560 Unique African Dog Names: Celebrate Heritage with Inspired Choices

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Written By Ramis Kalkan

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Embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of African culture with our article of African dog names. This collection is more than just a list; it’s a celebration of Africa’s diverse heritage, languages, and traditions, each name carrying a unique story and significance. From the rhythmic beats of Swahili to the vibrant streets of Johannesburg, these names are handpicked to connect your canine companion to the heart of Africa.

Discover names like Zuberi, symbolizing strength, and Dalila, embodying gentleness, that resonate with the spirit of this majestic continent. Explore popular African names drawn from the artistry and creativity of its people. Delve into the distinct male and female names that reflect the continent’s linguistic richness.

Whether you’re inspired by the wild beauty of the Serengeti or the historic depth of Ethiopian culture, this article offers a name for every breed, character, and personality. So, let your dog carry a name that celebrates the vast and vibrant spirit of Africa, a name that’s not just a tag but a story of heritage and pride.

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Top African Dog Names

  • Zuberi (Strong)
  • Kibwe (Blessed)
  • Akello (Bringer of Blessings)
  • Dalila (Gentle)
  • Femi (Love)
  • Kazi (Work)
  • Lisha (Night)
  • Mirembe (Peace)
  • Neema (Grace)
  • Safi (Clean, Pure)
  • Tendaji (Makes Things Happen)
  • Uzuri (Beauty)
  • Zalika (Well Born)
  • Baruti (Teacher)
  • Chike (Power of God)
  • Deka (Pleasing)
  • Eshe (Life)
  • Furaha (Joy)
  • Jabari (Fearless)
  • Kali (Energetic)

Popular African Dog Names

  • Sanaa (Work of Art)
  • Azima (Great)
  • Bongani (Be Thankful)
  • Chipo (Gift)
  • Dalia (Gentle)
  • Ekon (Strong)
  • Faraji (Comfort)
  • Ghedi (Traveler)
  • Halisi (Genuine)
  • Imara (Strong)
  • Jioni (Evening)
  • Kito (Precious Gem)
  • Lema (Talented)
  • Mosi (First)
  • Nuru (Light)
  • Pamoja (Together)
  • Raha (Happiness)
  • Sefu (Sword)
  • Taji (Crown)
  • Zuri (Beautiful)

Unique African Dog Names

  • Azibo (Earth)
  • Bahari (Ocean)
  • Dakarai (Happiness)
  • Enzi (Powerful)
  • Fai (Light)
  • Gamba (Warrior)
  • Hasa (Joy)
  • Isabis (Something Beautiful)
  • Jaha (Dignified)
  • Kazi (Labor)
  • Lekan (My Treasure)
  • Makena (The Happy One)
  • Nuru (Born in Daylight)
  • Okpara (First Born)
  • Penda (Beloved)
  • Rafiki (Friend)
  • Sefu (Sword)
  • Taji (Crown)
  • Uzuri (Beauty)
  • Zola (To Love)

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African Male Dog Names

  • Adisa (The Lucid)
  • Bomani (Warrior)
  • Chacha (Strong)
  • Dumisani (Praise)
  • Eze (King)
  • Fadhili (Generosity)
  • Githinji (Gardener)
  • Haki (Justice)
  • Idi (Born During Eid)
  • Jomo (Farmer)
  • Kwasi (Born on Sunday)
  • Lerato (Song of My Soul)
  • Mandla (Strength)
  • Nkosi (Ruler)
  • Olumide (My God has Come)
  • Panya (Mouse)
  • Qwara (River)
  • Sadiki (Faithful)
  • Tafari (He Who Inspires Awe)
  • Ugo (Eagle)

African Female Dog Names

  • Aisha (Life)
  • Bibi (Lady)
  • Duniya (The World)
  • Esosa (God’s Gift)
  • Fola (Honor)
  • Hadiza (Maiden)
  • Imani (Faith)
  • Jamila (Beautiful)
  • Kali (Lively)
  • Layla (Night)
  • Makena (Happy One)
  • Nala (Successful)
  • Oni (Born on Holy Ground)
  • Penda (Loved)
  • Rudo (Love)
  • Shani (Marvelous)
  • Tinashe (God is With Us)
  • Unathi (God is With Us)
  • Vimbai (Trust)
  • Zahra (Flower)

