Anyone wanting African names?

Avatar for hayleywart
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2003
Anyone wanting African names?
6
Wed, 01-05-2005 - 1:01pm

I'm not personally going this route, but I live in Zimbabwe where the national language is 'Shona' (that in itself would make a nice girl's name) and I just wondered if any of you would be interested in hearing names from this language.

The language is generally very phonetic, so easy to spell, I'll put a few examples below, and try to think of a few more. If you would like to know translations for particular meanings, tell me the English, and I'll give you the Shona word for it - you never know - it might sound good.

Examples:
Tatenda - means 'thank you' and is often used for a boy or a girl.
Chipo - means 'gift' - usually used for girls, but I have heard it used for boys.
Tinashe - (pron. Tin-uh-sheh) can't remember the meaning, I'll find out, but it sounds nice, and is also used for boys or girls.
Hope this helps somebody,
Hayley

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2005
Sat, 01-08-2005 - 2:23pm
could you tell me what the name kiya means. i was told it's an african name. i'm not sure if the spelling is the same.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Sat, 01-08-2005 - 11:40pm

hi, i would love some african name suggestions.

i am 15 weeks pregnant and we have decided on the girls name 'asha' which i believe means life in african and hope in indian.

i would appreciate boy name suggestions especially those beginning with an 'a' or 't'.

take care

andrea

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2004
Sun, 01-09-2005 - 3:46am

Tinashe is beautiful. I've never heard it. We have decided on our little girl's name - Sequoia, which derives from Cherokee. But I am always interested in hearing about African names. The web sites tend to list the same ones over and over, so it's especially valuable to hear from someone who actually lives in Africa and hears the names firsthand.

Thanks for posting, and feel welcome to post again!!

Kira

Avatar for hayleywart
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2003
Sun, 01-09-2005 - 11:06am

Thanks for your responses - I'll pass on your questions to my Shona friends and get back to you in a day or two...

Hayley

Avatar for hayleywart
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Registered: 06-08-2003
Mon, 01-10-2005 - 10:45am

Okay I'm back with a few names, but first I'll explain pronounciation and how the names are used here. Basically, a lot of names end in the letters 'ai'. This is because it adds 'ful' onto the word, as in helpful, thankful, etc. 'ai' is pronouced eye-ee. Generally the language is very phonetic, with vowels pronounced as follows:
'a' is pronounced as 'uh'
'e' is pronounced 'eh' like in egg, elephant, etc.
'i' is pronounced 'ee' as in eskimo
'o' is pronounced 'oh' as in donut.
'u' is pronounced 'oo'

Here are a few names, with meanings that I know of.

Rutendo - girls name, meaning thank you
Tinashe - boys name - meaning Son of God, Jesus Christ
Tula - girls name - meaning hush (like in a lullaby)
Daniso - Malawian girl's name, so I don't know the meaning. I know someone with this name, but she is away on maternity leave and I don't expect to see her for a couple more months, so can't ask her.
Farai - happy, usually a girl's name, but I have come across boys with this name too
Tendai - thankful - used for a boy or a girl
Marimba - for a boy or girl - named after a beautiful musical instrument we have
Chenai - (my favourite for a girl) means pure, clean.

I'm afraid I can't think of a single Shona name beginning with 'A' - in general the language doesn't have many words beginning with 'A'. Hope these help,

Hayley

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 10:52am
these are very pretty thanks. i know a teenage girl whose name is chenai. think it is spelled chenay. i really like tula also