Zulu names and what they mean

Bongekilefrom bonga (to thank)

She is one to be thankful for.

Bongiwefrom bonga (to thank)

She is thanked for; a cause for thanks.

Buhlefrom ubuhle (beauty)

Beauty.

Busisiwefrom busisa (to bless)

Blessed.

Buyisilefrom buyisa (to bring back)

She has brought back.

Dumisilefrom dumisa (to praise)

She has been praised.

Gugufrom igugu (treasure)

Treasure, pride.

Gugulethufrom igugu (treasure), -ethu (our)

Our treasure, our pride.

Hlengiwefrom hlenga (to rescue)

Rescued, redeemed.

Iminathifrom ima (to stand), nathi (with us)

He stands with us.

Jabulilefrom jabula (to rejoice)

We have rejoiced.

Khanyisilefrom khanyisa (to light up)

She has brought light.

Khethiwefrom khetha (to choose)

The chosen one.

Khethukuthulafrom khetha (to choose), ukuthula (peace)

Choose peace.

Lindiwefrom linda (to wait)

The awaited one.

Londekafrom londa (to look after)

She is protected.

Mbalenhlefrom imbali (flower), -hle (beautiful)

A beautiful flower.

Mbalifrom imbali (flower)

Flower.

Nelisiwefrom enela (to be enough)

Satisfied; she has been given enough.

Nkosazanafrom inkosazana (princess)

Princess; young lady.

Nobuhlefrom ubuhle (beauty)

Of beauty; the beautiful one.

Nokubongafrom bonga (to thank)

Thankfulness.

Nokukhanyafrom ukukhanya (light)

Light; one of light.

Nokuphilafrom phila (to live)

Life, wellbeing.

Nokuthulafrom ukuthula (peace)

Peace, calm.

Nokwandafrom anda (to increase)

Growth, increase.

Nokwazifrom ulwazi (knowledge)

Of knowledge.

Nolwazifrom ulwazi (knowledge)

Of knowledge.

Nomagugufrom igugu (treasure)

Of treasures.

Nomakhosifrom inkosi (chief, king)

Of the chiefs or kings.

Nomalangafrom ilanga (sun)

Of the sun; born on a sunny day.

Nomathembafrom ithemba (hope)

Of hope.

Nomcebofrom umcebo (wealth, riches)

Of wealth.

Nomfundofrom imfundo (education)

Of learning.

Nomhlefrom -hle (beautiful)

The beautiful one.

Nompilofrom impilo (life, health)

Of life, of health.

Nompumelelofrom impumelelo (success)

Of success.

Nomsafrom umusa (kindness)

Short form of Nomusa: of kindness.

Nomthandazofrom umthandazo (prayer)

Of prayer.

Nomusafrom umusa (kindness)

Of kindness, of grace.

Nomvulafrom imvula (rain)

Of the rain; often given to a child born in rain.

Nomzamofrom umzamo (effort)

Of effort; one who strives.

Nondumisofrom dumisa (to praise)

Of praise.

Nonhlanhlafrom inhlanhla (luck)

Of good luck.

Nonjabulofrom injabulo (joy)

Of joy.

Nonkululekofrom inkululeko (freedom)

Of freedom.

Nosiphofrom isipho (gift)

Of the gift.

Nothandofrom uthando (love)

Of love.

Noziphofrom izipho (gifts)

Of gifts.

Ntombifrom intombi (girl)

Girl.

Ntombifuthifrom intombi (girl), futhi (again)

A girl again; given when another daughter is born.

Ntombizodwafrom intombi (girl), -dwa (only)

Only girls; given in a family of daughters.

Phindilefrom phinda (to repeat)

She has come again; given after a repeat birth.

Phumzilefrom phumula (to rest)

We have rested.

Sanelisiwefrom enelisa (to satisfy)

We are satisfied.

Sbusisiwefrom busisa (to bless)

We are blessed.

Sibongilefrom bonga (to thank)

We are thankful.

Sindisiwefrom sindisa (to save)

Saved.

Sindiswafrom sindisa (to save)

Saved, rescued.

Siphokazifrom isipho (gift)

A great gift.

Slindilefrom linda (to wait)

We have waited.

Thandekafrom thanda (to love)

Lovable; the loved one.

Thandifrom thanda (to love)

Short form of Thandiwe.

Thandiwefrom thanda (to love)

The loved one.

Thembekafrom themba (to trust)

Be trustworthy.

