Rwandan Name Generator
Kinyarwanda names with baptismal and modern second names
Browse 500 Rwandan names in the order Rwandan documents use, the Kinyarwanda name first and the second name after it, as in Mugisha Kevin, Uwimana Claudine and Niyibizi Jean d'Amour, plus Kinyarwanda names on their own such as Keza, Shema and Isimbi.
About Rwandan names
A Rwandan name has two parts that do different jobs. The Kinyarwanda name is chosen for each child, traditionally at a naming ceremony called kwita izina, and it is not a family surname: a father, a mother and their children usually all carry different ones. The second part is a baptismal or religious name. It is most often French or English, because most Rwandans are Christian, and Arabic or Swahili in Muslim families.
Many Kinyarwanda names are short sentences, and a large share speak of Imana, God. Habimana says that God exists, Hakizimana that it is God who saves and Nshimiyimana "I thank God". Others name a hope or a quality, such as Mugisha (blessing), Mahoro (peace) and Rukundo (love). Older women's names often open with Muka- or Nyira-, as in Mukamana and Nyirahabimana, while Uw- and Umu- names such as Uwase and Umutoni are common for girls today.
Every full name in this list puts the Kinyarwanda name first, the order used on Rwandan identity papers and school lists, so Mugisha Kevin is a Kevin whose Kinyarwanda name is Mugisha. The list also holds Kinyarwanda names on their own. Spellings are the Kinyarwanda ones, Nshimiyimana and not the Kirundi form Nshimirimana.
How to choose Rwandan names
- Do not treat the Kinyarwanda name as a surname. Siblings in a story should each have their own, for example Shema Bruce and his sister Uwase Belise.
- Match the second name to the family's faith and the character's age. Older baptismal names such as Thacienne, Dancille and Théoneste suit grandparents, Kevin, Sandrine and Bruce suit people born from the 1990s on, and Yusuf or Zainabu belong to a Muslim family.
- For a first-name-first setting, turn the entry around: Uwimana Claudine becomes Claudine Uwimana, the order most international media use.
- Short names such as Keza, Teta, Ganza and Shema read as a younger generation, while long sentence names such as Nyirandikubwimana read as an older one.
- These are common names and many living people share them. Search a full name yourself before you give it to a character or publish it.
Frequently asked questions
Do Rwandans have family surnames?
Traditionally they do not. Each child receives a Kinyarwanda name of their own, so parents, children and siblings usually have different ones, and a woman traditionally keeps her name when she marries. On forms that ask for a surname the Kinyarwanda name normally goes in that box, which is why it is often mistaken for one.
What does -imana mean in a Rwandan name?
Imana is the Kinyarwanda word for God, and a name that ends in -imana is a short statement about God. Habimana says that God exists and Nshimiyimana means "I thank God". Hakizimana, Bizimana, Uwimana and Nsengimana in this list are built the same way.
Why is the Kinyarwanda name written first here?
That is the order on Rwandan identity papers and school lists, where the baptismal or other second name follows. Both orders are in real use, and outside Rwanda the second name is often put first. We chose one order for the whole list, so Niyonkuru Edouard and Uwamahoro Béatrice can be turned around if your setting needs it.
Are these the names of real people?
No entry is meant to name a particular person. Every Kinyarwanda name and second name here is in real use in Rwanda, the list was drafted by combining them, and we tried to leave out the full names of well-known public figures. With names this common, some living people will share a combination, so treat any match as a coincidence.