Swahili-Inspired Dog Names

  • Amani (Peace)
  • Binti (Daughter)
  • Chui (Leopard)
  • Duma (Cheetah)
  • Enzi (Powerful)
  • Faraji (Consolation)
  • Ghali (Precious)
  • Hasani (Handsome)
  • Imani (Faith)
  • Jelani (Strong)
  • Kito (Jewel)
  • Lulu (Pearl)
  • Mzuri (Beautiful)
  • Nia (Purpose)
  • Ona (To See)
  • Penda (Love)
  • Rafiki (Friend)
  • Siti (Lady)
  • Tisa (Nine)
  • Usiku (Night)

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South African Dog Names

  • Thabo (Joy)
  • Sipho (Gift)
  • Nkosi (Ruler)
  • Lerato (Love)
  • Masego (Blessings)
  • Tendai (Thankful)
  • Jabu (Happiness)
  • Zola (Calm)
  • Bongani (Grateful)
  • Ayanda (Augmenter)
  • Lindiwe (Waited for)
  • Themba (Trust)
  • Sibongile (Thankful)
  • Naledi (Star)
  • Mandla (Power)
  • Thandiwe (Beloved)
  • Khaya (Home)
  • Nomusa (Merciful)
  • Mpilo (Life)
  • Sizwe (Nation)

West African Dog Names

  • Kofi (Born on Friday)
  • Ama (Born on Saturday)
  • Kwame (Born on Saturday)
  • Efua (Born on Friday)
  • Yaa (Born on Thursday)
  • Kojo (Born on Monday)
  • Abena (Born on Tuesday)
  • Akua (Born on Wednesday)
  • Kwasi (Born on Sunday)
  • Esi (Born on Sunday)
  • Afia (Born on Friday)
  • Yaw (Born on Thursday)
  • Kwabena (Born on Tuesday)
  • Akwasi (Born on Sunday)
  • Adwoa (Born on Monday)
  • Afi (Born on Friday)
  • Kweku (Born on Wednesday)
  • Akwasi (Born on Sunday)
  • Kwaku (Born on Wednesday)
  • Afua (Born on Friday)

East African Dog Names

  • Abeba (Flower)
  • Zeru (Sky)
  • Tariku (History)
  • Danai (Love)
  • Eshe (Life)
  • Fikre (Love)
  • Girma (Majesty)
  • Haben (Pride)
  • Iskinder (Alexander)
  • Jemal (Beauty)
  • Kaleb (Bold)
  • Liya (I belong to you)
  • Meklit (Ground)
  • Nahom (Comfort)
  • Omer (First son)
  • Rediet (Reward)
  • Saba (Morning)
  • Tafari (He who inspires awe)
  • Umi (Life)
  • Yonas (Dove)

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North African Dog Names

  • Amal (Hope)
  • Aziza (Precious)
  • Badr (Full moon)
  • Farid (Unique)
  • Gamal (Beauty)
  • Hadi (Guide)
  • Idris (Study)
  • Jamila (Beautiful)
  • Kamil (Perfect)
  • Laila (Night)
  • Malik (King)
  • Nadia (Tender)
  • Omar (Life)
  • Rafiq (Friend)
  • Samir (Companion)
  • Tahir (Pure)
  • Wahid (Unique)
  • Yasir (Rich)
  • Zahir (Bright)
  • Amina (Trustworthy)

Central African Dog Names

  • Mobutu (Tyrant)
  • Akuchi (Rich)
  • Binta (With God)
  • Chidiebere (God is merciful)
  • Ebele (Mercy)
  • Fumnanya (Love me)
  • Gamba (Warrior)
  • Habiba (Beloved)
  • Ifeoma (Good thing)
  • Jengo (Building)
  • Kamau (Quiet warrior)
  • Lekan (My wealth is increased)
  • Mudiwa (Beloved)
  • Ngozi (Blessing)
  • Ola (Wealth)
  • Pemba (Culture)
  • Rufaro (Joy)
  • Simba (Lion)
  • Tendai (Be thankful)
  • Uzoma (Good road)

Dog Names Inspired by African Capitals

  • Cairo (Egypt)
  • Nairobi (Kenya)
  • Addis (Ethiopia)
  • Dakar (Senegal)
  • Accra (Ghana)
  • Tunis (Tunisia)
  • Algiers (Algeria)
  • Harare (Zimbabwe)
  • Luanda (Angola)
  • Rabat (Morocco)
  • Tripoli (Libya)
  • Bamako (Mali)
  • Asmara (Eritrea)
  • Conakry (Guinea)
  • Djibouti (Djibouti)
  • Freetown (Sierra Leone)
  • Gaborone (Botswana)
  • Kampala (Uganda)
  • Lusaka (Zambia)
  • Maputo (Mozambique)

