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Over 200 Zulu baby names for boys and girls

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Find a variety of Zulu baby names to choose from.
Find a variety of Zulu baby names to choose from.

As with many African names, Zulu names have very specific meanings. Here's a list of the more common ones. 

A

Amahle: The beautiful ones. Boy/girl 
Andile: They have extended, the family is growing. Boy/girl 
Anele: The last born. Boy/girl 
Ayanda: They augment (the family). Boy/girl 
Ayize: Let it happen/come. Boy/girl 

B

Bandile: They have extended in number. Boy
Bheka: Behold. Boy
Bhekani: You all look. Boy
Bhekisisa: Be very careful, cautious. Boy
Bhekithemba: Look after hope, look for hope. Boy
Bhekizizwe: Look after the nations. Boy
Bhekokwakhe: The one who minds his own. Boy
Bongani: Be thankful. Boy
BongiNkosi: Be grateful to God. Boy
Busisiwe: (Baby) is blessed. Girl
Buyisiwe: Returned. Boy

D

Dingane: One who is searching. Boy
Dingani: What do you need. Boy
Duduzile: Consoled. Girl
Dumisani: Praise God. Boy
Dumisile: They have praised. Boy/girl 

G

Gabisile: Has made (people) envious, but they won’t get it. Girl
Gugulethu: Our treasure, precious. Also Gugu. Girl

H

Hlengiwe: Redeemed. Girl

J

Jabulani: Be happy, rejoice, also Jabu. Boy
Jabulile: She is happy. Girl
Jabulisile: She has brought joy. Girl

K

Khanyisile: Has brought light. Girl
Khanyisile: Bringer of light, brought light. Girl
Khethiwe: Chosen, the one who is chosen. Girl
Kholwa: Believe. Boy/gir
Kwanele: It is enough. Boy

L

Langalibalele: When there was sunshine. Boy
Langelihle: Good/lovely day. Boy
Lindelani: Wait. Boy
Lindiwe: Waited for. Girl
Lindokuhle: Wait for the best. Boy
Londisizwe: Protect/take care of the nation. Boy
Londiwe: Protected/kept safe. Girl
Lunga: Be good/kin. Boy
Lungani: You all be good/kind. Boy
Lungile: Kind/good.
Luyanda: It (love) is growing. Boy
Lwandile: It (love) has intensified. Boy
Lwazi: Knowledge. Boy

M

Malibongwe: Let it (His name) be praised. Boy
Mandla: Strength/power. Boy
Mandlakhe: His efforts. Boy
MandleNkosi: Power of God. Boy
Manelesi: Satisfier. Boy
Mbalenhle: Beautiful flower, also Mbali, flower. Girl
Melamina: Carry my name. Boy/Girl
Melokuhle: Oone who represents good things. Boy/Girl
Mcebisi: The one who brings wealth, gives wise advice. Boy
Minenhle: Good, lovely, beautiful day. Boy
Mlungisi: The one who brings order, fixer, restorer. Boy
Mnqobi/Manqoba: The one who conquers in hopeless situations. Boy
Mondli: Feeder. Boy
Mpendulo: An answer. Boy
Mpilenhle: Prosperous life. Boy/girl 
Mpumelelo: Success. Boy
Msizi: Helper. Boy/girl 
Mthandeni: Love him/her. Boy/girl 
Mthokozisi: The one who gives joy, certifies. Boy
Musa: Kindness, mercy. Boy
MusaweNkosi: Grace of God. Boy
Muzikayise: He who builds his father's home. Boy
Mzamo: Attempts, efforts. Boy

N

Nandi: Sweet. Girl
Nathi: Short for Nkosinathi. Boy
Ndondoloza: Prudence. Girl
Ndumiso: Praise. Boy
Nelisiwe: Satisfied. Girl
Nhlakanipho: Wisdom. Boy
Nhlanhla: Luck. Boy
Njabulo: Happiness, joy. Boy
Nkazimulo: Glory. Girl
Nkosinathi: God is with us. Boy
Nkosingiphile: The Lord gave me. Girl
Nkosiphendule: God has answered. Boy
Nobantu: Mother of people. Girl
Nobesuthu: Girl
Nobuhle: Mother of beauty, goodness. Girl
Nokulunga: Mother of goodness, kindness. Girl
Nolwandle: Mother of oceans. Girl
Nolwazi: The one with knowledge. Boy/girl 
Nomagugu: Mother of treasures. Girl
Nomalanga: Mother of sun, sunshine. Girl
Nomandla: Mother of strength. Girl
Nomasonto: Mother of Sundays, churches. Girl
Nomathalente: Mother of talents. Girl
Nomathemba: Mother of hope, trust. Girl
Nomcebo: Mother of wealth. Girl
Nomthandazo: Mother of prayer. Girl
Nomusa: Mother of kindness, grace, mercy. Also Nomsa. Girl
Nomvula: Mother of rain, after the rain. Girl
Nomzamo: Mother of attempts, efforts, struggle. Girl
NondondolozaGirl
Nonhlanhla: Mother of luck. Girl
Nonjabulo: Mother of joy. Girl
Nonkululeko: Freedom. Girl
Nothando: Mother of love. Girl
Nothembi: Girl
Noxolo: Mother of peace. Girl
Nozibusiso: Mother of blessings. Girl
Nozipho: Bearer of gifts. Girl
Nozizwe: Mother of nations. Girl
Nqobile: Has come up victorious in what was a hopeless, dreadful, precarious situation. Girl
Nqobizitha: Conquer the enemies. Boy
Ntokozo: Joy/happiness. Girl
Ntombi: Girl, woman. Girl
Ntombifuthi: Another girl. Girl
Ntombizanele: Enough girls. Girl
Ntombizodwa: Only girls, also Zodwa. Girl
Ntombizonke: All girls. Girl
Ntuthuko: Development. Boy

