43 South African Girl Names with Meanings

Every South African girl name below comes with its meaning or origin, drawn from Wikipedia. Jump to a letter, or play the duel game: choose between two names at a time until your personal top 10 remains.

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B D G J K L M N P R S T Z

South African girl names starting with B

BusisiweBusisiwe is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word busisa, meaning "to bless".

South African girl names starting with D

DipuoDipuo is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Dipuo Ntuli (fl.
DuduzileDuduzile (masculine: Duduzane) is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word duduza, meaning "to comfort." A shortened familiar version is Dudu.

South African girl names starting with G

GcinaGcina is an African given name. Notable people with the name include: Gcina Mazibuko (born 1983), Swaziland football striker Gcina Mhlope (born 1958), South African anti-apartheid activist, actress, storyteller, poet, and playwright Gcina Nkosi (born 1949),…
GugulethuGugulethu is a feminine given name derived, from the Nguni word igugu lethu, meaning "our treasure/pride".

South African girl names starting with J

JabulileJabulile (Jabulani male) is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word jabula, meaning "rejoice." Notable people with the name include: Jabulile Baloyi, South African soccer coach Jabulile Mkhwanazi (born 1975), South African politician Jabulile…

South African girl names starting with K

KhanyisileKhanyisile is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word khanya, meaning "light." Notable people with the name include: Khanyisile Mbau (born 1985), South African actress Khanyisile Motsa, South African humanitarian Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala,…
KhethiweBrenda Khethiwe Moeketsi (born 29 August 1980) is a South African politician who currently serves as MEC for the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs from July 2025 after a cabinet reshuffle by Mpumalanga…

South African girl names starting with L

LindelwaLindelwa is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Lindelwa Dunjwa (fl.
LindiweLindiwe (Lindani male) is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word linda, meaning "wait".
LungiswaLungiswa is a given name of South African origin. Notable people with the name include: Lungiswa Gqunta (born 1990), South African sculptor and visual artist Lungiswa James, South African politician

South African girl names starting with M

MakhosazanaMakhosazana is a given name.
MandisaMandisa is a feminine given name of South African origin, meaning "sweet". Notable people with the given name include: Mandisa Hundley (1976–2024), known mononymously as Mandisa, American gospel singer Mandisa Makesini (fl.
MaserameMaserame (Serame male) is a feminine given name of Sotho-Tswana origin meaning winter.
MbalenhleMbalenhle is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word mbali, meaning "flower." Notable people with the name include: Mbali Khumalo, South African beauty queen, Miss Soweto 2024 Mbalenhle Mavimbela, South African actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (born…
MbaliMbali is a feminine given name meaning "flower." Mbali, Ouham-Fafa, a village in Ouham-Fafa Prefecture, Central African Republic Mbali language, a minor Bantu language of Angola Mbali Dhlamini, South African artist Mbali Ntuli (born c.
MmabathoMmabatho is a given name.

