10 baby girl names inspired by places in Africa

omotolani

September 7, 2017 10:57 AM

If you've ever travelled to these cities or countries, then perhaps you should consider naming your daughter in its honour.

For some parents, a name is generational and evokes memories, for others its a chance to give a child an inspiring name from places around the world.

But who says you can't name your little girls after some places or countries in Africa.

1. Sahara

The Sahara desert is one of the largest deserts in the world and covers most of North Africa.

Meaning 'the great desert', it sounds powerful and really exotic.

2. Kenya

An East African country, Kenya sounds pretty, strong and feminine. It is surrounded by the beautiful savannah, valleys and mountains.

Named after Mount Kenya, the name also translates to Mountain of whiteness.

3. Cairo

Who says a girl can't bear Cairo? Of Arabic origin, the meaning of Cairo is "victorious" and is also the name of the capital of Egypt, derived from "al Qahir", the Arabic name of the planet Mars.

4. Yala

Looking for an Earthy name for your little daughter? Yala is a river in Kenya and also a popular baby name option.

5. Kano

Situated south of the Sahara, Kano is the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria and is the second largest city in Nigeria, after Lagos.

6. Yola

The meaning of the name Yola is "violet flower" and is the capital city and administrative centre of Adamawa State, Nigeria.

7. Zaria/Zari

This African name means golden.

Zaria comes from an Arabic word for flower and is best known as the name of a Nigerian city. (The variation Zahra is more traditional as a given name.)

Zaria is a rising star that nods to African heritage but sounds good on girls of any background.

8. Minna

Sounds beautiful right? Minna sounds earthly, strong and feminine. Minna is a city in west-central Nigeria and is the capital of Niger State.

9. Tanzania

Derived from the two states that unified to create the country: Tanganyika and Zanzibar, this lovely name can mean black coast or shore.

10. Assal

This pretty chic name Assal is a crater lake in the Danakil Desert in central Djibouti.

Featuring emerald like water, dormant volcanoes and black lava fields, this lake is more than 150m below sea level, it’s the lowest point in Africa.

omotolani