How do you pick a baby name? What is the story behind your name? It is every parent’s desire to have an explanation to give, but babies do not come with a user manual. One day the baby will ask “What does my name mean?”
In picking a name for a baby, parents may consider who they are, where they are coming from and where they see their descendants in the future.
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Naming traditions and naming ceremonies play a decreasing role in the scheme of things as more people disperse into the diaspora, even if they decide to use African baby names.
Kitwe is a good example of a community from different tribal groups who have intermarried and mingled with people from other tribes and nationalities. The use of ethnic names is not so much an effort to fight against change, but rather a preservation of cultural identity that recognizes that every tradition has good things that a group can bring to the table as new communities are re-defined wherever they are re-located.
The meaning and origin of African names has in the past been handed orally from generation to generation. Urbanization has interrupted this traditional oral information transmission. It is important to put in place a substitute way of transmitting that information forward into the future. We now have digital means of preserving the information and it is up to all of us to contribute to this growing record of our origins. The Internet makes it possible to get the information from different sites on the web.
Selecting a Baby Name
Traditionally, the elders were involved in this very important decision. Each occassion also provided a good opportunity to revise the source and meaning of traditional names, as the elders discussed name suggestions.
The emphasis is not always on the meaning of the name. Some of the reasons people chose a particular baby name include:
- If you are Bemba and your spouse is Tonga, does the baby get a Bemba,Tonga or a Lozi name?
- Traditional beliefs
- An important ancestor’s name
- The name of someone involved in a life event (e.g. a rescue)
- Unique name
- Unusual name
- Popular name (eg. Obama)
Are you expecting a new baby or are you just curious to explore? Here is a list of around 2,000 Zambian names. It will help you think about your options or answer your questions.
The distinction between boys names and girls names is not always clear. It is common practice in most of the 73 Zambian languages for the same name to be used as a baby boy name or as a baby girl name. The list also shows whether each name is a male , female or unisex one.
This is really a community project that requires your input to make it better. With your feedback, we will grow the list to include more information about the meaning of traditional Zambian names and their origins.
To our knowledge, this is the largest publicly available collection of Zambian baby names. Due to the arbitrary nature in which political borders were drawn, Zambian names overlap with those of its eight neighbouring countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania).
NAME COUNT: 2,088 (11 Nov 2010)
If you are a mum to be or a dad to be, a name list is useful when you are considering whether to give your baby a traditional name or a popular baby name. This is a reference point for families who are picking a name for a baby, people with African names looking for the meaning of their Zambian name or just curious friends looking to learn the origins and meaning of a name they know.
Learn about your own name and share your knowledge about the meaning of Zambian names and your knowledge of the origin of Zambian names.
If you are an author who has written about Zambian names, have you considered re-publishing your book as an Ebook? This is a much cheaper option and easily done. It will ensure that your contribution is more widely available and will enhance the legacy you have already contributed to so significantly.
Any body can participate here. In the comments box below tell us the meaning of your name or the name of someone you know. We value any information on the source of the name.
If you would like your name to be included in the list of contributors, please include your full names, and indicate that you would like to be included on the list.
We wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following:
- Hope Chitambo Calter
- Chris Muzyamba
- Henry Musialela Nasilele
- Joan Kats
Just an addition on the name Chipo. It is a unisex name and is the shortcut for Chipego (Gift) normally given to a child born from parents or from a woman previously believed to be barren. It is also given to a baby born from a woman whose partner denies being responsible for her pregnancy.
Chisanga is my grandson's name, his mom is from Zambia, born in Kitwe. HIs name means "to discover".
Thanks
Laura Birschbach
Laura,
Thanks for your valued contribution.
Hello there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will definitely digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website.
Thanks. Please do spread the word.
Nachula is a mambwe name, I’m not sure of the meaning in mambwe, but it means ‘I have suffered’ in bemba (it can also mean mother of frogs in bemba, lol).
You could also include Machuzi, which means ‘suffering’ (not sure of the language, mambwe or ngoni), and Kapaka.
Nachula,
Thanks for your contribution. We have updated the names to include Nachula,Machuzi and Kapaka.
