Tumaini: hope (Kenya) (too-mah-ee-nee) (b)

Themba: hope (South Africa) (TEHM-bah) (b)

Kanoa: free (Hawaiian) (b)

Ipyana: grace (Tanzania) (eep-yah-nah) (b)

Ehioze: above the envy of the others (Nigeria) (eh-hee-o-zay) (b)

Ezeoha: a people’s king (Nigeria) (eh-zeh-oh-ka) (b)

Titus: giant (Greek); hero; king, ruler (Latin; a form of Tatius – king, ruler) (b)

Obadele: the king arrives (Nigeria) (o-bah-DEH-leh) (b)

 

Olamina: my riches (Nigerian) (o-lah-MEE-nah) (b)

Oriji: a sturdy tree (Nigeria) (o-ree-jee) (b)

Kayin: celebrated (Nigeria) (kah-yihn) (b)

Kayode: he brought joy (Nigeria) (kah-yo-day) (b)

Olubayo: highest joy (Nigeria) (o-loo-bah-yo) (b)

Abayomi: born to bring me joy (Nigeria) (ah-ba-YO-mee) (b)

Mpenda: a lover (Kenya) (m-PHEN-dah) (b)

Thabiti: a true man (Kenya) (ta-BEE-tee) (b)

Kendrew: man (Scottish)

Akira: bright (Japanese) (b)

Abdul: servant (Arabic) (b)

Abdul Rahman: servant of the merciful (Arabic) (b)

Cham: hard worker (Vietnamese) (b)

Caton: knowledgeable, wise (b)

Bela: white (Czech); bright (Hungarian) (gn); intelligent (Romania) (BEL-a) (b)

Bilal: chosen (Arabic) (b)

Stillman: quiet (b)

Diji: farmer (Nigeria) (dee-jee) (b)

Rago: ram (Nigeria) (RAH-go) (b)

Osei: noble (Ghana) (o-SAH-ee) (b)

Kareem: noble, distinguished (Arabic) (b)

Grady: noble, illustrious (b)

Jibade: of noble birth (Yoruba/Nigeria) (jee-BAH-day) (b)

Winston: friendly town; victory town (English) (b)

Wynton: friendly town; victory town (English) (b)

Chiumbo: a little creation (Kenya) (chee-OOM-bo) (b)

Aaron: enlightened (Hebrew); messenger (Arabic) (b)

Kamau: a quiet warrior (Kenya) (kah-mah-oo) (b)

Abbott: father, abbot (Hebrew) (b)

Kontar: the only child (Ghana) (KON-tahr) (b)

Kesse: plump baby (Ghana) (KEH-see) (b)

Gacoki: one who returns (Kenya) (GAH-sho-key) (b)

Azi: youth (Nigeria) (AH-zee) (b)

Imarogbe: child born into a good family (Nigeria) (ih-mah-ROG-bay) (b)

Jaja: a revered one (Nigeria) (JAH-jah) (b)

Soja: soldier (Nigeria) (so-JAH) (b)

Tobi: great (Nigeria) (b)

Ayize: let it happen (South Africa) (ah-YEE-ay) (b)

Nonceba: mercy (South Africa) (no-NCHAY-bah) (b)

Shaka: founder, first (South Africa) (b)

Sipho: present (South Africa) (see-fo) (b)

Nkunda: loves those who hate him (Uganda) (n-koon-deh) (b)

Mwamba: mighty (Tanzania) (MWAHM-bah) (b)

Rashid: well-guided (Tanzania) (b)

Claiborne: brook near the clay pit (English) (b)

Cedric: battle chieftain (English) (b)

Caton: knowledgeable, wise (b)

Chaim: life (Hebrew) (b)

Carim: generous (Arabic) (b)

Brock: badger (English) (b)

Tanner: leather worker (b)

Keene: bold, sharp (German); smart (English) (b)

Jin: gold (Chinese) (b)

Judson: son of Judd (English) (b)

Judd: praised (Hebrew) (b)

Judah: praised (Hebrew) (b)

Channing: wise (English); canon; church official (French) (b)

Clement: merciful (Latin) (b)

Keegan: little, fiery (b)

Binh: peaceful (Vietnamese) (b)

Berwyn: white head (Welsh) (b)

Kane: beautiful (Welsh); tribute (Irish); golden (Japanese); eastern sky (Hawaiian) (b)

Burgess: town dweller; shopkeeper (English) (b)

Harry: army ruler (Scandinavian) (b)

Harold: army ruler (Scandinavian) (b)

Cooper: barrel maker (b)

Rocky: rock (b)

Buford: ford near the castle (English) (b)

Ashton: ash-tree settlement (English) (b)

Garvey: rough peace (Irish) (b)

Khaliq: creative (Arabic) (b)

Keon: born to nobility (Irish) (b)

Euclid: intelligent (Greek) (b)

Everley: boar meadow (English) (b)

Hamilton: proud estate (English) (b)

Graham: grand home (English) (b)

Gordon: triangular-shaped hill (English) (b)

Grady: noble illustrious (b)

Gideon: tree-cutter (Hebrew) (b)

Galen: healer; calm (Greek); little and lively (Irish) (b)

Galloway: Scotsman in Ireland (Irish) (b)

Khoury: priest (Arabic) (b)

Winston: friendly town, victory town (English) (b)

Wynton: friendly town, victory town (English) (b)

Salim: peaceful (Swahili) (b)

Makalani: a writer (Kenya) (b)

Kamau: a quiet warrior (Kenya) (kah-mah-oo) (b)

Gyasi: a wonderful baby (Ghana) (GYAH-see) (b)

Kesse: plump baby (Ghana) (KEH-see) (b)

Kontar: the only child (Ghana) (kon-tahr) (b)

Manu: the second-born (Ghana) (mah-noo) (b)

Minkah: just, fair (Ghana) (meen-kah) (b)

Osei: noble (Ghana) (o-SAH-ee) (b)

Afram: a river in Ghana (Ghana) (ah-FRAM) (b)

Ata: twin (Ghana) (ah-tah) (b)

Barasa: the meeting site (Kenya) (bah-rah-sah) (b)

Chiumbo: a little creation (Kenya) (chee-oom-bo) (b)

Gacoki: one who returns (Kenya) (chee-OOM-bo) (b)

Lisimba: a lion (Kenya) (lee-SIHM-bah) (b)

Gatimu: a spear (Kenya) (b)

Mpenda: a lover (Kenya) (m-PEHN-dah) (b)

Akins: brave (Nigeria) (AH-kins) (b)

Peter: rock (Greek, Latin) (b)

Jurrien: God will uplift (Dutch) (b)

Dillon: faithful, loyal (b)

Raine: lord, wise counsel (b)

Raymond: wise protector (b)

Ingram: angel (English) (b)

Kipp: pointed hill (b)

Jerome: sacred name (b)

Garvin: comrade in war (b)

Geoffrey: divinely peaceful (b)

Shlomo: peace (Hebrew) (b)

Baruch: blessed (Hebrew) (b)

Fareed: one of a kind, unique (Arabic) (b)

Zoltin: life (Hungarian) (ZOHL-than) (b)

Kieran: dark (Irish) (b)

Waldo: God’s power (German) (b)

Zako: God has remembered (Iran, Hungarian) (b)

Félix: blessed, lucky, happy (Spanish) (b)

Felice: happy, blessed, lucky (Spanish) (b)