Sokhna

Wolof for "trustworthy" or "faithful", one of the most common women's given names across Senegal and the wider Wolof-speaking region.

The Wolof form of "Eve"/"Hawa", which symbolizes life, femininity, and motherhood, as it does across several West African cultures that share this Abrahamic-tradition name.

Wolof for "man".

"No one wants (him/her)" — a protective name historically given to a child born after earlier siblings died, meant to make the child seem unwanted to the spirits believed to take infants. Chosen as a pen name by the Senegalese novelist Mariètou Mbaye Biléoma for exactly this traditional meaning.

An honorific meaning "mother" — used as a respectful term or name-prefix for women.

Tamazight for "spring" (the season).

Tamazight for "freedom".

Amharic for "diamond".

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

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."

Kikuyu for "the happy one".