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Basotho baby names for boys and girls

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We celebrate beautiful Sesotho baby names for boys and girls.
We celebrate beautiful Sesotho baby names for boys and girls.

In this list we celebrate beautiful Sesotho baby names for boys and girls. Also see our other SA language baby name lists:

  • Zulu baby names for boys and girls
  • Tshivenda baby names 
  • ABC of Xhosa names
  • ABC of Setswana names
  • A

    Amohelang: Receive
    Amose: Amos (Bible)
    Arabang: Reply, respond
    Ata: Multiply, increase

    B

    Baholo: Elders
    Basetsana: Young girls
    Bereng: Famous Basotho chief
    Bohlokoa: Precious
    Bokang: Praise, rejoice
    Bongoe: Oneness
    Bonolo: Ease
    Bontle/Botle: Beauty
    Buang: Speak, chat

    D

    Diboko: Praises
    Dikeledi: Tears
    Dikgang: Arguments
    Dikotsi: Accidents
    Dimakatso: Surprises, amazements
    Dimo: Man eater in Basotho legends
    Dimpho: Presents, gifts
    Dineo: Gfits, talents, grants
    Dintle: Beauty
    Dipalesa: Flowers
    Disebo: Whispers
    Dithole: Dusty, waste
    Ditsheho: Laughter
    Ditswanelo: Suitable things

    E

    Esaia: Isaiah (Bible)
    Estere: Esther (Bible)
    Ezekiele: Ezekiel (Bible)

    F

    Felleng: Beyond the End, exposed
    Filemone: Philemon (Bible)
    Fumane: Found, discovered

    H

    Hlompho: Respect

    I

    Itumeleng: Be joyous, grateful

    J

    Jakobo: James (Bible)
    Jeremia: Jeremiah (Bible)
    Jeso: Jesus (Bible)
    Jobo: Job (Bible)
    Joele: Joel (Bible)
    Johanne: John (Bible)
    Jonase: Jonah (Bible)
    Josefa: Joseph (Bible)

    K

    Kabelo: Inheritance, given
    Kamohelo: Acceptance, a welcome
    Kananelo: Approval, appreciation
    Karabo: Answer
    Katleho: Success
    Kekeletso: Addition
    Kelebohile: I am grateful
    Keneiloe/Keneoue/Keneuwe: I have been given
    Kerefese: From English name Griffiths
    Keromang: One who was sent
    Kgethang: Choose
    Kgotso/Khotso: Peace, tranquility
    Khabane: Valuable, precious, warrior
    Khauhelo/Kgauhelo: Compassion, pity
    Khethang: Choose
    Khothatso: Encouragement
    Khotsofalang: Be satisfied
    Kotsi: Danger, accident
    Kutloano/Kutlwano: Mutual understanding
    Kutloisiso/Kutlwisiso: Understanding

    L

    Leabua: You speak (formal or plural)
    Leauoa: from "ho lauoa?" (to be advised)
    Leba la ka: My pigeon
    Lebo: Short form of Lebohang
    Lebohang: Be thankful
    Lebona: The one who sees
    Lefa: Inheritance
    Lefu: Death, misfortune
    Lehlohonolo: Luck
    Lekhotla/Lekgotla: Court of law
    Lemoha/Lemohang: Take cognisance
    Lenka: Taker
    Leoatle/Lewatle: Ocean
    Lepolesa: Police officer
    Lepoqo: Moshoeshoe's real name
    Lerato: Love
    Lereko: Abundance, merciful
    Lesebo: Gift from the ancestors
    Leseli/Lesedi: Light, illumination
    Letlotlo: Treasure
    Letšatši: Sun, day
    Letsie: Basotho chief
    Letsoalo/Letswalo: Fear, apprehension
    Liboko: Praises
    Liepollo: Revelations, exposures
    Likeleli: Teardrops
    Likengkeng: Tears
    Likhang: Arguments
    Likhapa: Tears
    Likotsi: Accidents
    Limakatso: Surprises, amazements
    Limpho: Gifts, presents
    Lineo: Talents, gifts, grants
    Lintle: Beauty
    Lipalesa: Flowers
    Lisebo: Whispers
    Litšeho: Laughter 
    Litšehoana: Little laughter 
    Lithole: Dusty waste
    Litsoanelo: Suitable things
    Luka: Luke (Bible)