Thembekilefrom thembeka (to be trustworthy)

Faithful, trustworthy.

Thembisilefrom thembisa (to promise)

Promised, assured.

Thokozilefrom thokoza (to be glad)

We are glad.

Thulilefrom thula (to be quiet)

Quiet, peaceful.

Xolilefrom xola (to be at peace)

At peace.

Zandilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Zanelefrom anela (to be enough)

They are enough.

Zinhlefrom -hle (beautiful)

The beautiful ones.

Zodwafrom -dwa (only)

Short form of Ntombizodwa.

Bhekifrom bheka (to look, watch over)

Short form of names like Bhekithemba and Bhekizizwe.

Bhekithembafrom bheka (to look), ithemba (hope)

Look to hope.

Bhekizizwefrom bheka (to look), izizwe (nations)

One who watches over the nations.

Bhekumuzifrom bheka (to look), umuzi (homestead)

One who looks after the home.

Bonganifrom bonga (to thank)

Be thankful; give thanks.

Bonginkosifrom bonga (to thank), inkosi (lord, king)

Thank the Lord.

Dumifrom dumisa (to praise)

Short form of Dumisani: give praise.

Dumisanifrom dumisa (to praise)

Give praise.

Jabulanifrom jabula (to rejoice)

Rejoice, be happy.

Khulekanifrom khuleka (to pray, greet respectfully)

Pray; greet with respect.

Langelihlefrom ilanga (sun, day), -hle (beautiful)

A beautiful day.

Lindanifrom linda (to wait)

Wait.

Lindelanifrom linda (to wait)

Wait for (said to many).

Lungelofrom ilungelo (right)

Right, privilege.

Lwandilefrom anda (to increase)

It has increased.

Mandlafrom amandla (strength)

Strength, power.

Mandlenkosifrom amandla (strength), inkosi (lord)

The strength of the Lord.

Mbongenifrom bonga (to thank)

Thank him; praise him.

Mbuyisenifrom buyisa (to bring back)

Bring him back.

Mfanafuthifrom umfana (boy), futhi (again)

Another boy.

Mfundisifrom umfundisi (teacher)

Teacher, minister.

Mfundofrom imfundo (education)

Learning, education.

Mlondifrom londa (to look after)

Protector, guardian.

Mlungisifrom lungisa (to put right)

One who puts things right.

Mondlifrom ondla (to nourish, provide for)

Provider.

Mpilofrom impilo (life, health)

Life, health.

Mpumelelofrom impumelelo (success)

Success.

Mthandenifrom thanda (to love)

Love him.

Mthokozisifrom thokoza (to be glad)

One who brings joy.

Mthunzifrom umthunzi (shade)

Shade, shelter.

Mxolisifrom xolisa (to reconcile)

Peacemaker; one who reconciles.

Mzamofrom umzamo (effort)

Effort.

Mzwandilefrom umuzi (homestead), anda (to increase)

The family has grown.

Ndabafrom indaba (news, matter)

Matter, news; also a royal ancestor's name.

Ndabezinhlefrom indaba (news, matter), -hle (good)

Good news.

Ndumisofrom dumisa (to praise)

Praise.

Ngcebofrom ingcebo (wealth)

Wealth.

Nhlakaniphofrom inhlakanipho (wisdom)

Wisdom.

Njabulofrom injabulo (joy)

Joy, happiness.

Nkosanafrom inkosana (prince)

Prince; young master.

Nkosifrom inkosi (king, chief)

Lord, king, chief.

Nkosinathifrom inkosi (lord), nathi (with us)

The Lord is with us.

Nkosingiphilefrom inkosi (lord), pha (to give)

The Lord has given me.

Nkululekofrom inkululeko (freedom)

Freedom.

Ntuthukofrom intuthuko (progress)

Progress, development.

Phakamanifrom phakama (to rise)

Rise up.

Philanifrom phila (to live, be healthy)

Live; be well (said to many).

Qinisofrom iqiniso (truth)

Truth.

Sabelofrom isabelo (share)

Share, portion.

Sakhilefrom akha (to build)

We have built.

Sandilefrom anda (to increase)

We have increased.

Senzofrom isenzo (deed)

Deed, action.

Sibusisofrom busisa (to bless)

Blessing.

Sicelofrom isicelo (request)

Request, prayer.

Sifisofrom isifiso (wish)

Wish.

Siphamandlafrom pha (to give), amandla (strength)

Give us strength.

