Malagasy Name Generator

Given names, Ra- surnames and Merina royal names

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Browse 500 Malagasy names from Madagascar: given names like Hasina, Tantely and Voahangy, long compound surnames like Rakotoarisoa and Andriamanantena, Merina royal names like Ranavalona and Radama, and full names such as Jean-Luc Rakotoarisoa and Felana Rakotomanga.

About Malagasy names

Malagasy names are among the longest in everyday use anywhere. The language belongs to the Austronesian family, closer to the languages of Borneo and Indonesia than to those of mainland Africa, and it builds names the way it builds words, by joining short meaningful pieces. Ra- is a prefix of respect, andriana means noble, zafy means grandchild, soa means good or beautiful, be means big. Joined up they give Rasoa, Rabe, Razafy, Razafindrakoto (grandchild of Rakoto) and the many surnames that open with Andria- or Randria-.

Traditionally a person carried one name, and it could change in the course of a life. Fixed family names became usual under French rule in the twentieth century, which is why so many Malagasy people today pair a French or Christian first name with a Malagasy surname, as in Jean-Luc Rakotoarisoa. Malagasy given names are often plain words, and many suit any gender: Hery is strength, Aina is life, Tantely is honey, Volana is the moon.

The list also carries names from the Merina kingdom of the central highlands, among them Andrianampoinimerina, Radama and Ranavalona, the name of three reigning queens. Nineteenth-century court names in Raini-, which means father of, are here too, such as Rainilaiarivony, the prime minister who married three queens in turn.

How to choose Malagasy names

  • For a present-day character, pair a French or Christian first name with a Malagasy surname, the pattern in Marie Randria or Pierre Razafindrabe. For a traditional or village setting, a single Malagasy name is enough.
  • Length is normal, not a joke. A surname like Ratsifandrihamanana is ordinary in Madagascar, and long names get shortened in daily life, so give a character with a long name a short form that friends use.
  • Keep royal names for royal or historical settings. Ranavalona, Radama and Andrianampoinimerina belong to the Merina monarchy and read that way to anyone who knows the island.
  • In Malagasy the letter o sounds like the oo in moon, and a final vowel is often barely voiced, so Rakoto sounds close to ra-KOOT. Say a name aloud before you settle on it.
  • Official papers in Madagascar often put the Malagasy name first and the given name after it, so a form may read Rakotoarisoa Jean-Luc where a novel would say Jean-Luc Rakotoarisoa.

Frequently asked questions

Why are Malagasy names so long?

Malagasy joins short words into one name, and nothing in the tradition says a name has to be brief. Razafindrakoto joins Ra-, zafy (grandchild) and the name Rakoto, and royal names such as Andrianampoinimerina run longer still. In daily life people shorten them.

What do Ra- and Andria- mean at the start of a name?

Ra- is a prefix of respect that turns a word into a personal name, so soa (good, beautiful) becomes Rasoa and be (big) becomes Rabe. Andria- comes from andriana, the word for a noble, and Randria- is the two together. That is why so many surnames in this list begin with the same few letters.

Do people in Madagascar use French first names?

Many do. Madagascar was a French colony from 1896 to 1960 and Christianity is widespread, so a French or biblical first name with a Malagasy surname is an everyday pattern, as in Jeanne Randrianarisoa or Paul Rafenomanjato. Plenty of people also carry a Malagasy given name such as Hasina, Lalaina or Mialy, alone or beside a French one.

Are the full names on this list real people?

The given names and surnames are ones in use in Madagascar, and the full names are pairings of them, not a record of particular people. The list has not been compared with any register of people, so a pairing can match a living person by chance, as any common first name and surname can. Treat them as character names, not as references to anyone.

