You already know some Swahili words, even without realizing it: Simba means “lion,” Rafiki means “friend,” and Hakuna matata literally means “there are no problems.” Swahili is the great lingua franca of East Africa, and its names are everyday words. Here are 40 Swahili names, their exact meanings, and a warning about one of the most famous ones.
A language spoken by two hundred million people
Swahili, or kiswahili, is a Bantu language heavily enriched with Arabic, born of trade along the Indian Ocean coast. Today it is an official language in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, widely spoken in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and serves as a common language across the whole region.
This dual origin explains how the repertoire is made up:
- A Bantu core, with names that are common words: peace, joy, light.
- A considerable Arabic contribution, inherited from centuries of exchange with the Arabian Peninsula: Ali, Bakari, Rashidi, Halima.
Shikomori, spoken in the Comoros, belongs to the same linguistic group, which explains the many similarities between the two repertoires.
Names that are virtues
This is the largest family, and the most widely used today. These names are immediately understood by any speaker.
| Name | Meaning in Swahili |
|---|---|
| Amani | Peace |
| Imani | Faith |
| Upendo | Love |
| Furaha | Joy |
| Tumaini | Hope |
| Baraka | Blessing |
| Neema | Grace |
| Subira | Patience |
| Rehema | Compassion |
| Salama | Peace, safety |
| Zawadi | Gift |
| Sifa | Praise |
Amani deserves a special mention: it suits a boy or a girl equally well, it is already known in France, and “peace” is a meaning you can explain in just a few words.
Names of light and nature
- Nuru: light, unisex.
- Malaika: angel, feminine, popularized by a song famous throughout East Africa.
- Zuri: beautiful.
- Asali: honey.
- Kito: jewel.
- Jabari: the courageous one, the brave.
- Simba: lion.
- Rafiki: friend.
What The Lion King really said
A good part of the world knows Swahili words thanks to an animated film, and it's worth knowing what they actually mean before turning them into a name.
| Name | Actual meaning in Swahili | Good name? |
|---|---|---|
| Simba | Lion | Yes, strong-sounding and positive |
| Rafiki | Friend | Yes, very gentle |
| Nala | Gift, present | Yes, already used in France |
| Sarabi | Mirage | Yes, pretty and rare |
| Pumbaa | Scatterbrained, careless, simple-minded | No |
| Shenzi | Savage, crude, ill-mannered | No |
This is the kind of detail worth knowing before you choose. Pumbaa and Shenzi are insults in Swahili, and the studio chose them precisely for what they mean. A child with one of these names would find out sooner or later, and probably not happily.
Names that come from Arabic
Trade between the Swahili coast and the Arabian Peninsula left behind a significant layer of Muslim names, adapted to local phonetics.
Ali, Bakari, Rashidi, Hamisi, Juma, Halima, Zainabu, Fatuma, Aisha, Salim, Said, Mwanaisha. Juma and Hamisi have a particular feature: they refer to days of the week, Friday and Thursday respectively, following the model of the Arabic calendar.
40 Swahili names
Unisex or masculine
Amani, Baraka, Jabari, Simba, Rafiki, Nuru, Kito, Juma, Hamisi, Ali, Bakari, Rashidi, Salim, Said, Jengo, Imani, Tumaini, Zuri, Kesi, Furaha.
Feminine
Malaika, Neema, Zawadi, Subira, Rehema, Salama, Asali, Sifa, Upendo, Nala, Sarabi, Halima, Zainabu, Fatuma, Aisha, Dalila, Chiku, Hasina, Mwanaisha, Bahati.
The ones that work best in France
- Amani: unisex, gentle, already present in France.
- Nala: four letters, widely adopted, no pitfalls.
- Nuru: short and luminous, literally.
- Imani: strong-sounding, easy to read as written.
- Zuri: rare, elegant, easy to pronounce.
Things to think about: Simba, magnificent but inseparable from the animated film for at least a generation, and Mwanaisha, superb but impossible to carry in everyday life outside East Africa.
Shikomori, spoken in the Comoros, belongs to the same language family: see our Comorian names, where you'll find the same roots. And to broaden your search, check out our guide to African girl names.
Frequently asked questions
What does Simba mean in Swahili?
“Lion.” It's a common Swahili word, and a perfectly valid name, even though most French speakers still associate it with the animated film.
Is Pumbaa a Swahili name?
It's a Swahili word, but it means “scatterbrained,” “careless,” “simple-minded.” Shenzi means “savage” or “ill-mannered.” Neither is suitable as a name.
Which Swahili names mean peace?
Amani, the most widely used, and Salama, which means both peace and safety. In the same vein, Upendo means love, Furaha joy and Tumaini hope.
Is Swahili spoken in several countries?
Yes. It is an official language in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, widely spoken in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and used as a common language throughout East Africa, by around two hundred million people.
Spotted a mistake or outdated information? Let us know, we check every report.