Siphiwefrom pha (to give)

We were given.

Siphofrom isipho (gift)

Gift.

Siyabongafrom bonga (to thank)

We thank you.

Siyandafrom anda (to increase)

We are increasing.

Sizwefrom isizwe (nation)

Nation.

Sizwesihlefrom isizwe (nation), -hle (beautiful)

A beautiful nation.

Thabanifrom thaba (to be glad)

Be happy.

Thamsanqafrom ithamsanqa (luck)

Luck, good fortune.

Thembafrom ithemba (hope)

Hope, trust.

Thembanifrom themba (to trust)

Have hope; trust.

Thembenifrom themba (to trust)

Have trust (said to many).

Thembinkosifrom themba (to trust), inkosi (lord)

Trust in the Lord.

Thokozanifrom thokoza (to be glad)

Be glad, rejoice.

Thulanifrom thula (to be quiet)

Be quiet, be at peace.

Thuthukanifrom thuthuka (to progress)

Prosper, grow.

Vusifrom vusa (to wake, revive)

Short form of Vusumuzi: one who revives.

Vusumuzifrom vusa (to revive), umuzi (homestead)

One who revives the home.

Wandilefrom anda (to increase)

It has increased.

Xolanifrom xola (to be at peace)

Be at peace; make peace.

Zibuyilefrom buya (to return)

They have returned.

Zwelakhefrom izwe (land)

His land.

Zwelethufrom izwe (land, country), -ethu (our)

Our land, our nation.

Zwelibanzifrom izwe (land), -banzi (wide)

The land is wide.

Amahlefrom -hle (beautiful, good)

The beautiful ones.

Andilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased; often given when a family grows.

Ayabongafrom bonga (to thank)

They are thankful.

Ayandafrom anda (to increase)

They are increasing.

Bandilefrom anda (to increase)

They have increased.

Banelefrom anela (to be enough)

It is enough; often given to a last-born.

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

Do good.

Khethokuhlefrom khetha (to choose), -hle (good)

Choose what is good.

Khwezifrom ikhwezi (morning star)

Morning star.

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

Bring goodness.

Lindokuhlefrom linda (to wait), -hle (good)

Wait for good things.

Lisakhanyafrom khanya (to shine)

It is still shining.

Lubanzifrom -banzi (wide)

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

Lungilefrom lunga (to be right, good)

Right, good, correct.

Lwandlefrom ulwandle (sea)

Ocean.

Lwazifrom ulwazi (knowledge)

Knowledge.

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

Stand for goodness.

Minenhlefrom imini (day), -hle (beautiful)

A beautiful day.

Musafrom umusa (kindness)

Kindness, grace.

Nhlanhlafrom inhlanhla (luck)

Luck, good fortune.

Nkanyezifrom inkanyezi (star)

Star.

Nkazimulofrom inkazimulo (glory)

Glory, brightness.

Nqobilefrom nqoba (to conquer)

They have conquered.

Ntandofrom intando (will, wish)

Will, wish.

Ntokozofrom intokozo (joy)

Joy, happiness.

Okuhlefrom -hle (good)

That which is good or beautiful.

Philafrom phila (to live, be healthy)

Live; be well.

Phiwokuhlefrom pha (to give), -hle (good)

Given something good.

Sanelefrom anela (to be enough)

We are enough; we are satisfied.

Senzokuhlefrom isenzo (deed), -hle (good)

Good deed.

Sibonakalisofrom isibonakaliso (sign)

Sign, token, proof.

Sihlefrom -hle (good)

We are beautiful; a good one.

Simphiwefrom pha (to give)

We were given him or her.

Sinenhlanhlafrom inhlanhla (luck)

We are lucky.

Sinethembafrom ithemba (hope)

We have hope.

Siphesihlefrom isipho (gift), -hle (beautiful)

A beautiful gift.

Siphosethufrom isipho (gift)

Our gift.

Sithembilefrom themba (to trust, hope)

We have trusted.

Sithembisofrom isithembiso (promise)

Promise.

Siyamthandafrom thanda (to love)

We love him or her.

Thandofrom uthando (love)

Love.

Thandokuhlefrom thanda (to love), -hle (good)

Love what is good.

Thandolwethufrom uthando (love)

Our love.

Thembalethufrom ithemba (hope)

Our hope.

Zamafrom zama (to try)

Try.

Zamokuhlefrom zama (to try), -hle (good)

Strive for good.

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

Come with goodness.