    M

    Mafatle: probably adapted from "mafatla" which means a bald head showing old age and wisdom
    Majobo: Mother of Job
    Makalo: Perplexity, surprise, bewilderment
    Makgotla: Courts of law
    Makhokolotso: Refuse
    Makhotla: Courts of law
    Malefane: One who pays
    Malefu: Mother of death or illness
    Maleshoane: Ladybird
    Malesotho: Mother of Lesotho
    Maletšatši: From the day or sun
    Mamello: Patience, perseverance
    Mampe: Mother of ugliness
    Mantso: The dark one
    Mantsopa: One of the female leaders in the history of Basotho
    Mareka: Mark (Bible)
    Maria/Mariha: Mary
    Masilo: Traditional name from legends
    Masilonyane: Diminutive form of "Masilo" (both used often with twins)
    Masoabi: Shame
    Masopha: Basotho chief (son of Moshoeshoe)
    Matšeliso: Consolation
    Mathapelo/Mmathapelo: Mother of prayer (or mother of Thapelo)
    Mathe: Saliva
    Matjhatjhametse: The swift one
    Matlakala: Refuse
    Matshediso: Consolation
    Mattheu: Matthew (Bible)
    Mikea: Micah (Bible)
    Mmalefu: Mother of death or illness
    Mmalesotho: Mother of Lesotho
    Mmampe: Mother of ugliness
    Mmaseretse: Mother of mud
    Modise: Short form of Modisana
    Moeketsi: The multiplier, proliferator
    Moeletsi: Advisor
    Mohapi: Victor
    Mohato: Step
    Mohau: Pity, mercy
    Mohlomi: One of the wisest leaders, the "founder" or "planter"
    Moipone: Self-admirer
    Mojalefa: Heir
    Mokhethi/Mokgethi: The one who will choose
    Mokhachane: Moshoeshoe's father (historic)
    Mokhasi: The one who crawls
    Molahlehi: The lost one
    Molapo: Name of a Basotho chief, meaning stream, river
    Molise: A short form of Molisana
    Moluleloa: We have long awaited your arrival
    Monaheng: One of the ancestral chiefs (historic)
    Mookho: Tear, lacrimation
    Moratuoa/Moratuwa: Darling
    Mosa: Grace
    Mosela: Tail, the last one
    Moselantja: The dog's tail
    Mosemodi/Mosimodi/Mosimoli: Traditional boy's name from legends, fables
    Mosemotsane: Diminutive form of "Mosemodi" (both used often with twins)
    Moshanyana: Boy
    Moshe: Moses (Bible)
    Moshoeshoe: Father of the Basotho nation (first king)
    Mosimotsana: Traditional name from legends, fables
    Mosiuoa: The abandoned one
    Motlalepule: The rain bringer
    Motle: Beautiful
    Motsamai: Traveller
    Motsumi: The seeker
    Mphafane: Praiser
    Mpho: Gift, present
    Mponeng: Behold me, admire me
    Mutloanyana: Little rabbit

    N

    Naledi: Star
    Nana: Baby, infant
    Neo: Gift, talent, grant
    Ngoana: Child, also used to refer to girls
    Nkhetheleng: Choose for me
    Nkoe/Nkwe: Tiger
    Nkoeneane/Nkoenyane/Nkwenyane: Little tiger
    Nku: Sheep
    Nthabi: Short form of Nthabiseng (make me happy)
    Nthabiseng: Make me happy
    Nthati: One to love me
    Nthatisi: Historical female name
    Nthofeela: Thing
    Ntja: Dog
    Ntsebo: Adapted from the word for whispers
    Ntsoaki/Ntswaki: The girls among boys, usually given to a girl who is the only daughter among male siblings 
    Ntsu: Eagle
    Nyakallo: Joy