South African girl names starting with N

NobuhleNobuhle is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nobuhle Dlamini (born 1991), Liswati golfer Nobuhle Mahlasela (born 1982), South African actress and model Nobuhle Majika (born 1991), Zimbabwean footballer Nobuhle Nkabane (born 1979),…
NokwethembaNokwethemba is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nokwethemba Biyela (born 1954), South African politician Nokwethemba Mtshweni (fl.
NolwaziNolwazi is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nkosazana Daughter (Nkosazana Nolwazi Kimberly Nzama; born 2000), South African singer and songwriter Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana (born 1973), South African judge Nolwazi Hlabangane (born…
NomalangaNomalanga is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word langa, meaning "sun." Notable people with the name include: Nomalanga Khumalo, Zimbabwean politician Rethabile Nomalanga Khumalo (born 1996), South African musician Nomalanga Shozi (born 1994),…
NomathembaNomathemba (masculine: Themba) is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word themba, meaning "faith".
NombuleloNombulelo (Mbulelo male) is a feminine South African given name derived from the Xhosa word bulela, meaning "gratitude".
NompumeleloNompumelelo is a feminine Nguni name meaning "success". Notable people with the name include: Nompumelelo Mhlongo (born 1961), South African politician Nompumelelo Mqwebu (born 1977),South African chef and author Nompumelelo Ngoma (born 1984), South African…
NomsaNomsa is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Helene Nomsa Brath (born 1942), American model and activist Nomsa Buthelezi (born 1982), South African actress and television presenter Nomsa Kubheka (born 1970), South African politician…
NomthandazoNomthandazo is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word thandaza, meaning "pray". Shortened familiar versions include Thandi or Thandie.
NomvulaNomvula is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word mvula, meaning "rain".
NomzamoNomzamo is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela (1936–2018), South African anti-apartheid activist Nomzamo Mbatha (born 1990), South African actress Nomzamo Zondo, South African human rights activist
NoncebaNonceba is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nonceba Cindi (born 1951), South African politician Nonceba Kontsiwe (born 1959), South African politician Nonceba Mhlauli (born 1990), South African politician Nonceba Molwele (fl.
NondumisoNondumiso is a feminine given name meaning "praise" in the Zulu and "psalm" in Xhosa.
NonhlanhlaNonhlanhla (Nhlanhla unisex) is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word nhlanhla, meaning "luck". Another meaning includes the Goddess of Luck.
NonkululekoNonkululeko (Nkululeko male) is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word Inkululeko, meaning "freedom/liberty".
NothandoNothando is a South African feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nothando Dube (1988–2019), Swazi royal Nothando Hlophe (born 1989), Swazi royal and gospel singer Nothando Vilakazi (born 1988), South African soccer player
NoxoloNoxolo is a Southern African feminine given name. It is also a surname.
NthabisengNthabiseng is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Nthabiseng Khunou (born 1969), South African politician Nthabiseng Majiya (born 2004), South African footballer Nthabiseng Mokoena, South African intersex activist Nthabiseng Mokoena…

South African girl names starting with P

PalesaPalesa is a feminine given name meaning "flower". Notable people with the name include: Beverley Palesa Ditsie (born 1971), South African lesbian activist, artist, and filmmaker Palesa Madisakwane, South African actress Palesa Jacqui Mofokeng (born 1972),…
PhumzilePhumzile is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Phumzile Bhengu-Kombe, South African politician Phumzile Van Damme (born 1983), South African politician and activist Phumzile Khanyile (born 1991), South African photographer Phumzile…

South African girl names starting with R

RethabileRethabile is a feminine given name, derived from the Sotho-Tswana word thaba, meaning "happy." Notable people with the name include: Rethabile Khumalo (born 1996), South African musician Rethabile Ramaphakela (born 1987), South African filmmaker

South African girl names starting with S

SibongileSibongile (Siyabonga male) is a feminine given name derived from the Nguni word bonga, meaning "to thank".

South African girl names starting with T

ThandiswaThandiswa is a South African feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: Thandiswa Marawu, South African politician Thandiswa Mazwai (born 1976), South African musician

South African girl names starting with Z

ZaneleZanele is a feminine given name, derived from the Nguni word anele, meaning "enough".
ZethuZethu is a given name. Notable people with the name include: Zethu Dlomo (born 1989), South African actress Zethu Matebeni (born 1978), South African activist and writer
ZodwaZodwa is a given name. Notable people with the name include: Zodwa Dlamini (born 1963), South African scientist Zodwa Dlamini (biochemist), South African biochemist Zodwa Mkandla, Zimbabwean businesswoman Zodwa Nsibande, South African activist Zodwa Nyoni…

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Frequently asked questions

How many South African girl names are in this list?

This list has 43 South African girl names, from Busisiwe to Zodwa. Every entry comes with its meaning or origin, sourced from Wikipedia.

What are some well-known South African girl names?

Well-documented South African girl names include Gugulethu, Jabulile, Nompumelelo, Nomsa and Nondumiso. Scroll the list above for the meaning and origin of each one.

How do I choose the best South African girl name?

Reading a list only gets you so far — comparing names head to head is faster. Play Name Duel with this set: it shows you two South African girl names at a time, and your choices eliminate names round by round until your personal top 10 remains.