Tswana Name Generator

Setswana given names and family names together

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Generate Tswana names as they are carried in Botswana and in South Africa's North West: Setswana given names with family names, such as Lorato Ramogapi, Kagiso Lebotse and Onalenna Mokgosi, plus single given names, old royal names and surnames on their own.

About Tswana names

Setswana is spoken in Botswana and in South Africa's North West, and its given names are ordinary words and short sentences. Many give thanks: Tebogo (gratitude), Masego (blessings), Mpho and Neo (gift). Others speak to God, such as Onalenna (He is with me) and Keabetswe (I have been given). Kagiso is peace, Lorato love, Boitumelo joy and Kgomotso comfort. Some record the moment of birth: Pula for a child who arrived with the rain, Dikeledi (tears) for one born in a time of mourning. Many of these names are given to girls and boys alike.

The family name comes last and is very often the given name of an ancestor that later generations kept, which is why Modise and Mothibi can sit on either side of a full name. Surnames in Ra-, such as Rakhudu and Rantao, grew from a word for father, and a few are animal names such as Tau (lion) and Tlou (elephant). One person is a Motswana and the people are Batswana. Mma and Rra are polite forms of address for a woman and a man, not parts of a name.

The list is mostly full names, mixed with single given names, old royal names such as Sechele and Bathoen, lone surnames, and the English and biblical first names many Batswana use.

How to choose Tswana names

  • Read the given name as a word first. Tebogo, Kagiso and Lorato are everyday Setswana words, so a character's name can quietly say something about the family that chose it.
  • Keep the Setswana spellings: Lorato rather than the Sesotho Lerato, Kagiso rather than Kgotso, Refilwe rather than Refiloe. Small differences like these tell a reader which language a family speaks.
  • Do not sort the list by gender too quickly. Tebogo, Lesego, Neo and Thato belong to women and men alike, while names in Mma-, such as Mmapula, are given to girls.
  • For an older character, an English or biblical first name with a Setswana surname, such as Naomi Mathiba or Solomon Letsatle, is a realistic choice.
  • Royal names such as Sechele, Sebele, Bathoen and Tshekedi are listed on their own. Treat them as given names for historical fiction and choose a different family name for your character.

Frequently asked questions

What are common Tswana names?

Tebogo, Kagiso, Lesego, Lorato, Boitumelo, Neo, Mpho, Thato, Masego and Kgomotso are among the Setswana given names heard most often in Botswana and in South Africa's North West. The list pairs them with family names, as in Kagiso Lebotse, Lorato Ramogapi and Masego Mokgothu.

What do Tswana names mean?

Most are plain Setswana words or short sentences. Tebogo is gratitude, Kagiso peace, Lorato love, Pula rain and Naledi star, while Onalenna says that God is with me and Reneilwe that we have been given. This page gives meanings only for a small number of very familiar names, so ask a Setswana speaker or check a dictionary before you rely on any other.

Are Botswana names and Tswana names the same thing?

Not quite. Tswana names are names in the Setswana language, and its speakers live in South Africa as well as in Botswana. Botswana is also home to other languages with naming traditions of their own, such as Kalanga, and those are not part of this list.

How do Tswana surnames work?

The surname is written last. Many began as an ancestor's given name, which is why a name like Modise or Mothibi can be either one. Surnames in Ra-, such as Rakhudu, Rantao and Ramokate, come from a word for father.

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All 500 Tswana 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: 12 names

  • Abraham Madisa
  • Agnes Moagi
  • Amantle Marumo
  • Amantle Seitshiro
  • Amogelang Motshegwa
  • Aobakwe Ramokate
  • Aobakwe Ratshosa
  • Atang Motlhasedi
  • Atang Serumola
  • Atlang Mothobi
  • Atlasaone Dikobe
  • Atlasaone Mothibedi