    O

    Oagile/Oatile: The household has been firmly built
    Oarona: Ours
    Oupanyana: Small grandfather (from Afrikaans: oupa)

    P

    Paballo: Protection
    Palesa: Flower
    Paolosi: Paul (Bible)
    Paseka: Easter 
    Peterose: Peter (Bible)
    Phahamo: Eminence
    Pheello: Perseverance, insistence
    Pheko: Remedy, cure
    Phethisi: Completion, execution
    Phetoho: Change
    Phutheho: Congregation, collection
    Piti: Derived from Afrikaans name Piet
    Polo: Alligator, Polomashwashe
    Poloko: Safety
    Pontso: Show, exhibition, revelation
    Pula: Rain
    Pulane: Rainy
    Pule/Puleng: Rainy, in the rain, during the rain

    Q

    Qenehelo: Pity
    Qhonqholotsane: Traditional name

    R

    Ramatjato: From tjato, agility
    Ramatla: From matla, strength
    Ramona: From mona, selfishness
    Ratsebo: From tsebo, knowledge
    Ratu: Love of mine
    Reabetsoe/Reabetswe: We have been provided for
    Reabiloe/Reabilwe: We have been blessed Reaboka: We are full of praise
    Realeboha: We are thankful
    Reaotlotla: We praise His name, glory to God
    Refiloe/Refilwe: We have been given, awarded
    Relebohile: We have thanked / We are grateful
    Remaketse: We're surprised
    Rethabile: We are happy
    Ruthe: Ruth (Bible)

    S

    Sakaria: Zechariah (Bible)
    Samuele: Samuel (Bible)
    Sechaba/Setjhaba: Nation
    Seeiso: Basotho chief (may be related to verb ending '-isa', to take to/to lead to)
    Seeng: Gone, astray
    Seeta: Seth (Bible)
    Sehloho: Cruelty, disaster
    Sekgolokgotjhane: Wanderer
    Sello: Wailing
    Senate: Mother of King Moshoeshoe II
    Senkatana: Boy hero in many Basotho legends
    Seretse: Mud
    Setene: Derived from Afrikaans surname Steyn
    Shoeshoe: Flower from the tsikitlane plant Hypoxis argentea
    Sofonia: Zephaniah (Bible)

    T

    Tšeliso: Consolation
    Tšepiso: Promise
    Tšepo: Hope
    Tšoeu: White one
    Tšehla: Yellow Man, lion's cub
    Tau: Lion
    Tebatso: Distraction, makes one forget
    Tebello: Expectation
    Tebelo: Vigil, wake Teboho: Gratitude
    Tefo: Payment, reward
    Thaba: Mountain
    Thabang: Be happy
    Thabiso: Joy bringer
    Thabo: Happiness
    Thapeli: Appeal
    Thapelo: Prayer, plea
    Thato: Love
    Thebe: Shield
    Thoriso: Praise
    Thuso: Help
    Thuto: Lesson
    Tiisetso: Perseverance
    Timotia: Timothy (Bible)
    Tlali: Fulfilled
    Tlhokomelo: Care, being careful
    Tlholo: Victory
    Tlotliso: Honour
    Toebanya: Little mouse
    Tokoloho: Freedom, independence
    Topollo: Emancipation, release, make free
    Tsebo: Knowledge
    Tsela: Path
    Tselane: Traditional fable name
    Tshediso: Consolation
    Tshepiso: Promise
    Tshepo: Hope
    Tsie: Locust
    Tsietsi: Predicament, dilemma
    Tsotang: Amazement, astonishment
    Tsweu: White one
    Tumelo: Faith
    Tumisang: Give praise

    Many thanks to Mr Mojalefa Makhele, lecturer in African Languages at the University of the Free State.

    Sources: Sesotho WebSesotho Setswana Silozi Heritage Facebook Page, reader submissions.

    Did we miss a name? See our details below and send us your Sotho baby names! If you know the origin, meaning and gender, please include that in your mail.

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    Find a variety of baby names to choose from in our Baby names hub

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