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All 500 Rwandan names
A: 4 names
- Agasaro
- Akaliza
- Akaliza Laura
- Akimana Ange
B: 16 names
- Bamurange Rose
- Batamuliza Alice
- Bayingana Roger
- Bazubagira Germaine
- Bigirimana Pascal
- Bigirimana Pierre Claver
- Bimenyimana Bonaventure
- Bizimana Ismaïl
- Bizimana Sylvestre
- Bugingo Eugène
- Butera Richard
- Bwiza
- Bwiza Joyeuse
- Byiringiro Caleb
- Byiringiro Placide
- Byukusenge Wellars
C: 3 names
- Cyiza Ange
- Cyubahiro Didier
- Cyusa
D: 5 names
- Dusabe Denyse
- Dusabemariya Véronique
- Dusabimana Marie Merci
- Dusenge Grace
- Dusengimana Perpétue
G: 18 names
- Gaju
- Gaju Anita
- Gakuru
- Gakwaya Tharcisse
- Ganza
- Ganza Cédric
- Gasana Idrissa
- Gasana Roger
- Gasaro
- Gasore
- Gatera Robert
- Gatesi Providence
- Gatesi Sandra
- Gato
- Giramata Bella
- Giramata Fortunée
- Gisa
- Gisa Gilles
H: 26 names
- Habimana
- Habimana Sadate
- Habimana Théogène
- Habineza Jean Paul
- Habineza Jérôme
- Habiyambere Alphonse
- Habiyaremye Jean Paul
- Habiyaremye Straton
- Habumugisha Désiré
- Habumuremyi Ignace
- Hagenimana Venant
- Hakizimana
- Hakizimana Enock
- Hakizimana Faustin
- Hakizimana Hussein
- Hakorimana Félicien
- Hakuzimana Théoneste
- Harerimana Célestin
- Harerimana Hamza
- Harerimana Jean Marie
- Havugimana Donatien
- Havugimana Jean Félix
- Hirwa
- Hirwa Serge
- Hitimana Anastase
- Hitimana Jean Népomuscène
I: 38 names
- Igihozo
- Igihozo Divine
- Ihirwe
- Ihirwe Peace
- Ikirezi
- Ikirezi Queen
- Ikuzwe Naomie
- Impano
- Impano Raïssa
- Ineza
- Ineza Nadia
- Ingabire
- Ingabire Annonciata
- Ingabire Mariam
- Ingabire Marie Paule
- Ingabire Sabrina
- Inyange
- Inyange Noella
- Iradukunda
- Iradukunda Fabrice
- Iradukunda Faridah
- Iradukunda Josée
- Irakoze Pacifique
- Irakoze Ruth
- Iribagiza Agathe
- Iriza Pamela
- Irumva Patient
- Isaro
- Isaro Sharon
- Ishimwe
- Ishimwe Asha
- Ishimwe Geneviève
- Ishimwe Sarah
- Ishimwe Yvan
- Isimbi
- Isimbi Vanessa
- Ituze
- Izere Fiston
K: 49 names
- Kabagwira Louise
- Kabanyana Générose
- Kabanyana Zaina
- Kabatesi Euphrasie
- Kabatesi Rose Marie
- Kabera Ally
- Kabera Bonheur
- Kagabo James
- Kalisa Abdallah
- Kalisa Blaise
- Kamaliza Yvonne
- Kamana Djuma
- Kamanzi Emery
- Kamikazi Lydia
- Kampire Winifrida
- Kanakuze Hélène
- Kanamugire Callixte
- Kaneza Sonia
- Kangabe Xavérine
- Kankindi Félicité
- Kankindi Marie Assumpta
- Kankwanzi Médiatrice
- Kantarama Cécile
- Kantengwa Assumpta
K, continued
- Kanzayire Eulalie
- Karekezi Fidèle
- Karenzi Jules
- Karigirwa Judith
- Kayinamura Hubert
- Kayiranga Yves
- Kayirangwa Adeline
- Kayirebwa Dorothée
- Kayitare David
- Kayitare Suleiman
- Kayitesi
- Kayitesi Marceline
- Kayitesi Marie Immaculée
- Kayitesi Salama
- Keza
- Keza Doriane
- Kimenyi Evariste
- Kirezi Elyse
- Kubwimana Jean Léonard
- Kubwimana Tharcisse
- Kubwimana Yusuf
- Kundwa
- Kundwa Sandrine
- Kwizera
- Kwizera Arsène
M: 129 names
- Mahoro
- Mahoro Nadine
- Mahoro Pascaline
- Manirafasha Isaïe
- Manirafasha Jean Bosco
- Maniraguha Jean Claude
- Maniraguha Protais
- Maniriho Phocas