B: 40 names

  • Baboloki Moreri
  • Baboloki Sebonego
  • Bakang Ledimo
  • Bakang Tsheko
  • Bathoen
  • Benjamin Matlhaku
  • Bogosi Montwedi
  • Bogosi Rapoo
  • Boikanyo Moatshe
  • Boikanyo Setlhabi
  • Boikhutso Rakgare
  • Boikobo Mokgethi
  • Boikobo Raseroka
  • Boineelo Keitseng
  • Boineelo Serema
  • Boipelo Letsatle
  • Boipuso
  • Boipuso Mampane
  • Boipuso Rasebotsa
  • Boitshepo Phuthego
  • Boitshoko Maikano
  • Boitshoko Marumo
  • Boitumelo
  • Boitumelo Maleke
  • Boitumelo Ramokoka
  • Bokamoso Marope
  • Bokamoso Thobega
  • Bonang Ramokate
  • Bonang Semele
  • Bonolo Kwerepe
  • Bonolo Moitoi
  • Bontle Mokwena
  • Bontle Mosienyane
  • Botho Mosinyi
  • Botlhale Disele
  • Botlhale Kgamane
  • Botsalo Ketshabile
  • Botsalo Mothibi
  • Botshelo Kgosiemang
  • Botshelo Maine

D: 18 names

  • David Mogami
  • Dibotelo
  • Dikeledi
  • Dikeledi Mokgwathi
  • Dikeledi Mosime
  • Dikgang Kgosidintsi
  • Dikgang Tlale
  • Dimpho Modukanele
  • Dimpho Motswagole
  • Dineo Letsholo
  • Dipuo Pooe
  • Dithapelo Moremi
  • Dithapelo Tau
  • Ditiro Mahube
  • Ditiro Mosinyi
  • Ditsele
  • Ditshego Otlhogile
  • Dorcas Mogorosi

E: 5 names

  • Edwin Gaobakwe
  • Elias Pitso
  • Elizabeth Maruping
  • Ephraim Tlou
  • Esther Setlhare

G: 25 names

  • Gabriel Maele
  • Galaletsang Kgang
  • Galaletsang Rakhudu
  • Gaone Rammidi
  • Gaone Sebolai
  • Gaseitsiwe
  • George Malope
  • Gift Ramontsho
  • Gilbert Gaobakwe
  • Gladys Selelo
  • Goabaone Masilo
  • Godfrey Phuthego
  • Gofaone
  • Gofaone Disele
  • Gofaone Mogwera
  • Goitsemang Kgosietsile
  • Goitsemang Selebogo
  • Goitsemodimo Moagi
  • Goitseone
  • Goitseone Moilwa
  • Goitseone Mothupi
  • Gomolemo Modisane
  • Gomolemo Mokgoko
  • Gorata Tabane
  • Grace Mogale

I: 9 names

  • Ikageng Pilane
  • Ikageng Tladi
  • Innocent Mabe
  • Ipeleng Kgamane
  • Ipeleng Sebego
  • Isaac Otukile
  • Isang
  • Itumeleng Maruping
  • Itumeleng Motlhagodi

J: 4 names

  • Jacob Mahube
  • Joshua Lobelo
  • Joyce Kwerepe
  • Julia Pooe

K: 67 names

  • Kabelo Mokobi
  • Kabo Moseki
  • Kabo Otukile
  • Kagelelo Diale
  • Kagelelo Mokalake
  • Kagiso
  • Kagiso Lebotse
  • Kagiso Molomo
  • Kago Mabe
  • Kago Malete
  • Kamogelo Molamu
  • Kamogelo Thipe
  • Kaone Sedumedi
  • Kaone Tsimako
  • Karabo Dikobe
  • Karabo Pheto
  • Katlego Nthobatsang
  • Katlego Thekiso
  • Keabetswe
  • Keabetswe Nkgowe
  • Kealeboga
  • Kealeboga Moalosi
  • Keamogetse Raditladi
  • Kebaabetswe Gaolathe
  • Kebonang
  • Kedibone Mogatusi
  • Kedibone Mokgatle
  • Kedibonye Kgaswane
  • Kedibonye Mmolotsi
  • Kedikilwe
  • Kefentse Mampane
  • Kefilwe Rakhudu
  • Kefilwe Rathedi

K, continued

  • Keitumetse Molefe
  • Keitumetse Tlou
  • Kelebogile Nkgowe
  • Kelebogile Pule
  • Kelebonye Modibedi
  • Kenanao Mmipi
  • Kenanao Motlaleng
  • Keneilwe Moumakwa
  • Kenneth Medupe
  • Kenosi
  • Keoagile Phakedi
  • Keoagile Tsie
  • Keorapetse Ramokhua
  • Keorapetse Tlale
  • Kesegofetse Mokotedi
  • Kesegofetse Thipe
  • Kgafela
  • Kgakgamatso Mokotedi
  • Kgakgamatso Motsumi
  • Kgalalelo Mokgautsi
  • Kgalalelo Moleele
  • Kgamanyane
  • Kgari
  • Kgololesego Setumo
  • Kgomotso Marope
  • Kgomotso Otlhogile
  • Kgosi
  • Kgothatso Leburu
  • Kitso Moreri
  • Kitso Sebego
  • Kopano Letebele
  • Kutlwano Kgathi
  • Kutlwano Montwedi
  • Kwape

