Oromo Name Generator
Afaan Oromo given names with fathers' names
Get Oromo names in the form Oromo people use them, a given name followed by the father's name, such as Chaltu Wakgari, Gemechu Urgessa and Talaso Guyo. The list holds Afaan Oromo names from Wallaga to Borana, in common Latin spellings and in Qubee, such as Caaltuu and Roobaa.
About Oromo names
The Oromo are the largest people of Ethiopia, with Borana and Gabra communities across the border in northern Kenya and the Orma further south along the Tana River. An Oromo has no family surname. A person's own name is followed by the father's given name, and on official papers by the grandfather's as well, so Chaltu Wakgari is Chaltu, daughter of Wakgari, and she keeps that name when she marries.
Most names are plain words of Afaan Oromo. Gemechu means joy, Ibsa light, Obsa patience, Galata thanks, Roba rain, Lencho lion and Moti king, while Chaltu is she who excels and Bontu she who is proud. Many names come in pairs, such as Chala and Chaltu, Ebisa and Ebise, Gadisa and Gadise or Megersa and Megertu, with the forms in -tu and -e for girls. Borana names often record the hour or season of a birth: Guyo for a boy born in daylight, Halkano for one born at night, Bonaya for one born in the dry season.
The list uses the Latin spellings common in English and gives part of it in Qubee, the Oromo alphabet, which doubles long vowels and writes c, q and x for ejective sounds: Caaltuu, Gammachuu, Qananiisaa. Many Oromo also carry Muslim or Christian names, but this page keeps to names from Afaan Oromo.
How to choose Oromo names
- Name a family through the father. The children of a man called Wakgari are Chaltu Wakgari and Obsa Wakgari, and Obsa's own children will carry Obsa as their second name, so the second name changes with every generation.
- Use the paired forms for brothers and sisters or for twins: Ebisa and Ebise, Gadisa and Gadise, Soressa and Soreti, Merga and Mergitu.
- Let the name place a character. Guyo, Halake, Galgalo, Talaso and Kabale belong to the Borana of the far south and northern Kenya, while Gemechu, Tolosa and Chaltu are at home in Wallaga and Shewa.
- Keep to one spelling system in a text. Qubee forms such as Boontuu and Leencoo suit a story told from inside the community, and the Latin forms Bontu and Lencho are what most English readers will have seen.
- This page states a meaning only for a handful of names where it is well established. For any other name, ask an Afaan Oromo speaker before you build a plot point on what it means.
Frequently asked questions
Do Oromo people have surnames?
Not in the Western sense. The second name is the father's given name and a third, where it is used, is the grandfather's, as in Ebise Negassa Gadisa in this list. A woman does not change her name at marriage, and brothers and sisters share a second name only because they share a father.
What is Qubee, and why are some names spelled two ways?
Qubee is the Latin-based alphabet in which Afaan Oromo is written. It doubles long vowels and uses c, q and x for ejective sounds, so the name usually written Chaltu in English is Caaltuu in Qubee and Gemechu is Gammachuu. Entries such as Caaltuu Waaqjiraa and Hawwii Waaqumaa are written in Qubee, and the same names appear elsewhere in the list in their common Latin form.
What do Oromo names mean?
Many are everyday words. Gemechu is joy, Ibsa is light, Obsa is patience, Galata is thanks and Roba is rain, and names built on Waqo and Wak- refer to Waaqa, God. Among the Borana a name often marks the time of birth, as in Talaso Guyo and Guyatu Roba, where Guyo and Guyatu mean born in the daytime.
Are these the names of real people?
The given names are ones in real use among the Oromo, and they are paired at random with a father's name. Because the stock of names is shared by millions of people, including well-known runners and singers, many pairings will match living people by chance. The list leaves out the full names of public figures that we know of, and you should search a name before you publish it.
