Kariuki

Kikuyu for "the happy one".

"The one who returns" — the male counterpart to Njoki, in the same reincarnation-naming tradition as the existing Kariuki: given when a child is believed to carry back a departed relative's spirit, often a grandfather's name passed to a grandson.

Kikuyu for "she who shapes" or "molder", also the name of the mythic first mother of the Kikuyu people in their origin story (with Gikuyu as the first father).

Kikuyu for "shepherd", from the verb kũrĩĩthia ("to herd").

One of the two alternating generation-set names in traditional Kikuyu political organisation (Mwangi and Irungu, each holding authority for roughly a generation before passing it to the other) — also widely used as an ordinary personal name.

Kikuyu for "the one who has returned" or "the resurrected one".

From mbura ("rain"). One of the nine daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin story.

Linked to irimũ ("ogre, giant"). One of the nine daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin story.

Kikuyu for "zebra". One of the nine daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin story, each the founder of a traditional clan.

From ngarĩ ("leopard"). One of the nine daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin story. Borne by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai.

One of the nine daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi in the Kikuyu origin story — sources disagree on the name's literal meaning, so none is asserted here.

Tamazight for "star". Amazigh names are frequently ordinary nouns used directly as personal names, rather than a separate naming vocabulary.

From "alem" (the world) and "ayehu" (I have seen): in use, understood to mean "I have enjoyed life".

Amharic for "majesty, dignity, honour".

Fulfulde for "beloved", from the root "yiɗi" (to love) plus a suffix marking the human agent of the action.

From Dholuo "luoch" (mist).

Maa for "the polite one".

Often glossed as "the blessed one" in Maa. We have found this only in online name lists, not in a dictionary or a study of Maasai names.

Malagasy for "pillar".