Swahili Names
Swahili (Kiswahili) is spoken by well over a hundred million people across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the wider East African coast, and its names are some of the most meaningful in the world. Many are simply beautiful words: Amani means “peace,” Zawadi means “gift” and Nuru means “light.” Others came from Arabic through centuries of Indian Ocean trade, or record when a child was born.
Here are 70+ Swahili names with their meanings, grouped by theme. For longer lists, see our Swahili girl names and Swahili boy names, or explore the wider continent with our African names.
Swahili Names: browse all lists
Swahili virtue names
These names are everyday Swahili words for qualities parents hope their child will carry. Most work for any gender, so they also suit our list of gender-neutral names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Amani | Peace | Unisex |
| Imani | Faith | Unisex |
| Tumaini | Hope | Unisex |
| Baraka | Blessing | Mostly boys |
| Neema | Grace | Girl |
| Upendo | Love | Girl |
| Furaha | Joy, happiness | Girl |
| Subira | Patience | Girl |
| Rehema | Mercy, compassion | Girl |
| Heri | Blessed, happy | Unisex |
| Bahati | Luck, good fortune | Unisex |
| Uhuru | Freedom | Boy |
| Faraji | Consolation, comfort | Boy |
| Nia | Purpose, intention | Girl |
Beautiful Swahili girl names
A few favorites; the full list is on our Swahili girl names page.
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Zawadi | Gift | zah-WAH-dee |
| Malaika | Angel | mah-lah-EE-kah |
| Zuri | Beautiful, good | ZOO-ree |
| Nyota | Star | NYOH-tah |
| Pendo | Love | PEN-doh |
| Johari | Jewel | joh-HAH-ree |
| Waridi | Rose | wah-REE-dee |
| Sanaa | Art, work of art | sah-NAH |
| Shani | Wonder, marvel | SHAH-nee |
| Tausi | Peacock | tah-OO-see |
| Zaituni | Olive | zah-ee-TOO-nee |
| Kito | Jewel, precious | KEE-toh |
Strong Swahili boy names
Bold, confident names for boys. More are on our Swahili boy names page.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Jabari | Brave, mighty | Swahili, from Arabic |
| Hodari | Strong, capable | Swahili |
| Shujaa | Hero, brave one | Swahili |
| Jasiri | Bold, fearless | Swahili |
| Imara | Firm, strong | Swahili |
| Simba | Lion | Swahili |
| Chui | Leopard | Swahili |
| Mwamba | Rock | Swahili |
| Zuberi | Strong | Swahili, from Arabic Zubayr |
| Rashidi | Rightly guided | Swahili, from Arabic |
| Sefu | Sword | Swahili, from Arabic sayf |
| Mbwana | Master, gentleman | Swahili |
Swahili names for when a child is born
Swahili coast families often name children after the weekday, month or season of birth, a tradition shared with many African names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Juma | Born on Friday (Ijumaa) | Boy |
| Mwajuma | Born on Friday | Girl |
| Hamisi | Born on Thursday (Alhamisi) | Boy |
| Mwanamisi | Born on Thursday | Girl |
| Jumanne | Born on Tuesday | Boy |
| Ramadhani | Born during Ramadan | Boy |
| Rajabu | Born in the month of Rajab | Boy |
| Shabani | Born in the month of Sha’ban | Boy |
| Idi | Born during Eid | Boy |
| Masika | Born during the long rains | Girl |
| Chausiku | Born at night | Girl |
| Mosi | First-born (from <em>moja</em>, “one”) | Unisex |
| Pili | Second-born | Girl |
| Tatu | Third-born | Girl |
Swahili nature names
Swahili words for the natural world make striking names. Pair them with our nature names for more ideas.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nuru | Light | Unisex, very popular |
| Jua | Sun | Rare as a given name |
| Mwezi | Moon | Poetic, uncommon |
| Mvua | Rain | Symbol of blessing |
| Bahari | Sea, ocean | Unisex |
| Kilima | Hill | Evokes Kilimanjaro |
| Almasi | Diamond | Unisex |
| Tembo | Elephant | Also a surname |
Swahili forms of Arabic and Islamic names
About a third of Swahili vocabulary comes from Arabic, and so do many coastal names, usually adapted with a final vowel. See also Muslim names.
| Swahili form | From | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Omari | Umar | Long-lived, flourishing |
| Hassani | Hasan | Handsome, good |
| Salimu | Salim | Safe, sound |
| Bakari | Abu Bakr | Noble, promising |
| Athumani | Uthman | Companion of the Prophet |
| Yusufu | Yusuf (Joseph) | God will add |
| Fatuma | Fatimah | One who abstains |
| Mariamu | Maryam | Mary |
| Halima | Halimah | Gentle, patient |
| Saida | Sa’ida | Happy, fortunate |
| Aziza | Aziza | Precious, beloved |
| Zuhura | Zuhra | Venus, the morning star |
How to choose a Swahili name
- Say every vowel: Swahili is phonetic and stress almost always falls on the second-to-last syllable, so Tumaini is “too-mah-EE-nee.”
- Pick a word you love: because many names are ordinary words, a Swahili speaker will hear the meaning instantly. Choose one whose meaning you’re proud of.
- Check the gender feel: Swahili nouns have no gender, but convention matters. Baraka and Jabari read as boys’ names, Zawadi and Neema as girls’.
- Honor the birth story with a day or season name, such as Juma (Friday) or Masika (rainy season).
- Many Swahili names double as lovely pet names too; Simba and Chui are favorites on our lion names list.
Frequently asked questions
What is a popular Swahili name?
Amani, Imani, Baraka, Neema, Zawadi, Jabari and Nuru are among the most widely used and recognized Swahili names.
What Swahili name means gift?
Zawadi means “gift” in Swahili. Hadiya, from Arabic, has the same meaning and is also used on the coast.
What does Simba mean?
Simba is the Swahili word for “lion.” It is used as a nickname and occasionally as a given name in East Africa.
Is Hakuna Matata a name?
No, it is a Swahili phrase meaning “no worries.” It became famous through The Lion King.
Where is Swahili spoken?
Swahili is an official language of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is widely spoken in Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DR Congo, Mozambique and the Comoros.