Whether you have an African dog breed like the Basenji or want to celebrate your own heritage, there are tons of African dog names available for you to choose from.
From more popular names like Aza to more obscure names like Chandaki, we have created this ultimate list of dog names. There is an option for practically every dog out there on this list, so you should have no difficulties finding a fitting name for your dog.
Cool African Female Dog Names
Female African dog names vary quite widely. Some are short and sweet like Aysi, while others are more complex like Chidimma. No matter your dog’s personality or breed, you’ll likely find a suitable dog name for them on this list.
- Abebi: one who wards off
- Abena: born on Tuesday
- Abeni: suppliant
- Abidemi: born when father was away
- Adaeza: princess
- Adanna: father’s daughter
- Amar
- Arjana: paradise
- Ashanti: someone of the Ashanti people
- Atieno: born of the evening
- Ayotunde: joy has returned
- Aysi: born on Sunday morning
- Baako: first
- Blessing: blessing
- Bohlale: Wisdom
- Bolah: cow’s tail
- Chibuzo: God leads
- Chidiebere: God is gentle
- Chidimma: God is good
- Chiemeka: God has done very well
- Chinwe: God owns me
- Chinwendu: God owns life
- Chioma: God is good
- Chipo: gift
- Chizoba: may God save
- Dambudzo: adversity
- Dayo: joy arrives
- Duma
- Efua: born on Friday
- Enitan: one of story
- Enu: second
- Ephigenia: daughter of Iphis
- Eshe: immortal
- Gbemisola: carry me into honor
- Gugu: precious
- Ife: love
- Ifunanya: love inspires love
- Jayde: jade
- Joycelin: just and right
- Khata
- Lindiwe: I watch
- Mala: bitter
- Malaika: angel
- Monifa: I am luck
- Mudiwa: beloved
- Mwanajuma: child of Friday
- Nakato: second born of female twins
- Nandi
- Ndidi: patience
- Ngozi: accident, skin, or snore
- Nia: intention, life purpose, or mind
- Nkechi: of God
- Nkemdilim: belongs to me
- Nosizwe: mother of the nation
- Nsia: sixth
- Nsonowa: seventh
- Nthanda: star
- Patience: endurance
- Rudo: love
- Rufaro: happiness
- Rumbidzai: praise
- Rutendo: faith
- Sallinge: nothing but a peep
- Salina: has mercy
- Sipho
- Sylvia: living in a wood
- Tafadzwe: we are pleased
- Tafari: first-born daughter
- Tamake: twin
- Tamela: she who basks in the sun
- Taonga: we are grateful
- Tapiwa: plunderer
- Tatenda: we give thanks
- Tinashe: the Lord is with us
- Titilayo: ever joyful
- Totit: a female monkey
- Tcholofelo: hope
- Udo: peace
- Uzochi: good manners
- Worknesh: she is gold
- Yejide: image of her mother
- Zimbabwe
- Zola: to love
- Zuri: beautiful
Cool African Male Dog Names
Male African dog names are very similar to female names, but often with a masculine twist.
- Abel: breath
- Abidemi: I am reborn
- Abimbola: born to be rich
- Abioye: born during coronation
- Abrafo: executioner
- Adegoke: crown-ascending
- Anyim: from the Niger river
- Bamidele: bring me home
- Barasa: rum
- Bbwaddene: like a large dog
- Bhekizitha: watches for the enemy
- Dayo: joy arrives
- Duna: lord, master, and headman
- Getura: one who excels or surpasses
- Gazini: blood
- Githinji: butcher
- Isoba: walks slowly
- Isoke: hairy
- Isooba: stealthy
- Jengo: materials for building
- Kagiso: peaceful
- Kamau: quiet warrior
- Kibwe: a small pebble
- Kobe: tortoise
- Lusala: feather
- Nawvlee: big devil
- Nkosana: a petty chief
- Noah: rest
- Obi: heart
- Ogechi: time-spirit
- Paki: witness
- Qinisela: persistent
- Quanda: an egg
- Sango: fire
- Simba: lion
- Zuberi: strong
- Zulu
- Zuri: handsome
Swahili Dog Names
Swahili is a particular language in Africa. Here are some of the most popular names from this language:
- Buluu: blue
- Jambo: “hello”
- Kidogo: small
- Kidoko: hippo
- Kijani: green
- Kuaminika: reliable
- Leo: “today”
- Maji: water
- Mbogo: buffalo
- Moto: hot
- Nyepesi: light
- Nzito: heavy
- Shupavu: energetic
- Soni: shy
- Sumaki: fish
- Zee: old
South African Dog Names
South African names are somewhat similar to others, but they are unique in their own way. Here are some of our favorites:
- Adeola: crown of high estate
- Adetokunbo: he will wear the crown of sea
- Afolabi: high-born
- Akua: born on Wednesday
- Akwasibah: born on Sunday
- Alaba: their own person
- Alala: dreamer
- Amaka: noble
- Biopuso: self-governing
- Boipelo: self-glorifying
- Boitumelo: joy
- Bolanile: the honor of this house
- Bujune: sorrow
- Butannaziba: who walks before the night
- Buziba: night
- Candace: the mistress of Chendi
- Chakide: a mongoose or weasel
- Chiamaka: the spirit knows or God is noble
- Chidi: God lives
- Chigaru: like a large dog
- Chimola: breaker of things
- Chitemo: aze
- Dada: nature
- Dede: a grasshopper
- Dubaku: eleven
- Dwanh: to run
- Ebele: mourning
- Ekua: born on Wednesday
- Ekundayo: my sorrow has turned to joy
- Eniola: she who is wealthy
- Marjani: red coral
- Masika: born during a monsoon
- Masozi: tears
- Olayinka: she who brings salvation
- Oluchi: work of God
- Olufemi: God loves me
- Onyeka: who is greatest
- Qhikiza: full-grown girl
- Racheal: an ewe
- Refilwe: we are given
- Remla: a predictor of the future
- Sheena: gift
- Shukura: be comforted
- Simisola: rest in wealth
- Sithembile: we have much hope
- Ssanyu: the happy one
- Subira: patience
- Suzanna: a graceful white lily
Learn More: Top 350+ Unisex Dog Names
Rhodesian Ridgeback Names
These somewhat rare dogs are best known for the dark stripe along their back, hence their name. They are native to Africa, where they were bred as tracking and hunting dogs.