L: 32 names

  • Larona Letsebe
  • Larona Seatlholo
  • Lawrence Motsaathebe
  • Lebogang Kgomo
  • Lefika Mokone
  • Lefika Setlhare
  • Legwaila
  • Lemogang Mogwera
  • Lemogang Pilane
  • Lentswe
  • Lesedi Motsamai
  • Lesedi Sebolai
  • Lesego
  • Lesego Mokgadi
  • Lesego Mosala
  • Lesetedi
  • Letlhogonolo Pule
  • Letlhogonolo Selebogo
  • Letsholathebe
  • Leungo Ramoroka
  • Linchwe
  • Loeto Molebatsi
  • Lorato
  • Lorato Lekgetho
  • Lorato Ramogapi
  • Losika Dintwe
  • Losika Maele
  • Lotlamoreng
  • Loungo Matlhare
  • Loungo Mokgoko
  • Lucky Kereng
  • Lydia Kesupile

M: 85 names

  • Mabiletsa
  • Magang
  • Magosi
  • Maipelo Mogotsi
  • Maipelo Mokoka
  • Makaba
  • Makgalemele
  • Makgekgenene
  • Malebogo
  • Malebogo Motsumi
  • Mankurwane
  • Marang Dikgole
  • Marang Tabane
  • Margaret Molale
  • Masego
  • Masego Mokgothu
  • Matlhogonolo Mmolawa
  • Matlhogonolo Moeng
  • Matsheka
  • Matshidiso Mogapi
  • Matshidiso Rankhumise
  • Mercy Seatlholo
  • Meshack Matlapeng
  • Mmabatho Mogodi
  • Mmapula
  • Mmapula Kgaswane
  • Mmapula Monare
  • Mmoloki Mokgwathi
  • Mmoloki Raditladi
  • Mmusi
  • Moabi Monthe
  • Moabi Mosienyane
  • Modiri Mogale
  • Modisa Molale
  • Modisaotsile Moatshe
  • Modisaotsile Ranko
  • Moemedi Letlole
  • Moeti Ketshabile
  • Moeti Moilwa
  • Mogomotsi Diale
  • Mogomotsi Mosweu
  • Mohurutshe

M, continued

  • Mohutsiwa
  • Mokaila
  • Molapisi
  • Molatlhegi Dithebe
  • Molatlhegi Gaobakwe
  • Molema
  • Molemo Mmipi
  • Molemo Mphoeng
  • Mompati Motswagole
  • Mompati Semele
  • Mompoloki Seitei
  • Mompoloki Selebatso
  • Monageng
  • Montshiwa
  • Montsho
  • Mooketsi Moeng
  • Mooketsi Mokibe
  • Moratiwa Mmereki
  • Moroka
  • Morongwa Malebye
  • Morongwa Phakedi
  • Moses Tsatsi
  • Mosetsanagape Kgathi
  • Mosetsanagape Morolong
  • Mosidi Kesupile
  • Mosidi Letshwiti
  • Mosimanegape Lesejane
  • Mosimanegape Moalosi
  • Motheo Lekgetho
  • Motheo Motsamai
  • Mothusi Mokgethi
  • Mothusi Morolong
  • Motlalepula Mokone
  • Motlalepula Seitei
  • Motlatsi Mokgosi
  • Motlatsi Monyatsi
  • Motshabi Modise
  • Motshabi Rankhumise
  • Motshidisi Kgoroba
  • Motshidisi Moseki
  • Motswaledi
  • Motswasele
  • Mpho Modukanele

N: 12 names

  • Naledi
  • Naledi Phaladi
  • Nametso Mokomane
  • Naomi Mathiba
  • Neelo Kgosidintsi
  • Neo Letshwiti
  • Neo Seboni
  • Nkwe
  • Nonofo Kgoroba
  • Nonofo Sentsho
  • Ntebogang Thekiso
  • Ntuane

