Still no name for your baby? Get some inspiration from western Africa with names both sweet and strong. Here are ten of our favorites.
(Expecting a boy? See our 11 picks for west African baby boy names.)
Ebele
Ebele is a sweet Igbo name meaning mercy or kindness.
Ifeoma
Ifeoma means “a beautiful thing”, which every little girl is. Many parents who choose this Igbo name shorten it to Ify.
Omolara
A Yoruba name meaning “a child is family”, you can start instilling the importance of family in your child with her name.
Chinasa
If you had trouble conceiving, you might consider the Igbo name Chinasa, or “God answers” for your little miracle.
Ife
A simple two-syllable name that means just what your little girl is: love.
Fatima
Many Muslims in western Africa give child Arabic names. Fatima is a popular name meaning “one who abstains.” Fatima was the prophet Mohammed’s favorite daughter and the only one of his children to give him grandchildren.
Amina
Amina is an Arabic name popular with West Africans meaning faith, honesty or trust.
Sia
Just starting your brood? Consider the name Sia, which means first girl in Kissi. Kissi is a language spoken in areas of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Issa
The world is a scary place; there’s no harm in wanting to guard your girl with the Arabic name Issa, meaning protection.
Adoma
We like this sweet name meaning “God’s gift”.