- Adowa
- Akinyi: born in the morning
- Akoko: bird, specifically a hen
- Akusua: born on Sunday
- Asante: “thank you”
- Ayounle: joy fills our home
- Azubuike: he has much strength
- Baako: first born
- Baas: master
- Baba: father
- Delmar: at the sea
- Dube: zebra
- Dumisa: honor, worship, or thunder
- Dumisani: honorable or thunderous
- Ekwueme: a promise kept
- Emeka: successful
- Emmanuel: God is with us
- Enyi
- Ffumbe: cook
- Fiskal: butcher-bird
- Fudu: tortoise
- Fumbe: some wild grey animal
- Fungai: thinker
- Gacheru: spy
- Gebhuza: butcher
- Gero: builder
- Giconi: a kind of bird
- Gwala: coward
- Idowu: increase
- Imamu: spiritual guide
- Isingoma: witch doctor
- Karibu: “welcome”
- Kubwa: big
- Kuume
- Mhambi
- Ndefu: long
- Ojiambo: born in the afternoon
- Olwenyo: born in wartime
- Oni: crocodile
- Semi: speak
- Thabo
- Thando
- Tiifu
Basenji Names
These unique dogs are known for being “catlike” and nearly silent. They make good apartment pets, but require quite a bit of exercise.
- Adede: famous
- Adhiambo: born in the evening
- Adisa: I am grave
- Adjoa: born on a Monday
- Afia: born on a Friday
- Akello: born after twins
- Amara: urgent business or someone who is always busy
- Anan: fourth
- Apio: one who comes quickly
- Apiyo: the first-born of twins
- Apunda: one who is beside herself
- Atodele: joy of the house
- Awiti: the child who has been thrown away
- Awotwi: eighth
- Ayo: joy, value, or born on the road
- Ayoo: Born on the road
- Babirye: the first-born of twin girls
- Bahati: good luck
- Bamidele: bring me home
- Bapoto: disturbance and noise
- Boipelo: proud
- Boitumelo: joy
- Bolade: honor arrives
- Ebele: mourning
- Ekene: salute
- Ekundayo: my sorrow has turned to joy
- Esi: bon on Sunday
- Farai: rejoice
- Femi: God loves me
- Folami: honor me
- Fumbe: honor me
- Fumnanya: she who inspires love
- Funanya: she who inspires love
- Kienyeji: local
- Lungile: good, right, straight
- Makeda: queen of Sheba
- Makena: the happy one
- Manyara: lucky or rich
- Mchumba: sweetheart
- Mirembe: peace
- Mojisola: I awaken wealth
- Ngumu: difficult
- Nkiruka: one who is small
- Nkosazana: princess
- Nkruma: ninth
- Nomusa: merciful
- Ntombi: girl
- Nubia: gold
- Nyah: intention, life purpose, or mind
- Ogechi: time-spirit
- Olabisi: salvation
- Opeyemi: I praise and give thanks
- Osumare: rainbow
- Polepole: slow
- Shani: wonder
- Tendai: thankful
- Thandiwe: I give love
- Themba: great in size
- Tulivu: quiet
Exotic Dog Names
Most African names sound quite exotic, espeically compared to most mainstream dog names. Still, here are some of the most exotic ones we found:
- Adongo: second-born or twin
- Adwoa: born on a Monday
- Abeeku
- Affrica: alternative spelling to Africa
- Ane
- Baayo
- Bheka
- Chafu: dirty
- Chebe
- Chika: God is the greatest
- Chinaza: God answers
- Chinedu: God is my leader
- Congo
- Domme
- Hadiya: gift
- Hlengiwe: savior
- Idowu: increase
- Kagiso: peaceful
- Kalisha: sorceress
- Kamadia: moon
- Katlego: she with the boiling stare
- Kifaru: rhino
- Kirabo: offering
- Kunto: morose
- Leena: softness
- Lesedi: light
- Pauline: little
- Penina: pearl
- Qelhatat: a queen of Nubia
- Rahisi: easy
- Rehma: merciful
- Samanya: ordinary
- Sethunya: flower
- Shani: wonder
- Shanika: young one from the wilderness
- Sizwe: country
- Tamu: sweet
- Tapiwa: plunderer
- Tau: lion
- Titi
- Uje
- Wekesa: born during harvest
Which Name Did You Decide On?
We included hundreds of names on this list, so we hope that you found the perfect option for your pooch.
It isn’t uncommon to fall in love with more than one name and have a difficult time choosing between them. In these cases, we recommend writing down all the names that you like and trying them out on your dog for a day or two. This won’t be long enough to confuse your canine but will give you a feel on whether or not the name is fitting for your new dog.
If there are multiple people in your household, you should involve them in the decision-making process as well. Have them pick out their own names if they’re old enough and try those out on your dog as well.
While little children can’t provide much help when picking out a name, you should make sure that they can at least somewhat pronounce the name you choose. Sometimes, more difficult words are nearly impossible for smaller children to say and should be avoided if you have small children in your household.