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All 500 Malagasy names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 32 names

  • Agnès Ravoahangy
  • Aina
  • Aina Raselimanana
  • Alain Rabetafika
  • Albert Fanony
  • Andoniaina
  • André Rabenoro
  • Andriamahazo
  • Andriamanantena
  • Andriamandisoarivo
  • Andriamanelo
  • Andriamanjato
  • Andriamasinavalona
  • Andriamihaja
  • Andriamirado
  • Andrianamboatsimarofy
  • Andrianampoinimerina
  • Andrianarivo
  • Andrianasolo
  • Andriandahifotsy
  • Andrianina
  • Andrianjaka
  • Andrianoelison
  • Andriantompokoindrindra
  • Andriantsitohaina
  • Andriantsoly
  • Andriatsima
  • Andry
  • Andry Ravoajanahary
  • Anjara
  • Anne-Marie Rakotondrabe
  • Avotra

B: 11 names

  • Baholy
  • Baholy Randriamahazo
  • Bakoly
  • Bakoly Ralimanana
  • Bao
  • Beriziky
  • Bernadette Voavy
  • Bernard Zafimahova
  • Bezaka
  • Binao
  • Bodo

C: 8 names

  • Cécile Lahiniriko
  • Charles Raharinirina
  • Charlotte Razakandraina
  • Christian Maharante
  • Christine Razafiarison
  • Clarisse Raseta
  • Claude Ramaroson
  • Claudine Ratsirarson

D: 5 names

  • Daniel Rabetsitonta
  • Dimby
  • Dina
  • Domoina
  • Domoina Raveloson

E: 5 names

  • Elisabeth Rasolofonirina
  • Emile Rakotobe
  • Eric Rafalimanana
  • Esoavelomandroso
  • Eugénie Rajemison

F: 25 names

  • Faly
  • Faly Andriamanantena
  • Fanantenana
  • Faneva
  • Faneva Raharijaona
  • Fanilo
  • Fanilo Rajaobelina
  • Faniry
  • Fanja
  • Fanja Ratsivalaka
  • Fanony
  • Fara
  • Fara Razafinjatovo
  • Felana
  • Felana Rakotomanga
  • Feno
  • Feno Rabesahala
  • Fetra
  • Fidy
  • Fidy Razafintsalama
  • Finaritra
  • Finoana
  • Fitia
  • Florence Rasoamanarivo
  • Françoise Randrianirina

G: 5 names

  • Georges Randriamihaja
  • Georgette Rajaona
  • Gilbert Jaomanoro
  • Gisèle Rakotoarivelo
  • Guy Ralison

H: 28 names

  • Haingo
  • Haingo Razafimahaleo
  • Haja
  • Hanitra
  • Hanitra Randrianasolo
  • Hanta
  • Hanta Razafitrimo
  • Hantanirina
  • Harena
  • Harilala
  • Harisoa
  • Harisoa Rabemanantsoa
  • Hary
  • Hasina
  • Hasina Mangalaza
  • Hélène Rasolovoahangy
  • Henintsoa
  • Henintsoa Rajaonarison
  • Henri Rakotovao
  • Henriette Rabe
  • Heriniaina
  • Heritiana
  • Herizo
  • Hery
  • Hery Ranarivelo
  • Holy
  • Holy Ranaivo
  • Honorine Ranarison

I: 3 names

  • Ihoby
  • Ilaimaharitra
  • Imbiki

J: 19 names

  • Jacques Rasoloarison
  • Jao
  • Jaojoby
  • Jaomanoro
  • Jaona
  • Jean Rabe
  • Jean-Baptiste Ramaholimihaso
  • Jean-Claude Resampa
  • Jean-Jacques Tsarahazana
  • Jean-Louis Ranaivoson
  • Jean-Luc Rakotoarisoa
  • Jean-Marie Ramarosandratana
  • Jean-Michel Rabekoto
  • Jean-Pierre Raherilalao
  • Jeanne Randrianarisoa
  • Joseph Ranjeva
  • Joséphine Tsiebo
  • Juliette Ranaivosoa
  • Justine Razanakolona

K: 6 names

  • Kanto
  • Kanto Ramalalanirina
  • Ketaka
  • Ketaka Ravelojaona
  • Koloina
  • Koloina Beriziky

L: 21 names

  • Lahiniriko
  • Lala
  • Lalaina
  • Lalaina Ravaloson
  • Lalao
  • Lalao Razanajatovo
  • Lalasoa
  • Lalatiana
  • Lalatiana Rahajason
  • Landy
  • Landy Rasamoelina
  • Lanto
  • Lanto Rabenirina
  • Laurent Radavidson
  • Léontine Tsaranazy
  • Liva
  • Louis Imbiki
  • Louise Ramilison
  • Lova
  • Lova Ravaonirina
  • Lucie Ramampy

