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Neema

Swahili · First name · female · descriptive name

Kiswahili for "grace, favour, prosperity". From Arabic ni'ma, long since an everyday Kiswahili word.

Source: Swahili naming tradition, cross-referenced across Behind the Name (Swahili names) and independent Swahili-naming resources

Other Swahili first names

Kiswahili for "peace".

Kiswahili for "luck, good fortune".

Kiswahili for "blessing". From Arabic baraka, fully naturalised as a common noun.

From cha usiku, "of the night" — a child born during the night.

Kiswahili for "joy, happiness".

Born on a Thursday (Alhamisi), from Arabic al-khamis, "the fifth". Also spelled Khamisi.

Kiswahili for "wisdom".

Kiswahili for "faith".

Kiswahili for "the brave one".

Born on a Friday (Ijumaa), the day of congregational prayer — from Arabic jumu'a. One of the most common Swahili male names.

Born on a Tuesday. In the Swahili week Tuesday is Jumanne, literally "day four" (the week begins on Saturday).

The mwana- ("child of") compound with juma (Friday): a girl born on a Friday.

Kiswahili for "purpose, intention".

Kiswahili for "light". From Arabic nur.

Kiswahili for "love", from the verb -penda ("to love"). Also found in the fuller form Upendo.

Kiswahili for "mercy, compassion". From Arabic rahma.

Kiswahili for "patience".

Kiswahili for "three" — a third-born child.

Kiswahili for "nine" — a ninth-born child.

Kiswahili for "hope", from the verb -tumaini ("to hope, to trust").

Kiswahili for "gift" — a child received as a gift.

More descriptive names, from other cultures

Tafsut · Amazigh

Tamazight for "spring" (the season).

Tilelli · Amazigh

Tamazight for "freedom".

Almaz · Amharic

Amharic for "diamond".

Birtukan · Amharic

Amharic for "orange" (the fruit). Borne by the opposition leader and judge Birtukan Mideksa.

Hafsatu · Hausa

A Hausa feminine given name meaning "gathering" (also used among Yoruba Muslims, reflecting shared Islamic naming influence across northern and southwestern Nigeria).

From ada ("first-born daughter" — a standing every eldest Igbo daughter holds) + eze ("king"): "the king's first daughter" / "princess." Shortened to Ada.

Igbo for "blessing." Can be short for Ngozichukwu, "God's blessing."

Makena · Kikuyu

Kikuyu for "the happy one".

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