Related generators
Ethiopian Name Generator
Authentic Amharic, Tigrinya, and Oromo names
Somali Name Generator
Authentic Somali given names and patronymic full names
Kenyan Name Generator
Authentic names from Kenya's many communities
African Name Generator
Authentic names from every region of Africa
African Last Name Generator
Real surnames from every region of Africa
Swahili Name Generator
Authentic names from the Swahili Coast
African Male Name Generator
Authentic men's names from across Africa
African Female Name Generator
Authentic women's names from across Africa
More like this
Kenning Name Generator
Poetic two-part names in the old skaldic manner
Romanian Male Name Generator
Romanian men's names with surnames and correct diacritics
Tahitian Name Generator
Reo Tahiti given names and island family names
Gyaruo Name Generator
Names and nicknames for the men of gal fashion
Muscovite Name Generator
17th century Russian names from the Tsardom of Muscovy
Romani Name Generator
Authentic Roma names from across Europe
All 500 Oromo names
A: 26 names
- Abdeta Dube Gurmu
- Abdeta Wakgari
- Abdi
- Abdi Gidada
- Abdii Roobaa
- Abdissa Firdissa
- Abduba Halake
- Aboma Jiregna Bulcha
- Aboma Naol
- Abudo Huka
- Amane
- Amane Bedaso
- Amane Kitessa
- Amane Lelisa Diriba
- Amansisa
- Amansisa Hachalu
- Amente Gobena
- Ararsa Benti
- Ararso Feyera
- Arero Godana
- Ayana
- Ayantu Edao
- Ayantu Ejeta
- Ayantu Feyera
- Ayantu Naol Tufa
- Ayyaantuu
B: 37 names
- Barako
- Barako Huka
- Bariisoo Badhaasaa
- Bayisa
- Bayisa Dadi
- Bedasa Megersa Kenna
- Bedaso Diriba
- Bekana
- Bekana Bariso
- Bekana Jote Moti
- Bekuma
- Bekuma Debela
- Benti Bikila
- Beshatu Gudina
- Beshatu Senbeto
- Biftu Bayisa Feyisa
- Biftu Jirata
- Biftu Tulu
- Biftu Yadeta
- Bikila Galata
- Bilise
- Bilise Bulti
- Bilise Sanyi
- Bilisee Dabalaa
- Biratu
- Biratu Moti
- Bonaya Jilo
- Bontu
- Bontu Duguma
- Bontu Ibsa
- Bontu Midhaksa
- Boontuu Galataa
- Boru Barako
- Boruu
- Bulcha
- Bulcha Natoli
- Bulti Amente
C: 10 names
- Caaltuu
- Caaltuu Waaqjiraa
- Chala
- Chala Sabona
- Chalchisa Ibsa
- Chaltu Bedasa
- Chaltu Olana Jabessa
- Chaltu Wakgari
- Chemeda Degaga Bekuma
- Chemeda Tufa
D: 62 names
- Daba
- Daba Ararso
- Dabalaa Waaqumaa
- Dabassa Katelo
- Dadacha Tache
- Dadi Negassa
- Dame
- Dame Bekana
- Dame Kitila
- Dame Sabona
- Dandena Megersa
- Daraartuu Obsaa
- Debela Lemi
- Debela Lencho Feyera
- Dechasa Biratu
- Degaga Ararsa
- Degefa Kumela
- Demitu
- Demitu Elemo
- Demitu Feyisa
- Denge Abduba
- Derartu
- Derartu Chemeda
- Derartu Fufa
- Derartu Tolcha
- Deressa Bulti Kelbessa
- Deressa Ejeta
- Desisa Yadeta
- Dibaba Duressa
- Dida
- Dida Galgalo
D, continued
- Diimaa
- Diimaa Waaqjiraa
- Dima Ebisa
- Dinka Jabessa
- Dinke
- Dinke Bikila
- Dinke Dima
- Dinke Edosa Soressa
- Dire
- Dire Garoma
- Dire Jiregna
- Dire Natoli
- Diriba Edosa
- Diribe
- Diribe Chalchisa
- Diribe Jagama