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African Wild Dog Names

  • Serengeti (Endless Plains)
  • Mara (Spotted)
  • Thabo (Joy)
  • Kibo (Tallest)
  • Zazu (Movement)
  • Vumbi (Dust)
  • Rangi (Color)
  • Mzuka (Excitement)
  • Kita (Diamond)
  • Basi (Enough)
  • Nia (Purpose)
  • Tembo (Elephant)
  • Kali (Energetic)
  • Nyika (Bush)
  • Tumelo (Faith)
  • Haki (Justice)
  • Kipepeo (Butterfly)
  • Zuberi (Strong)
  • Mwamba (Rock)
  • Jua (Sun)

Nigerian Dog Names

  • Ayo (Joy)
  • Chidi (God Exists)
  • Eze (King)
  • Ife (Love)
  • Jumoke (Everyone Loves the Child)
  • Kainene (Let’s See)
  • Ngozi (Blessing)
  • Obi (Heart)
  • Tolu (God Is Mine)
  • Udo (Peace)
  • Yemi (Be Fit)
  • Zara (Princess)
  • Adaobi (First Daughter)
  • Bankole (Build a Home for Me)
  • Chike (God’s Power)
  • Dada (Curly Hair)
  • Emeka (God Has Done So Much)
  • Folarin (Walk With Wealth)
  • Ijeoma (Good Journey)
  • Kunle (Fill the House)

Zulu Dog Names

  • Jabulani (Rejoice)
  • Nomusa (Merciful)
  • Sipho (Gift)
  • Thulani (Be Quiet)
  • Zola (Calm)
  • Bheka (Look)
  • Dumisani (Praise)
  • Gugu (Precious)
  • Khethiwe (Chosen)
  • Lindiwe (Waited For)
  • Nolwazi (Knowledgeable)
  • Qaphela (Be Careful)
  • Sizwe (Nation)
  • Vusumuzi (Wake the Household)
  • Zinhle (Beautiful)
  • Bonginkosi (Thank the Lord)
  • Hlengiwe (Rescued)
  • Mthokozisi (Delight in Joy)
  • Nandi (Sweet)
  • Thandiwe (Beloved)

Ethiopian Dog Names

  • Abebe (Flower)
  • Dula (Enemy)
  • Fikre (My Love)
  • Girum (Star)
  • Hayat (Life)
  • Kaleb (Bold)
  • Makeda (Queen of Sheba)
  • Nolawi (In Charge)
  • Samson (Sun)
  • Tadesse (Reborn)
  • Yemane (My Oath)
  • Zewdu (The Crown)
  • Alem (World)
  • Bekele (He Has Grown)
  • Dereje (The Coming)
  • Eskinder (Man of the World)
  • Habtamu (Rich in Health)
  • Lulit (Pearl)
  • Mesfin (Prince)
  • Sisay (Good Omen)

African Animal-Inspired Dog Names

  • Simba (Lion)
  • Tausi (Peacock)
  • Chui (Leopard)
  • Tembo (Elephant)
  • Fisi (Hyena)
  • Nyati (Buffalo)
  • Punda (Zebra)
  • Kifaru (Rhinoceros)
  • Sungura (Rabbit)
  • Swala (Gazelle)
  • Twiga (Giraffe)
  • Kiboko (Hippopotamus)
  • Mamba (Crocodile)
  • Ndege (Bird)
  • Nyoka (Snake)
  • Panzi (Flower)
  • Mbuni (Ostrich)
  • Duma (Cheetah)
  • Mbwa Mwitu (Wild dog)
  • Pimbi (Mole)

African Flower and Plant Dog Names

  • Aloe
  • Baobab
  • Marula
  • Iroko
  • Acacia
  • Hibiscus
  • Jasmine
  • Lotus
  • Orchid
  • Protea
  • Saffron
  • Tulip
  • Violet
  • Willow
  • Yarrow
  • Zinnia
  • Azalea
  • Begonia
  • Clover
  • Daisy

African Landscape Dog Names

  • Sahara (Desert)
  • Kilimanjaro (Mountain)
  • Victoria (Lake)
  • Zambezi (River)
  • Serengeti (Plain)
  • Nile (River)
  • Kalahari (Desert)
  • Atlas (Mountains)
  • Congo (River)
  • Okavango (Delta)
  • Rift (Valley)
  • Tana (River)
  • Ubangi (River)
  • Limpopo (River)
  • Meru (Mountain)
  • Nyasa (Lake)
  • Fish (River)
  • Gambia (River)
  • Karoo (Semi-desert)
  • Drakensberg (Mountain Range)