- Manishimwe Emile
- Manzi
- Manzi Christian
- Mazimpaka Hilaire
- Mbabazi Hope
- Mbonigaba Jean Damascène
- Mbonigaba Vénuste
- Mbonyinshuti Révérien
- Mpayimana Dismas
- Mucyo
- Mucyo Dylan
- Mugabo Djamal
- Mugabo Hervé
- Mugenzi Honoré
- Mugisha
- Mugisha Faith
- Mugisha Kevin
- Mugisha Salim
- Muhawenimana Gaudence
- Muhawenimana Jeanne d'Arc
- Muhimpundu Consolée
- Muhire Brian
- Muhongayire Clémence
- Muhongerwa Agnès
M, continued
- Muhorakeye Liberata
- Muhoza Jackson
- Mujawayezu Prisca
- Mujawimana Marie Médiatrice
- Mujawimana Spéciose
- Mukabaranga Colette
- Mukabideri Rosalie
- Mukagatare Stéphanie
- Mukahirwa Dancille
- Mukakalisa Alphonsine
- Mukakimenyi Belancille
- Mukamana
- Mukamana Amina
- Mukamana Emerthe
- Mukamana Marie Rose
- Mukamazimpaka Hilarie
- Mukamfizi Generosa
- Mukamuganga Consolée
- Mukamugema Catherine
- Mukamunana Espérance
- Mukamurenzi Thérèse
- Mukamurigo Félicité
- Mukamusoni Bernadette
- Mukamutara Anastasie
- Mukamwiza Clotilde
- Mukandamage Thacienne
- Mukandayisenga Marie Josée
- Mukandayisenga Rose
- Mukandekezi Pétronille
- Mukandori Vénéranda
- Mukaneza Joséphine
- Mukangarambe Xavérine
M, continued
- Mukangwije Séraphine
- Mukankubito Madeleine
- Mukankuranga Pascasie
- Mukankusi Athanasie
- Mukanoheli Christine
- Mukansanga Liberata
- Mukantabana Léa
- Mukantagara Spéciose
- Mukantwari Cécile
- Mukanyandwi Eugénie
- Mukanyirigira Léonille
- Mukarubuga Vérène
- Mukarugwiza Léontine
- Mukarugwiza Marie Thérèse
- Mukarukundo Florida
- Mukarutabana Cansilde
- Mukarwego Immaculée
- Mukasekuru Domitille
- Mukashema Adèle
- Mukashyaka Anne Marie
- Mukashyaka Epiphanie
- Mukasine Béatrice
- Mukazitoni Odile
- Mukeshimana Agnès
- Mukeshimana Marie Louise
- Mukeshimana Safi
- Mukundwa Régine
- Muneza Landry
- Munezero Jimmy
- Munganyinka Philomène
- Munyandamutsa Grégoire
- Munyankindi Vianney
M, continued
- Murebwayire Immaculée
- Murekatete Julienne
- Murekatete Marie Françoise
- Murekeyisoni Donatille
- Murenzi Lionel
- Murenzi Yasin
- Murorunkwere Stéphanie
- Musabyemariya Drocella
- Musanabera Yvette
- Musengimana Béatha
- Mushimiyimana Ephrem
- Mushimiyimana Vestine
- Mutabaruka Anicet
- Mutabazi Jean Berchmans
- Mutabazi Parfait
- Mutabazi Shabani
- Mutangana Omar
- Mutesi
- Mutesi Delphine
- Mutesi Khadija
- Mutesi Marie Reine
- Mutesi Rebecca
- Muteteli Bernadette
- Mutoni
- Mutoni Cynthia
- Mutoni Gloriose
- Mutoni Shamim
- Mutumwinka Marguerite
- Mutuyimana Epiphanie
- Mvuyekure Anselme
- Mwiza
- Mwiza Sabrina
- Mwizerwa Prince
N: 99 names
- Ndagijimana Léopold
- Ndahayo Eric
- Ndahiro Alphonse
- Ndayisaba Ibrahim
- Ndayisaba Léonard
- Ndayisenga Jean Claude
- Ndayisenga Maurice
- Ndikubwimana Jean Chrysostome
- Ndikubwimana Viateur
- Nduwayezu Léon
- Ngabo
- Ngabo Elvis
- Ngabo Swaibu
- Ngabonziza Albert
- Ngarambe Télesphore
- Ngendahimana Jean Baptiste
- Ngendahimana Juvénal
- Ngirimana Jean Baptiste
- Ngirimana Joseph
- Ngoga Fred
- Nikuze Scholastique
- Niyibizi Ezéchiel
- Niyibizi Jean d'Amour
- Niyigena Damien
- Niyigena Séraphine
- Niyitegeka Léoncie