- Diribe Naol
- Diro Nafiyad
- Duba Bonaya
- Dube Garoma
- Dugassa Fufa
- Duguma
- Duguma Chemeda Kajela
- Duguma Jote
- Dula Kumsa
- Dureettii Magarsaa
- Duressa Rorissa
- Dureti
- Dureti Gutema
- Dureti Jiregna Dadi
- Dureti Motuma
E: 13 names
- Ebba Chalchisa
- Ebisa Bekana Jirata
- Ebisa Leta
- Ebise
- Ebise Bayisa
- Ebise Gemechu
- Ebise Negassa Gadisa
- Ebise Soressa
- Edao Lencho
- Edosa Jaleta
- Eebbisee Raggaasaa
- Elema Dabassa
- Elemo Soressa Chalchisa
F: 15 names
- Fayyisaa Guddinaa
- Fenet
- Fenet Merera
- Fenet Moti
- Feyine
- Feyine Ayana
- Feyine Dadi
- Feyine Hordofa
- Feyisa Wayessa
- Fida Yerosan
- Firdissa Hordofa
- Fufa Oljira
- Furtu
- Furtu Abdeta
- Furtu Jaleta
G: 46 names
- Gabisa Bulti
- Gadisa Wakjira
- Gadise
- Gadise Degefa
- Gadise Geleta
- Galaanee
- Galaanee Fayyisaa
- Galata Bonsa
- Galataa
- Galgalo
- Galgalo Duba
- Gammachuu Dirribaa
- Garoma Yadessa
- Gelane Amansisa
- Gelane Itana
- Geleta Kajela
- Gelete Hunde
- Gelete Kumela
- Gemechis Deressa
- Gemechu Urgessa
- Gemeda
- Gidada Abdeta
- Gobena Dinka
- Godana Arero
- Golicha
- Golicha Molu
- Gudeta Kenenisa
- Gudina Chemeda
- Guluma
- Guluma Dugassa
- Gumato Boru
- Gumato Golicha
- Gumato Sora
- Guracha Dima
- Gurmeessaa Waaqoo
- Gurmessa
- Gurmessa Kitessa
- Gurmu
- Gurmu Geleta
- Guta Bedasa Mirkana
- Guta Diro
- Guyatu Barako
- Guyatu Denge
- Guyatu Roba
- Guyo Halkano
- Guyyoo Gurmeessaa
H: 30 names
- Hachaltu
- Hachaltu Biratu
- Hachaltu Tura
- Hachaltu Wakjira Jabessa
- Hachalu Tolera
- Halake Boru
- Halkano Dida
- Hawi
- Hawi Dechasa
- Hawi Edosa
- Hawine
- Hawine Gabisa
- Hawine Ifa
- Hawwii Waaqumaa
- Hiikaa
- Hika Daba
- Hika Dula Tufa
- Hirpa Fida
- Hirpe
- Hirpe Negassa
- Hirpe Regassa
- Hirpe Rorissa Diriba
- Hirpe Tumsa
- Hordofaa
- Huka
- Huka Denge
- Hunde Jiregna
- Hundee Ifaa
- Hundessa
- Hundessa Tolcha
I: 13 names
- Ibsa
- Ibsa Gurmu
- Ifa Gudeta
- Ifaa
- Ifaa Sanyii
- Iftu
- Iftu Jifar
- Iftu Jote
- Iftu Tujuba
- Iftuu Milkeessaa
- Iftuu Tolaa
- Itana Ayana
- Itana Tulu Obsa
J: 22 names
- Jaalannee
- Jaalannee Guddinaa
- Jabessa
- Jabessa Hunde
- Jagama Milkessa
- Jalane Dube
- Jalane Kenna
- Jaldesa Sora
- Jaleta
- Jaleta Dechasa
- Jarso Wario
- Jifar Gadisa
- Jilo
- Jilo Guyo
- Jirata Hirpa
- Jiregna Dima Benti
- Jitu
- Jitu Duressa
- Jitu Gutu
- Jitu Kumsa
- Jote
- Jote Bedasa
K: 34 names
- Kabale
- Kabale Duba
- Kabale Jaldesa
- Kabale Waqo
- Kajela Itana
- Katelo Abduba
- Kebene
- Kebene Aboma
- Kebene Gadisa
- Kebene Mirkana
- Kelbessa Edao Tolosa
- Kelbessa Wami
- Keneni
- Keneni Chala
- Keneni Olana
- Kenenisa Degefa Garoma
- Kenenisa Jifar
- Kenna Nemera
- Kitila
- Kitila Soressa
- Kiya Gidada
- Kiya Tufa
- Kiya Wakuma Soboka
- Kuleni Dugassa Guluma
- Kuleni Galata
- Kuleni Hika
- Kuma
- Kuma Mirkana
- Kume
- Kume Dandena
- Kume Kenenisa
- Kumee Badhaasaa
- Kumee Olaanaa
- Kumela Kenna
L: 25 names
- Lalisee Tumsaa
