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Zulu names and their meanings

Search names across all cultures

The Zulu are South Africa’s largest ethnic group, concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal, and isiZulu is the country’s most widely spoken home language. Their kingdom was forged by Shaka, who in the early 19th century transformed a clan of around 1,500 people into a militarized state commanding an army of some 50,000 warriors.

First names (21)

descriptive name

isiZulu for "power" or "strength", also the rallying cry ("Amandla!") of the South African anti-apartheid movement.

From ilungelo ("a right, an entitlement"): "a right." A name from the language of dignity and justice.

From ulwazi ("knowledge"): "knowledge."

Zulu for "strength, power" — the singular of amandla (the plural form is the 0036 entry Amandla). Shortened forms include Mandlakhe, Mandlenkosi in compounds.

From inkosi ("king, chief") + the diminutive -ana: "prince" / "little chief." Also a term of endearment for a first son.

From inkosi ("king, chief") + the feminine diminutive -azana: "princess." The female counterpart of Nkosana.

isiZulu for "freedom".

isiZulu for "beauty".

From the feminine name-former Nom- ("mother of") + umusa ("grace, kindness, mercy"): "mother of grace." Also Nomsa.

From busisa ("to bless"): "a blessing." Shortened to Sbu.

From fisa ("to wish, desire"): "a wish" — what the family had wished for. Also spelled Sfiso.

isiZulu for "gift".

From thanda ("to love"): "loved" / "lovable" / "beloved."

Zulu for "hope" and "trust" — also the verb, "to hope, to trust."

From -hle ("good, beautiful"): "(the girls) are beautiful" / "they are good" — izintombi zinhle. A name affirming daughters.

sentence name

From anda ("increase, multiply"): "they have increased" — the family has grown with this birth. Used for boys and girls.

From anda ("increase, multiply"), present tense: "they are increasing" — the family keeps growing. The counterpart of Andile. Used for boys and girls.

From bonga ("thank, praise"): "be thankful" / "give thanks." A name of gratitude for the birth.

From jabula ("rejoice, be glad"): "rejoice" / "be happy."

From anela ("be enough, be satisfied"): "we have enough" / "we are satisfied" — a family saying this child completes it.

birth circumstance

From Nom- ("mother of") + imvula ("rain"): "mother of rain" — given to a girl born while it was raining.

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