- Niyomugabo Gérard
- Niyonkuru Abdul
- Niyonkuru Edouard
- Niyonkuru Steven
- Niyonsaba Alphonsine
- Niyonsaba Ambroise
- Niyonsenga Jean de Dieu
N, continued
- Niyonsenga Théophile
- Niyonshuti Noël
- Niyonzima
- Niyonzima Védaste
- Nkundabagenzi Fabien
- Nkundimana Baptiste
- Nkundimana Pierre Damien
- Nkurunziza Anaclet
- Nkusi Régis
- Nsabimana Aloys
- Nsabimana Jean Marie Vianney
- Nsabimana Saidi
- Nsanzimana Léonidas
- Nsanzumuhire Emmanuel
- Nsengimana Fabien
- Nsengimana Pierre Célestin
- Nsengiyumva Gaspard
- Nsengiyumva Hassan
- Nshimiyimana Callixte
- Nshimiyimana Issa
- Nshuti
- Nshuti Bertrand
- Ntaganira Damascène
- Ntagungira Maurice
- Ntirenganya Félicien
- Ntivuguruzwa Cyprien
- Ntwali
- Ntwali Derrick
- Nyandwi Evode
- Nyirabagenzi Florence
- Nyirabahire Anne
- Nyirabashyitsi Judith
- Nyirabazungu Elisabeth
N, continued
- Nyirabizimana Costasie
- Nyirabukeye Zéphyrine
- Nyirahabimana Mwamini
- Nyirahabimana Vérédiane
- Nyirahabineza Gaudence
- Nyirahakizimana Anathalie
- Nyirahategekimana Angèle
- Nyirakamana Languida
- Nyiramahirwe Jeanne
- Nyiramajyambere Joséphine
- Nyiramana Asinathe
- Nyiramariza Bernadette
- Nyiramatama Césarie
- Nyiraminani Agnès
- Nyiramongi Thérèse
- Nyiramugisha Dévota
- Nyiramugwera Patricie
- Nyirandikubwimana Marcianne
- Nyiraneza Daphrose
- Nyirangendahimana Rachel
- Nyiransabimana Marie Goretti
- Nyiransabimana Marthe
- Nyiransengiyumva Vestine
- Nyirantezimana Catherine
- Nyiranzeyimana Illuminée
- Nyirarukundo Claudette
- Nyirasafari Bonifrida
- Nyirasangwa Léocadie
- Nzabonimpa Jacques
- Nzabonimpa Jean Pierre
- Nzayisenga Emérence
- Nzeyimana Innocent
- Nzeyimana Ramadhan
R: 13 names
- Rugamba Thierry
- Rugira Trésor
- Rukundo
- Rukundo Arnaud
- Rukundo Rachid
- Rutagengwa Christophe
- Rutagengwa Jean Marc
- Rutayisire Gilbert
- Ruterana Bernard
- Rutikanga Dominique
- Rwagasana Ignace
- Rwema
- Rwema Willy
S: 15 names
- Sangwa
- Sangwa Alain
- Sebahire Déogratias
- Sebahire Jean Luc
- Sebazungu Théodore
- Sekamana Léonce
- Shami
- Sheja
- Sheja Elie
- Shema
- Shema Bruce
- Shyaka Aimé
- Sibomana Abdoul Karim
- Sibomana Athanase
- Sugira Alex
T: 12 names
- Teta
- Teta Gisèle
- Tuyisenge Christine
- Tuyishime Clarisse
- Tuyishime Valérie
- Tuyishimire Janvier
- Tuyishimire Jean Pierre
- Tuyizere Carine
- Twagirimana Fulgence
- Twagirimana Jean de Dieu
- Twagirumukiza Charles
- Twizeyimana Vital
U: 73 names
- Umubyeyi Marthe
- Umugwaneza Antoinette
- Umuhire Monique
- Umuhoza
- Umuhoza Clémentine
- Umuhoza Joselyne
- Umuhoza Marie Ange
- Umuhoza Sauda
- Umukundwa Eugénie
- Umulisa Carine
- Umuraza Laetitia
- Umurerwa Esther
- Umurerwa Francine
- Umurerwa Rukia
- Umurungi Josiane
- Umutesi Florence
- Umutesi Latifa
- Umutoni
- Umutoni Ariane
- Umutoni Marie Aimée
- Umutoni Pascasie
- Umutoni Zainabu
- Umutoniwase Sylvie
- Umwali Charlotte
- Umwiza Nicole
- Uwababyeyi Honorine
- Uwamahoro
- Uwamahoro Béatrice
- Uwamahoro Diane
- Uwamahoro Halima
- Uwamahoro Marie Chantal
- Uwamariya Dative
- Uwamariya Marie Solange
- Uwambajimana Odette
- Uwamurera Eugénie
- Uwamwezi Angèle