Xhosa names and what they mean

Amahlefrom -hle (beautiful)

The beautiful ones.

Andisiwefrom anda (to increase)

She has increased the family.

Andiswafrom anda (to increase)

She is increased; a family grown by her.

Asemahlefrom -hle (beautiful)

They are beautiful.

Bongiwefrom bonga (to thank)

She is thanked for.

Bulelwafrom bulela (to thank)

She is thanked for.

Busisiwefrom busisa (to bless)

Blessed.

Buyiswafrom buya (to return)

She is brought back.

Gugulethufrom igugu (treasure)

Our treasure.

Hlengiwefrom hlenga (to rescue)

Rescued.

Lilithafrom ilitha (ray)

Ray of light.

Lindelwafrom linda (to wait)

The awaited one.

Lindiwefrom linda (to wait)

The awaited one.

Nandiphafrom pha (to give)

Here is what I give you.

Ncebakazifrom inceba (mercy)

Great mercy.

Ncumisafrom ncuma (to smile)

Make us smile.

Nkosazanafrom inkosazana (princess)

Princess.

Nobuhlefrom ubuhle (beauty)

Of beauty.

Nobuntufrom ubuntu (humanity)

Of humanity, of kindness.

Nokhululekofrom inkululeko (freedom)

Of freedom.

Nokuthulafrom ukuthula (peace)

Of peace, of calm.

Nolithafrom ilitha (ray)

Of the ray of light.

Nolizwefrom ilizwe (country)

Of the nation.

Noloyisofrom uloyiso (victory)

Of victory.

Nolusindisofrom sindisa (to rescue)

Of salvation.

Noluthandofrom uthando (love)

Of love.

Nolwazifrom ulwazi (knowledge)

Of knowledge.

Nomakhayafrom ikhaya (home)

Of the homes.

Nomathamsanqafrom ithamsanqa (luck)

Of good fortune.

Nomathembafrom ithemba (hope)

Of hope.

Nombulelofrom umbulelo (thanks)

Of thanks.

Nombuyiselofrom buya (to return)

Of restoration; one who brings back.

Nompumelelofrom impumelelo (success)

Of success.

Nomthandazofrom umthandazo (prayer)

Of prayer.

Nomvulafrom imvula (rain)

Of the rain.

Nomzamofrom umzamo (effort)

Of effort.

Nonhlefrom -hle (beautiful)

The beautiful one.

Nonkululekofrom inkululeko (freedom)

Of freedom.

Nontlefrom -ntle (beautiful)

The beautiful one (variant of Nonhle).

Nosiphofrom isipho (gift)

Of the gift.

Nosizwefrom isizwe (nation)

Of the nation.

Nothandofrom uthando (love)

Of love.

Novuyofrom uvuyo (joy)

Of joy.

Noxolofrom uxolo (peace)

Of peace.

Ntombekhayafrom intombi (girl), ikhaya (home)

Girl of the home.

Ntombizodwafrom intombi (girl)

Only girls.

Ntombomzifrom intombi (girl), umzi (home)

Girl of the home.

Ntombovuyofrom intombi (girl), uvuyo (joy)

Girl of joy.

Ongezwafrom ongeza (to add)

She is added; an addition to the family.

Phumzilefrom phumla (to rest)

We have rested.

Sanelisiwefrom anela (to be enough)

We are satisfied.

Sikelelwafrom sikelela (to bless)

She is blessed.

Sindiswafrom sindisa (to save)

Saved.

Siphokazifrom isipho (gift)

A great gift.

Thandazilefrom thandaza (to pray)

She has prayed.

Thandekafrom thanda (to love)

Lovable.

Thandifrom thanda (to love)

Short form of Thandiwe.

Thandiwefrom thanda (to love)

The loved one.

Thembakazifrom ithemba (hope)

Great hope.

Thembekafrom themba (to trust)

Be trustworthy.

Thembelihlefrom ithemba (hope), -hle (beautiful)

Beautiful hope.

Thobekafrom thobeka (to be humble)

Be humble.

Vuyokazifrom uvuyo (joy)

Great joy.

Xoliswafrom xolisa (to reconcile)

She is at peace; reconciled.

Zandilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Zandisilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Zanelefrom anela (to be enough)

They are enough.

Zintlefrom -ntle (beautiful)

The beautiful ones.

Ziziphofrom izipho (gifts)

They are gifts.

Zodwafrom -dwa (only)

Short form of Ntombizodwa.

Zolekafrom zola (to be calm)

Calm, peaceful.

Bonganifrom bonga (to thank)

Be thankful.

Bonginkosifrom bonga (to thank), inkosi (lord)

Thank the Lord.

Bulelanifrom bulela (to thank)

Give thanks.

Dumisanifrom dumisa (to praise)

Give praise.

Khayafrom ikhaya (home)

Home.

Khayalethufrom ikhaya (home)

Our home.

Langafrom ilanga (sun)

Sun.

Lindanifrom linda (to wait)

Wait.

Lindelanifrom linda (to wait)

Wait for (said to many).

Lindikhayafrom linda (to wait, guard), ikhaya (home)

One who guards the home.

Lizwefrom ilizwe (country)

Country, nation.

Lungelofrom ilungelo (right)

Right, privilege.

Lungisanifrom lungisa (to fix, put right)

Put things right.

Luxolofrom uxolo (peace)

Peace.

Lwandilefrom anda (to increase)

It has increased.

Lwandofrom anda (to increase)

Growth, increase.

Mandlafrom amandla (strength)

Strength.

Mbulelofrom umbulelo (thanks)

Thanks, gratitude.

Mcebisifrom cebisa (to advise)

Adviser, counsellor.

Melisizwefrom mela (to stand for), isizwe (nation)

Leader of the nation.

Mfundisifrom umfundisi (teacher)

Teacher, minister.

Mfundofrom imfundo (education)

Learning, education.

Mlungisifrom lungisa (to put right)

One who puts things right.

Mncedisifrom nceda (to help)

Helper.

Mpumelelofrom impumelelo (success)

Success.

Mthunzifrom umthunzi (shade)

Shade, shelter.

Mzimkhulufrom umzi (home), -khulu (big)

Big family, big home.

Mzoxolofrom umzi (home), uxolo (peace)

A home of peace.

Mzwandilefrom umzi (home), anda (to increase)

The family has grown.

Ndumisofrom dumisa (to praise)

Praise.

Nkosanafrom inkosana (prince)

Prince.

Nkosinathifrom inkosi (lord), nathi (with us)

The Lord is with us.

Nkosiyabofrom inkosi (lord)

Their Lord.

Nkululekofrom inkululeko (freedom)

Freedom.

Ntsikafrom intsika (pillar)

Pillar.

Phakamisafrom phakama (to rise)

Lift up.

Phumlanifrom phumla (to rest)

Rest (said to many).

Sabelofrom aba (to share)

Share, portion.

Sakhilefrom akha (to build)

We have built.

Sakhumzifrom akha (to build), umzi (home)

We are building the home.

Sandilefrom anda (to increase)

We have increased.

Sibusisofrom busisa (to bless)

Blessing.

Sicelofrom isicelo (request)

Request, prayer.

Siphamandlafrom pha (to give), amandla (strength)

Give us strength.

Siphofrom isipho (gift)

Gift.

Siyabongafrom bonga (to thank)

We thank you.

Siyandafrom anda (to increase)

We are increasing.

Sizwefrom isizwe (nation)

Nation.

Thamsanqafrom ithamsanqa (luck)

Luck, good fortune.

Thandazanifrom thandaza (to pray)

Pray.

Thandisizwefrom thanda (to love), isizwe (nation)

Love the nation.

Thembafrom ithemba (hope)

Hope, trust.

Thembanifrom themba (to trust)

Have hope; trust.

Thembinkosifrom themba (to trust), inkosi (lord)

Trust in the Lord.

Thulanifrom thula (to be quiet)

Be quiet, be at peace.

Velilefrom vela (to come, appear)

He has appeared.

Vusumzifrom vusa (to wake, revive), umzi (home)

One who revives the home.

Vuyanifrom vuya (to rejoice)

Rejoice.

Vuyisilefrom vuyisa (to make glad)

He has brought joy.