O

Olwethu: It’s (love is) ours. Girl

Owethu: He/she is ours. Boy/girl

P

Phila: They/you are in good health, well. Boy
Philangezwi: They/you live by the word of God. Boy
Philani: They/you be well. Boy
Philisiwe: They/you healed. Girl
Phumlani: Rest. Boy

Q

Qophelo: Of stature, of high standard. Boy/Girl

S

S'bu: Short for Sibusiso. Boy
S’thembiso: Promise. Boy
Sakhile: We have built. Boy
Samukelisiwe: We have received a gift. Girl
Sandile: We have extended, increased in number. Boy
Sanele: We are satisfied, have enough. Boy
Sibonelo: Example. Boy
Sibongakonke: We’re grateful for everything. Boy
Sibongile: We are grateful. Girl
Sibongiseni: (You) be thankful with us. Boy
Siboniso: Being a leader. Boy
Sibusisiwe: We’re blessed. Girl
Sibusiso: Blessing. Boy
Sifiso: Wish, what we had wished for, also S'fiso. Boy
Sihawukele: Have mercy on us. Boy
Sihle: Mercy, compassion. Boy/girl 
Silondile: Has kept, protected us. Girl
Simangaliso: Miracle. Boy
Simangele: Surprise. Girl
Simosihle: Beautiful feeling, also Sihle. Girl
Simphiwe: We have her/him as a gift. Boy/girl 
SimphiweyiNkosi: He’s our gift from God. Boy
Sindisiwe: Saved. Girl
Sinegugu: We have precious treasures. Girl
Sinenhlanhla: We have luck. Girl
Sinethemba: We have hope. Girl
Siphamandla: Give us strength. Boy
Siphelele: We are complete. Boy
Siphephelo: Refuge, place of peace. Girl
Siphesihle: Beautiful gift, also Sihle. Boy/girl 
Siphokazi: Gift, also Sipho. Girl
Siphosethu: Our gift. Boy
Sithembiso: Promise. Boy
Siyabonga: We are grateful. Boy
Siyanda: We are increasing. Boy
Sizani: You all help. Girl
Sizwe: Nation. Boy
Slindile: We're waiting. Girl
Sphiwe: We have gotten, received a gift. Boy

T

Thabani: You all be joyful. Boy
Thabisa: Bring joy. Girl
Thabisile: Has brought joy. Girl
Thabo: Happiness. Boy
Thalente: Talent, gift from God. Boy/girl 
Thamsanqa: We have luck. Boy
Thandanani: You all love one another. Boy
Thandazile: Has/have prayed. Girl
Thandeka: Lovely, beloved. Girl
Thandiwe: Beloved. Girl
Thando: Love. Boy
Themba: Trust, hope, faith. Boy
Thembeka: Be reliable, trustworthy. Girl
Thembekile: Trustworthy, reliable. Girl
Thembile: Hopeful, trusting. Girl
Thembisile: Have, has promised. Girl
Thenjiwe: The trusted one. Girl
Tholakele: Found. Girl
Thulani: Be still, quiet, hush (a consolation). Boy
Thulisile: She who made things quiet. Girl
Thuthuka: Become a better person. Boy
Thuthukile: Has become a better person. Girl

U

Uminathi: (see Unathi)

Unathi: She/he is with us. Also Uminathi. Boy/girl 

V

Vusumuzi: Rekindle the family, builder of the home. Boy

W

Wandile: You are extra. Boy

X

Xolani: You all have peace/take it easy. Boy
Xolisile: (We are) sorry. Girl

Z

Zakhele: Create (something) for yourself. Boy
Zama: (prefix) She who is from [insert clan or surname]Girl
Zamokuhle: Try the good. Girl
Zandile: They have multiplied. Girl
Zanele: They (girls or children) are enough. Girl 
Zenzele: Do it yourself. Boy
Zenzile: You’re responsible for what you’ve become. Girl
Zibuyile: The dowry cows have come back. Girl
Zinhle: (The girls) are good, beautiful. Girl
Ziphozonke: All the gifts. Boy/girl 
Zithembe: Trust yourself. Boy
Zodwa: Short for Ntombizodwa. Girl
Zonke: All. Boy/girl 
Zonkizizwe: All nations. Boy/girl
Zwelakhe: His country, land. Boy
Zwelethu: Our land, country. Boy
Zwelibanzi: Huge, wide country, land. Boy

Sources:

See our details below and send us your Zulu baby names! If you know the origin, meaning and gender, please include that in your mail.

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