Sanibona,

I felt free to open this new topic and welcome all to take part of it.

It will be easiest way if anybody can edit or add names plus meaning.

Use LogIn zulunames:zulunames and you'll be able to.


Yabona!?

Ungubani igama lakho ? ?


Let me start here.

A list of common Zulu names - editing appreciated !

(m) = male; (f) = female; so (f/m) = will be both possible

First Name (sex) - meaning in English

Amahle (m/f) – the beautiful ones

Andile (m) - they have extended, the family is growing

Ayanda (m) -

Ayize (m) – let it happen / come

Bandile (m) - they have extended in number

Bheki (m) -

Bhekizizwe (m) - Look after the Nation

Bhekithemba (m) -

Bonginkosi (m) - Thank the Lord

Bongani (m) - Be thankful

Bongiwe (f) -

Buyisiwe (m) - Returned

Busisiwe (f) - Blessed

Cikizwa (f) –

Delisile (f) –

Dingane (m) – one who is searching

Duduzile (f) - consoled

Dumisani (m) - Praise [God]

Gugu (f) - Treasure

Hlengiwe (f) - Redeemed

Jabulani (m) - Rejoice

Khethiwe (f) the chosen one

Kuhlekonke (f/m) -

Kwanele (m) - It is enough

Lindelani (m) - Wait

Lindiwe (f) - Waited for

Londisizwe (m) - protect/ take care of the nation

Mandla (m) - Power

Manelesi (m) - Satisfier

Mbali (f) - Flower

Mcebo (m) - wealth

Mmeli (m) - lawyer

Mondli (m) - feeder

Mthobisi (m) - the one who made things/us quiet

Msizi (f) - Helper

Mvuseselo (m) - revival

Mzwenhlanhla (m) - home fo good fortune

Nathi (m) - short for Nkosinathi

Ncamsile (f) -

Ndabezinhle (f) - good news

Nhlakanipho (m) - Wisdom

Njabulo (m) - Happiness

Nkosinathi (m) - God with us (Emmanuel)

Nkosingiphile (f) - God has given me

Nkosiphendule (m)- God has answered

*names starting with No- meant to be all female*


Nobuhle (f) - with Beauty

Nokwanda (f) - expansion

Nokubonga (f) - thanks

Nolwazi (f) - with Knowledge

Nomathemba (f) - Hope

Nomcebo (f) - mother of wealth

Nompumelelo (f) - success

Nomsa (f) - the caring one/ faith

Nomusa (f)- with Grace / Kindness

Nomzamo (f) - Struggle

Nonhlanhla (f) - Luck

Nonkululeko (f) - Freedom

Nontobeka (f) -

Nozipho (f) - mother of gifts

Ntokozo (f) - Joy / Happiness

Ntombifuthi (f) - Another girl

Ntombizodwa (f) - Only girls

Phila (m) - in good health

Philani (m) - be well

Sakhile (m) - We have built (umuzi wethu)

Samukelisiwe (f) - We have been welcomed

Sandile (m) - We have increased

Sanele (m) - We are satified / have enough

S'bonelo (m) - example

Sbu (m) - short for Sibusiso

S'kulekile (m) - we've prayed

Sibongile (f) - We are thankful

Sibongiseni (m) - We are thankful

Sibusiso (m) - Blessing

Sifiso (m) - wish/ what we had wished for

Sihle (m) - short for Siphesihle or Simosihle meaning beautiful gift and beautiful feeling respectively

Sihlengosethu (m) -

Simangele (f) - Surprise

Simphiwe (m/f) - We have been given him/her

Sindiswa (f) - Saved

Sinethemba (f) - We have hope

Sinenhlanhla (f) - we have luck

Siphephelo (f) - Refuge

Siphelele (m) - We are complete

Sipho (m) - Gift

Siphokazi (f) - Gift

Sithembiso (m) - a Promise

Siyabonga (m) - We thank you

Siyanda (m) - We are increasing

Sizakele (f) -

Sizani (f) - you all help

Sizho (f) -

Sizwe (m) - nation

Slindile (f) - we're waiting

Slilelo (m) -

S'phamandla (m) - Give us strength

Thabo (m) - happiness – (Sesotho of Lesotho?)

Thabisa (f) - bring joy

Thandeka (f) - Beloved

Thandiwe (f) - Loved

Thando (f/m) - love

Themba (m) - Trust

Thembelani (m) - have faith

Thembi (f) - faith/hope

Thembinkosi (m) - trust (in) God

Thembisile (f) - Promised

Thenjiwe (f) - the honest one

Thobisile (f) -

Tholakele (f) - Found

Thulani (m) - Be still / quiet

Thulisile (f) - she who made things quiet

Unathi (f) - God is with us - (Xhosa?)