Am Tonga and i intend to give my Daughter the name BWACHILENGA. This is to mean “that of God the Creator”. is this meaning correct in Tonga?
am having my first baby in june and i am giving the middle name,the father will give the 1st name.am zambian while hes british and i have decided to give either a bemba name or lozi name as my parents are from these tribes.with my poor lozi vocabulary,this site has helped me find 2 names that i could possible name my baby. so far, i have 5 (2 lozi and 3 bemba) options all together which am excited to tell hubby about and see which one he fancies.am so happy i found this site,its been really helpful.
ialso noted an error… “Twalumba” is listed as a bemba name, its actually Tonga
Hello, I was wondering what does the name Musonda mean? I know it is a bemba name but am unsure if it’s meaning.
Thank you for your response
Joy
Joy,
The name Musonda is a derivative of “ukusonda”, meaning to be the first to taste or test. Similarly for the name “Kasonde” (go and taste/be tested). Musonda ( he/she who tastes/is tested first). Could signify “first” or brave/daring,etc.
Hi I would like to know the meaning of my name Musonda.
Musonda,
I do not know the meaning, but I hope one of our readers can come up with an answer.
What does my name mean? Its amazing how common it is and yet everyone I’ve asked is clueless. Its a unisex name from Bemba land.
Hi Mwansa,
I hope someone can help us out with this one because it is one of the names I would really like to learn the meaning.
Mwansa,
Your name comes from “ukwansa”, meaning to spread. This could signify wealth or generosity.
Great stuff. Thanks ba Kapambwe.
it means Lions mane
my name is chiinga and its a bemba name ( also found in tonga) meaning a broken clay pot piece which is used for roasting seeds
[…] we have encountered Charity, Gift, Blessing, Happy, Thankful, Trouble, several Moseses, and many other fascinating names in Bemba/other Zambian language. I have not meet anyone with the name Shamafuta (Animal fat lover), perhaps it’s a good thing. 😉 […]
[…] Zambian Baby Names – What They Mean | Kitwe On Line – Here is a list of around 2,000 Zambian names. It will help you think about your options or answer your questions. The distinction between boys names and girls names is not always clear. […]
Hi, I would like to know the meanings of the names Masonde and Mofya. As far as I know Mofya means “Mother of many”, not necessarily referring to motherhood but the capacity to care for and in that sense “mother” many people. Many Thanks!
I am looking for a beautiful LALA name for my grand son who is expected in September. The name should have some meaning like;
Great, Wisdom, Spiritual, Chief, love, peace, helper, giver, hope, or anything positive.
Please help !!!!
Can some one help me with the meaning of the names, Namonje and Chisenga
Hi Waanji, there are a lot of Namonjes and Chisengas out there. Hopefully one of them knows and will give us that information.
Please assist me with the meaning of the name Katongo.its the name me&my husband have to decided to give the baby were are expecting
Hello Nkandu. I’m hoping one of our readers will help us out with the name. The Katongos we have asked also have no clue.
Mweene means Royalty (King or Queen), unisex and bemba I believe
Hi Mweene,
Thank you for your valuable contribution.
We have updated the names database accordingly.
Please sent me Meaning of Grace in lozi,name for a girl
Sepiso means promise and is a girls Lozi name.
Thanks Sepiso. It is a beautiful name.
Mapalo, Sampa, Chintu, Bwembya, Chanda, Chansa, Chipasha, Chisanga, Chomba, Chileshe, Chilufya, Ngosa are all unisex. And I can tell you that most Bemba names are unisex. It has to be an extremely rare name and a new bemba name for it to be specified to one gender.
Chitimukulu and Nkula are titles in traditional Bemba Royalty, and are not used as names for people.
Ng’andu in bemba is a family name and not used as a first name, and I think its also used only as a last name in Tonga.
Mapalo, thanks for a very informative contribution.
Hi, hoping you can help me. What does Nkandu mean?
Nkandu means some one generousy,agenourousy queen,Kapekape mwine balongo.she or he who is known to give and he or she has a following.Nkandu kopa
Beatrice, Thank you so much for this info.
hi,I would really like to Know what “Chitambo” means.
thank you
Hello
What does the name Walenga mean
My father is Chokwe, and is born in Chavuma 80 years ago.
My sister and I are born in Sweden, and have 2 children each.
Can anyone of you help with the meaning of:
1) Kamiji, I share this name with my niece.
2) Chisola
3) Kalwimbi
4) Mahina
5) Chitende
Thank you in advance.
This seems like an interesting resource, but the link to the list of Zambian baby names seems to be broken. Is it possible to fix this? Thanks.
What is the meaning of the name: Chibuye?
Hey
My sister’s name is Musona and neither of us know the meaning nor what tribe it’s from… could you please help me with the meaning, (we are bemba by the way)
Thank you in anticipation