M: 42 names

  • Madeleine Jaona
  • Mahafaly
  • Mahandry
  • Maharante
  • Maharavo
  • Mahefa
  • Mahefa Mahafaly
  • Mahery
  • Mahery Monja
  • Malala
  • Malala Ravelomanana
  • Mamisoa
  • Mamy
  • Mamy Ramahatra
  • Manda
  • Mandimby
  • Mangalaza
  • Manitra
  • Manorohanta
  • Marc Kolo
  • Marcel Rabemahafaly
  • Marie Randria
  • Marie-Ange Razakaboana
  • Marie-Claire Ranaivoson
  • Marie-Louise Botokeky
  • Marson
  • Mbola
  • Mbolatiana
  • Mbolatiana Andrianarisoa
  • Mialy
  • Mialy Marson
  • Miangaly
  • Miangaly Ralison
  • Miantsa
  • Michel Razanamasy
  • Michèle Ramaroson
  • Mihaja
  • Miora
  • Miora Betiana
  • Mirana
  • Mirana Radimilahy
  • Monique Ranaivo

N: 25 names

  • Naina
  • Naivo
  • Naivo Ralijaona
  • Nantenaina
  • Narindra
  • Narindra Razanamahasoa
  • Nasolo
  • Ndriana
  • Niaina
  • Niaina Ravelomanantsoa
  • Nicole Ratsirahonana
  • Nirina
  • Nirina Randrianarisoa
  • Nivo
  • Nivo Ratsimbazafy
  • Njaka
  • Njaka Ramalason
  • Njara
  • Noëline Rantoandro
  • Nomena
  • Nomena Lahady
  • Nomenjanahary
  • Noro
  • Noro Rabesandratana
  • Ntsay

O: 5 names

  • Odette Ratsimbazafy
  • Olivier Ramamonjisoa
  • Onja
  • Onja Rasamimanana
  • Ony

P: 6 names

  • Pascal Ravatomanga
  • Patrick Randrianja
  • Paul Rafenomanjato
  • Pauline Ramakavelo
  • Philippe Razoarimihaja
  • Pierre Razafindrabe

R: 172 names

  • Rabarison
  • Rabe
  • Rabearimanana
  • Rabearivelo
  • Rabeharisoa
  • Rabemananjara
  • Rabemanantsoa
  • Rabenirina
  • Rabenoro
  • Rabesahala
  • Rabesandratana
  • Rabetafika
  • Rabetsitonta
  • Rabezavana
  • Rabodo
  • Radama
  • Radimilahy
  • Rado
  • Rado Raveloson
  • Rafalimanana
  • Rafenomanjato
  • Rafidinarivo
  • Rafohy
  • Rahajarizafy
  • Rahajason
  • Raharijaona
  • Raharimampionona
  • Raharimanana
  • Raharinirina
  • Rahasimanana
  • Raherilalao
  • Raherisoanjato
  • Rainandriamampandry
  • Rainibetsimisaraka
  • Rainiharo
  • Rainijohary
  • Rainilaiarivony
  • Rainimaharavo
  • Rainitsimbazafy
  • Rainivoninahitriniony
  • Rajaobelina
  • Rajaona
  • Rajaonah
  • Rajaonarimampianina
  • Rajaonarison
  • Rajaonarivelo
  • Rajemison
  • Rajoelina
  • Rakoto
  • Rakotoarisoa
  • Rakotoarivelo
  • Rakotobe
  • Rakotomalala
  • Rakotomanga
  • Rakotomavo
  • Rakotondrabe
  • Rakotonirina

R, continued

  • Rakotoson
  • Rakotovao
  • Rakotozafy
  • Ralaimongo
  • Ralambo
  • Ralambomahay
  • Ralijaona
  • Ralimanana
  • Ralison
  • Ramahatra
  • Ramambazafy
  • Ramamonjisoa
  • Ramanandraibe
  • Ramanankamonjy
  • Ramanantsoa
  • Ramandimbiarison
  • Ramanetaka
  • Ramangasoavina
  • Ramarosandratana
  • Ramaroson
  • Ramavo
  • Ramboasalama
  • Ramiaramanana
  • Ramilison
  • Ramoma
  • Ranaivo
  • Ranaivosoa
  • Ranaivoson
  • Ranarison
  • Ranarivelo
  • Ranavalona
  • Randria
  • Randriamahazo
  • Randriamamonjy
  • Randriamasimanana
  • Randriambololona
  • Randriamihaja
  • Randrianarisoa
  • Randrianasolo
  • Randrianasoloniaiko
  • Randrianirina
  • Randrianja
  • Randriantefy
  • Rangita
  • Ranjeva
  • Ranto
  • Rantoandro
  • Raombana
  • Rasalama
  • Rasalimo
  • Rasambainarivo
  • Rasamimanana
  • Rasamindrakotroka
  • Raselimanana
  • Rasendranoro
  • Raseta
  • Rasoa