Vusi (m) - short of Vusumuzi

Vusumuzi (m) - Builder of the home

Wandile (m) - you are extra

Xolani (m) - you all have peace / take it easy

Xolo (m) - peace (Xhosa)

Zama (f) - try

Zamile (f) -

Zandile (f) - they have multiplied (i.e. the girls); from -anda (v/i.) = increase, multiply, breed

Zanele (f) - We are satified / we've had enough of girls

Zethembe (m) – trust yourself

Zinhle (f) - (the girls) are good/beautiful

Zodwa (f) - short of Ntombizodwa

Zonke (f) - short for Ziphozonke, meaning they're all gifts

(m) = male; (f) = female; so (f/m) = will be both possible

Sanibona

missing you name? Just put it in topic above!

Here is a list of other names or not sure if Zulu names:

Mlamuli, Mlando, Zafika (Xhosa), Lesedi (Tswana=Light?), Tiisetso (Sotho),
Naledi (Tswana=Star of Africa?), Makayla, Lungelo (Xhosa), Siga, Palesa (Sotho),
Sabelwe (Zulu), Muzikayiso, Senzo, Nombulelo (Xhosa), Unathi(Xhosa),
Xolo (Xhosa) Mapule (Sotho), Thabo(Sotho), Cwayita, Shezi (?)

Great idea. Only wish I could contribute more to the names. I'll add any that I happen across.

--Avatar

Yes thanks so far for all the input. Make sure they are Zulu names.

on my research I found this site Zulu Names by Adrian Koopman and I realised that I saw Adrian Koopman
speaking in December 2003 with an story about Rainbows and things in common of different languages.. quite amazing
Maybe I can ask him to lend a helping hand on this topic.

I heard most of these names translated but you know how it is.. tick tack the time don't stop and you loose half of it.
So please carry on with filling the gaps.

Ngiyabonga kakhulu

zulunames@zulunames

Excellent, I can see it is already expanded. (Sandile). Although we will never be able to list them all but there is already a good base to get an idea about. Don't worry about editing I have a uptodate backup copy over here (akimthedream). You may discuss the ones who differ at anytime.

There are a lof names starting with letter "S" and most have a couple consonants and ending with a consonant typical for African Bantu languages.

Yebo Baba!

I've added the translation of Zandile after waiting for some time for David to do that, because I think if anyone knows what this name means than him.

Carsten.

Thanks. Wow this is a really Hot-Topic with 123 clicks! So already there come some suggestions up that some names might be Xhosa (Unathi (f) - God is with us) and Sotho (Thabo (m) - Happiness) like the former president (Thabo Mbeki) has a Sosothoname? I'll add them in post number three for clearfication.

Regarding to this site Adventures of Themba & Bizza i'll add Ntokozo: Zulu name meaning 'happiness, joy'
Although I guess there are little mistakes on that site (Woza = Zulu run) it's worth for some information about Nomkhubulwana and Nomdede ritual.

zulunames

What about the name Gugu ? I heard it and seen it here on the board.
Does it has a meaning or another reference?

I wonder if you can help,

my english name Raymond means 'worthy protector' - is there a Zulu name with the same meaning?

Ngiyabonga
Ray

Chiara, why didn't you create a new topic for your question? This topic is about Zulu names.

Anyway, your phrase reads correctly: Siphilile nkosikazi. Nina nisebenza kanjani lapho e-Italy? and it means We are fine, madam. How do you work (are you working) there in Italy?

Hope this makes sense to you.

Carsten.

Cartsten wrote " I've added the translation of Zandile after waiting for some time for David to do that, because I think if anyone knows what this name means than him. cool.gif"

Oh you think it means girls, I had thought it referred to cows :-)

Sanibonan, Hello Anouk,

you seem to know Zulunames well
Tell me, why do you think Gugu means treasure. In the names list it says still Gugu = Precious ? The Gugu I knew, matches rather with treasure- maybe we can sort this out.
I failed to write a message to you since you haven't registered yet.
Thank's very much for the the new additions.

Who knows about this name: Nontsikelelo ? And how big are the differences of Zulu and Siswati? Anyone please?
( Maybe put a new thread)



Ngiyabonga kakhulu.

zulunames

SANIBONA

I AM NEW TO THE FORUM

IGAMA LAMI U THENJIWE IT MEANS THE HONEST ONE
NOW YOU CAN ADD IT TO THE LIST OF NAMES.

NGIYABONGA

Hello Forum abantu,

I want to bring up this topic again since it's a hot topic and some new members
might haven't seen it . Many "treasures" are found but the list is still not complete.
Although this year had been successful, I want to encourage u to contribute some more names.

Don't forget that you can log- in with user: zulunames password : zulunames

Siyabonga kakhulu

Zulunames