Vuyofrom uvuyo (joy)

Joy.

Wandilefrom anda (to increase)

It has increased.

Xolanifrom xola (to be at peace)

Be at peace (said to many).

Zamuxolofrom zama (to try), uxolo (peace)

Try for peace.

Zolanifrom zola (to be calm)

Be calm (said to many).

Zwelakhefrom ilizwe (country)

His country.

Zwelethufrom ilizwe (country)

Our country.

Andilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Aphiwefrom pha (to give)

They have been given.

Asandafrom anda (to increase)

We are growing.

Athulefrom thula (to be quiet)

They are quiet; peace has come.

Avelafrom vela (to appear)

They have appeared.

Ayabongafrom bonga (to thank)

They are thankful.

Ayandafrom anda (to increase)

They are increasing.

Azolafrom zola (to be calm)

They are calm.

Bandilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Banelefrom anela (to be enough)

It is enough.

Buhlefrom ubuhle (beauty)

Beauty.

Enzokuhlefrom enza (to do), -hle (good)

Do good.

Khululekilefrom khulula (to free)

Free; set at ease.

Kuhlefrom -hle (good)

It is good, it is beautiful.

Lethokuhlefrom letha (to bring), -hle (good)

Bring goodness.

Lindokuhlefrom linda (to wait)

Wait for good things.

Lisakhanyafrom khanya (to shine)

It is still shining.

Lithafrom ilitha (ray)

Ray of light.

Lubanzifrom -banzi (wide)

It is wide; from "uthando lubanzi", love is wide.

Lukholofrom ukholo (faith)

Faith.

Lungilefrom lunga (to be right)

Good, right.

Lusandafrom anda (to increase)

It is growing.

Lusindisofrom usindiso (salvation)

Salvation.

Luthandofrom uthando (love)

It is love.

Luvuyofrom uvuyo (joy)

Joy.

Lwandlefrom ulwandle (sea)

Ocean.

Lwazifrom ulwazi (knowledge)

Knowledge.

Masibulelefrom bulela (to thank)

Let us give thanks.

Masixolefrom xola (to be at peace)

Let us be at peace.

Melokuhlefrom mela (to stand for), -hle (good)

Stand for goodness.

Ncebafrom inceba (mercy)

Mercy.

Ncedafrom nceda (to help)

Help.

Ncedofrom uncedo (help)

Help.

Okuhlefrom -hle (good)

That which is good.

Philafrom phila (to be well)

Live; be well.

Phumlafrom phumla (to rest)

Rest.

Sanelefrom anela (to be enough)

We are satisfied.

Sibulelefrom bulela (to thank)

We have thanked.

Sihlefrom -hle (good)

We are beautiful; a good one.

Simamkelefrom amkela (to receive, welcome)

We have welcomed him or her.

Simphiwefrom pha (to give)

We were given him or her.

Sinesiphofrom isipho (gift)

We have a gift.

Sinethembafrom ithemba (hope)

We have hope.

Sinovuyofrom uvuyo (joy)

We have joy.

Sinoxolofrom uxolo (peace)

We have peace.

Siphesihlefrom isipho (gift)

A beautiful gift.

Siphiwefrom pha (to give)

We were given.

Siphosethufrom isipho (gift)

Our gift.

Sisiphofrom isipho (gift)

It is a gift.

Sithembilefrom themba (to trust)

We have trusted.

Sithembisofrom isithembiso (promise)

Promise.

Siviwefrom va (to hear)

We have been heard.

Sivuyilefrom vuya (to rejoice)

We are happy.

Siyamthandafrom thanda (to love)

We love him or her.

Thandofrom uthando (love)

Love.

Thandolwethufrom uthando (love)

Our love.

Thobelafrom thobela (to obey)

Obey, be respectful.

Unathifrom nathi (with us)

He or she is with us.

Vuyolwethufrom uvuyo (joy)

Our joy.

Xolafrom xola (to be at peace)

Be at peace.

Zanokuhlefrom za (to come), -hle (good)

Come with goodness.

Zenandefrom anda (to increase)

May they increase.

Zolafrom zola (to be calm)

Calm.