African Language Dog Names

  • Zulu
  • Xhosa
  • Yoruba
  • Swahili
  • Hausa
  • Amharic
  • Igbo
  • Berber
  • Somali
  • Tswana
  • Lingala
  • Shona
  • Afrikaans
  • Wolof
  • Kikuyu
  • Oromo
  • Tigrinya
  • Sesotho
  • Bambara
  • Akan

African Music and Dance Inspired Dog Names

  • Afrobeat
  • Kwaito
  • Bongo
  • Marimba
  • Jive
  • Mbalax
  • Raï
  • Soukous
  • Taarab
  • Chimurenga
  • Juju
  • Mbira
  • Salsa
  • Tcha Tcha
  • Zouk
  • Reggae
  • Calypso
  • Samba
  • Kizomba
  • Highlife

African Festival Dog Names

  • Timkat
  • Mawlid
  • Gnaoua
  • Panafest
  • Sauti
  • Afrikadey
  • Calabar
  • Chale Wote
  • Durbar
  • Enkutatash
  • FESPACO
  • Gerewol
  • Harare
  • Jazzablanca
  • Kwanzaa
  • Lamu
  • Mardi Gras
  • Ouidah
  • Tabaski
  • Yam

African Kings and Queens Dog Names

  • Mansa (Musa)
  • Cleopatra
  • Nzinga
  • Shaka (Zulu)
  • Sundiata (Keita)
  • Hatshepsut
  • Taharqa
  • Amina (of Zazzau)
  • Yaa (Asantewaa)
  • Lalibela
  • Askia (Muhammad)
  • Menelik
  • Ramesses
  • Makeda (Queen of Sheba)
  • Haile (Selassie)
  • Thutmose
  • Sobekneferu
  • Idia (of Benin)
  • Samori (Toure)
  • Jaja (of Opobo)

African City and Town Dog Names

  • Casablanca
  • Marrakech
  • Cairo
  • Alexandria
  • Dakar
  • Accra
  • Lagos
  • Nairobi
  • Addis Ababa
  • Johannesburg
  • Durban
  • Cape Town
  • Zanzibar
  • Mombasa
  • Gaborone
  • Harare
  • Kigali
  • Lusaka
  • Windhoek
  • Tunis

African Cultural Heritage Dog Names

  • Ubuntu (Humanity)
  • Harambee (All pull together)
  • Sankofa (Go back and get it)
  • Taifa (Nation)
  • Ujamaa (Familyhood)
  • Jua (Sun)
  • Mvua (Rain)
  • Kazi (Work)
  • Raha (Joy)
  • Shujaa (Hero)
  • Baraka (Blessing)
  • Maridadi (Elegance)
  • Amani (Peace)
  • Rafiki (Friend)
  • Mzizi (Root)
  • Uhuru (Freedom)
  • Nguvu (Strength)
  • Tumaini (Hope)
  • Ushujaa (Bravery)
  • Heshima (Respect)

African Storytelling and Mythology Dog Names

  • Anansi (Spider)
  • Sundjata
  • Ogun
  • Orunmila
  • Mwindo
  • Kirikou
  • Nyame (Sky God)
  • Asase Yaa (Earth Goddess)
  • Eshu
  • Mami Wata
  • Yemoja
  • Obatala
  • Oya
  • Legba
  • Zulu (Sky God)
  • Nyambe
  • Nommo
  • Amma (Sky Goddess)
  • Abassi
  • Waaqa

African Gemstone and Mineral Dog Names

  • Diamond
  • Sapphire
  • Emerald
  • Ruby
  • Topaz
  • Garnet
  • Amethyst
  • Opal
  • Peridot
  • Quartz
  • Jasper
  • Agate
  • Citrine
  • Malachite
  • Lapis
  • Azurite
  • Coral
  • Onyx
  • Turquoise
  • Jade

African-inspired Heroic Dog Names

  • Mandela (Nelson Mandela)
  • Kofi (Kofi Annan)
  • Desmond (Desmond Tutu)
  • Nkrumah (Kwame Nkrumah)
  • Lumumba (Patrice Lumumba)
  • Senghor (Léopold Sédar Senghor)
  • Kenyatta (Jomo Kenyatta)
  • Nyerere (Julius Nyerere)
  • Achebe (Chinua Achebe)
  • Soyinka (Wole Soyinka)
  • Tutu (Desmond Tutu)
  • Dangote (Aliko Dangote)
  • Angelou (Maya Angelou)
  • Diop (Cheikh Anta Diop)
  • Fela (Fela Kuti)
  • Okonkwo
  • Biko (Steve Biko)
  • Chimamanda
  • Selassie (Haile Selassie)
  • Winnie (Winnie Mandela)