- Lalistu Duressa
- Lalistu Kitessa
- Leencoo Dabalaa
- Leensaa Hordofaa
- Lelisa Tumsa
- Lelise
- Lelise Hundessa
- Lelise Obsa
- Lemi
- Lemi Guta
- Lencho
- Lencho Gurmessa
- Lensa Dugassa
- Lensa Guta
- Leta Lelisa
- Liban Abudo
- Loko
- Loko Arero
- Loko Halake
- Loko Wario
- Lome
- Lome Feyera Elemo
- Lome Gurmu
- Lome Tumsa
M: 34 names
- Magarsaa
- Margaa
- Margituu
- Margituu Mootii
- Megertu Abdi
- Megertu Deressa
- Megertu Soboka
- Merartu
- Merartu Bekuma
- Merartu Ebba
- Merartu Mosisa
- Merera Amansisa
- Merga Jirata
- Mergitu Degaga
- Mergitu Oljira
- Meti Lelisa
- Meti Lemi
- Meti Milkessa Dugassa
- Midhaksa Motuma
- Milkessa Tura
- Milki Bonsa
- Milki Gemeda
- Milki Hordofa Bekana
- Milki Natoli
- Molu
- Molu Godana
- Mootii Gammachuu
- Mosisa
- Mosisa Gemechu
- Mosisa Gudeta Galata
- Moti
- Moti Dube
- Motuma Chala
- Motuma Dinka Lemi
N: 6 names
- Nafiyad Ebba
- Naol Bedaso
- Natoli Tujuba
- Negassa
- Negassa Regassa
- Nemera Bikila
O: 15 names
- Obsa Merera
- Obsaa
- Obse
- Obse Abdi Gutu
- Obse Bariso
- Obse Gudeta
- Obsee Hordofaa
- Obsee Leencoo
- Obsitu Amente
- Obsitu Gadisa Dube
- Obsitu Guluma
- Obsitu Urgessa
- Olaanaa Tolaa
- Olana Edao
- Oljira Gudina
Q: 5 names
- Qabbanee Magarsaa
- Qananii Jireenyaa
- Qananii Toleeraa
- Qananiisaa
- Qananiisaa Galataa
R: 14 names
- Raggaasaa Bariisoo
- Regassa
- Regassa Ifa
- Roba Jaldesa
- Robe
- Robe Diro
- Robe Ebisa
- Robe Kitila Tura
- Roobaa
- Roobee Diimaa
- Rorissa Elemo
- Rorissa Gudina Dube
- Ruti Lencho
- Ruti Merga
S: 42 names
- Sabboonaa
- Sabboonaa Tulluu
- Sabboontuu Gurmeessaa
- Sabona Gutema
- Sabontu
- Sabontu Dinka
- Sabontu Nemera
- Sanyi
- Sanyi Bekuma
- Sanyi Kumela Bekana
- Sanyii Sabboonaa
- Seenaa Fayyisaa
- Seenaa Tumsaa
- Sena
- Sena Benti
- Sena Ejeta Hundessa
- Sena Gemechis
- Senbere Bulcha
- Senbere Dula Urgessa
- Senbere Wakjira
- Senbeto Merga
- Sifan
- Sifan Ararso
- Sifan Guracha
- Sifan Yerosan
- Siifan Haacaaluu
- Siifan Margaa
- Simbo
- Simbo Megersa
- Simbo Wayessa
- Simboo Guddinaa
- Sinke Gurmessa
- Sinke Nafiyad
- Soboka Jagama
- Sooreettii
- Sooreettii Biqilaa
- Sora Barako
- Soressa Soboka
- Soreti Dula
- Soreti Firdissa
- Soreti Kelbessa
- Soreti Tulu Hachalu
T: 32 names
- Tache
- Tache Dadacha
- Talaso
- Talaso Abudo
- Talaso Guyo
- Talaso Katelo
- Tiya Dadacha
- Tiya Jaldesa
- Tiya Jilo
- Tola Dula
- Tolcha Bulcha Kitila
- Toleeraa
- Toleeraa Milkeessaa
- Tolera Sanyi
- Tolosa
- Tolosa Mosisa
- Toltu
- Toltu Degaga Gurmu
- Toltu Kajela
- Toltu Rorissa
- Tufa Bulcha
- Tujuba
- Tujuba Duguma
- Tulu Bekana
- Tume
- Tume Bonaya
- Tume Dabassa
- Tume Jarso
- Tumsa Chala Wakuma
- Tumsaa
- Tura
- Tura Kuma
U: 1 name
- Urgessa Bayisa
W: 12 names
- Waaqgaarii Yaadataa
- Waaqoo
- Wakgari Obsa
- Wakjira Abdissa
- Wakuma Dibaba
- Wami Degaga
- Waqo Liban
- Wario Roba
- Warqitu Dibaba
- Warqitu Guracha Ararso
- Warqitu Jabessa
- Warqitu Wakuma