R, continued

  • Rasoamanarivo
  • Rasoanaivo
  • Rasoherina
  • Rasoloarison
  • Rasolofonirina
  • Rasolondraibe
  • Rasolovoahangy
  • Ratsifandrihamanana
  • Ratsimamanga
  • Ratsimandrava
  • Ratsimbazafy
  • Ratsimilaho
  • Ratsirahonana
  • Ratsiraka
  • Ravahiny
  • Ravaka
  • Ravaka Rasambainarivo
  • Ravalomanana
  • Ravao
  • Ravatomanga
  • Ravelojaona
  • Ravelomanana
  • Ravelomanantsoa
  • Ravelonarivo
  • Raveloson
  • Ravoahangy
  • Ravoajanahary
  • Ravony
  • Razafimahaleo
  • Razafimahatratra
  • Razafimanjato
  • Razafindrabe
  • Razafindrahety
  • Razafindrakoto
  • Razafindratandra
  • Razafindratsima
  • Razafindravahy
  • Razafindrazaka
  • Razafinjatovo
  • Razafitrimo
  • Razafy
  • Razakaboana
  • Razanakolona
  • Razanamahasoa
  • Razanamasy
  • Razoarimihaja
  • René Rakotonirina
  • Resampa
  • Rija
  • Rija Ramangasoavina
  • Rindra
  • Rindra Rahasimanana
  • Rivo
  • Rivo Rasolondraibe
  • Roger Rabeharisoa
  • Roindefo
  • Rojo
  • Rova

S: 20 names

  • Saholy
  • Saholy Rajaonah
  • Sahondra
  • Sahondra Razafimanjato
  • Sarobidy Ramanandraibe
  • Seheno
  • Seheno Rabary
  • Simone Ravony
  • Sitraka
  • Sitraka Rabearimanana
  • Soa
  • Soafara
  • Soafara Rabemananjara
  • Soarimalala
  • Solo
  • Solo Rasoloson
  • Solofo
  • Solofo Andriamihaja
  • Solonandrasana
  • Suzanne Razafindrakoto

T: 36 names

  • Tahiana
  • Tahina
  • Tahina Ramambazafy
  • Tahiry
  • Tahiry Ravelonarivo
  • Tantely
  • Tantely Rakotozafy
  • Tehindrazanarivelo
  • Thérèse Rahajarizafy
  • Thierry Ramamonjisoa
  • Tiana
  • Tiana Rabeony
  • Tiavina
  • Tiavina Velonjara
  • Toavina
  • Toavina Jaojoby
  • Tojo
  • Tojo Ratsimamanga
  • Toky
  • Toky Ramanankamonjy
  • Tolotra
  • Tovo
  • Tovo Andrianasolo
  • Tsanta
  • Tsanta Rabarison
  • Tsarahazana
  • Tsaranazy
  • Tsiebo
  • Tsiky
  • Tsilavina
  • Tsilavo
  • Tsiomeko
  • Tsiory
  • Tsiranana
  • Tsiry
  • Tsiry Randriantefy

V: 21 names

  • Vahinala
  • Valisoa
  • Valisoa Rasoanaivo
  • Velonjara
  • Victoire Rakotoson
  • Victor Rajaonarison
  • Voahangy
  • Voahangy Bezaka
  • Voahirana
  • Voahirana Rafidinarivo
  • Voavy
  • Vola
  • Vola Rakotomalala
  • Volana
  • Volana Randrianasolo
  • Volatiana
  • Vololona
  • Vololona Raharimanana
  • Vonjy
  • Vonjy Razafindrakoto
  • Vony

Y: 1 name

  • Yvette Rasendrahasina

Z: 4 names

  • Zafimahova
  • Zafy
  • Zo
  • Zo Rajakoba