O: 38 names

  • Oarabile Setlhako
  • Oarabile Tshosa
  • Obakeng Mothobi
  • Obakeng Seeletso
  • Odirile Moumakwa
  • Odirile Rakgare
  • Oduetse Letsididi
  • Oduetse Tsimako
  • Ofentse Leepile
  • Olebogeng Moleele
  • Olebogeng Motsaathebe
  • Olopeng
  • Olorato Mokgatle
  • Olorato Tsheko
  • Omphemetse Raseroka
  • Omphile Malope
  • Onalenna
  • Onalenna Dikgole
  • Onalenna Mokgosi
  • Onkabetse Mokalake
  • Onkabetse Tladi
  • Onneile Sedumedi
  • Onneile Tibone
  • Onthatile Mokwena
  • Ontlametse Letsididi
  • Ontlametse Molosiwa
  • Orapeleng Mphoeng
  • Oratile
  • Oratile Selebatso
  • Oscar Mogatusi
  • Oteng Leepile
  • Oteng Rammidi
  • Othusitse Molebatsi
  • Othusitse Nkwe
  • Otlaadisa Lesejane
  • Otlaadisa Sebonego
  • Otsile Mosikare
  • Otsile Tshosa

P: 24 names

  • Pako Morake
  • Pako Setumo
  • Pelaelo
  • Pelonomi Mogodi
  • Pelonomi Serumola
  • Phatsimo Seitshiro
  • Phemelo Keitseng
  • Phemelo Pitso
  • Phenyo Motlhagodi
  • Phetogo Matlapeng
  • Phetogo Rakgomo
  • Philemon Maine
  • Phodiso Kereng
  • Phodiso Ramatlapeng
  • Pholoso Mokgadi
  • Pholoso Rasebotsa
  • Poloko Malete
  • Poloko Mokobi
  • Pontsho Morake
  • Pula
  • Pula Motlhabane
  • Pula Setlhabi
  • Puso Dithebe
  • Puso Ramokhua

R: 26 names

  • Rakhudu
  • Rantao
  • Rapulana
  • Ratanang Kgomo
  • Ratanang Motlhabane
  • Ratlou
  • Reabetswe Matlhare
  • Reabetswe Monare
  • Realeboga Kgosietsile
  • Realeboga Tsatsi
  • Rebaone Mokibe
  • Refentse Moitoi
  • Refilwe Sentsho
  • Refilwe Tshukudu
  • Reitumetse Mathiba
  • Reitumetse Morupisi
  • Reneilwe
  • Reneilwe Mosime
  • Reneilwe Tshukudu
  • Resego Letebele
  • Resego Tibone
  • Reuben Mmolotsi
  • Richard Ramogapi
  • Rorisang Madisa
  • Rorisang Motshegwa
  • Ruth Tau

S: 29 names

  • Sadi Molomo
  • Sadi Mosala
  • Seabelo Ledimo
  • Sebele
  • Sechele
  • Seepapitso
  • Sefako Kereng
  • Sefako Maswabi
  • Segametsi Mogorosi
  • Segokgo
  • Segomotsi Maleke
  • Segomotsi Morapedi
  • Seipati Mogapi
  • Seipati Mosweu
  • Seipone Selelo
  • Seipone Tsie
  • Sekgoma
  • Seneo Letlhare
  • Seneo Rantao
  • Senwelo Mokoka
  • Senwelo Ratshosa
  • Serame Modisane
  • Serame Thebe
  • Sesinyi
  • Sethunya
  • Sethunya Rathedi
  • Setshwaelo
  • Simon Nthobatsang
  • Solomon Letsatle

T: 68 names

  • Tapologo Kgang
  • Tapologo Mothupi
  • Tau
  • Tawana
  • Tebatso Gaolathe
  • Tebatso Phaladi
  • Tebogo
  • Tebogo Lekalake
  • Tebogo Lesole
  • Tefo Manyaapelo
  • Thabang Maikano
  • Thabang Thebe
  • Thabo Letsebe
  • Thapelo Mokomane
  • Thapelo Molosiwa
  • Thatayaone Lebotse
  • Thatayaone Setlhako
  • Thato Ramoroka
  • Thato Seboni
  • Thero Mmereki
  • Thero Morupisi
  • Thulaganyo Lesole
  • Thulaganyo Mokgothu
  • Thuso Letsholo
  • Thuso Mokgautsi
  • Thuto Modise
  • Thuto Ramatlapeng
  • Tirelo Mmolawa
  • Tiro Gabaake
  • Tiro Rakgomo
  • Titus Seloma
  • Tlamelo Kgosiemang
  • Tlamelo Manyaapelo
  • Tlhalefo Mothibi

T, continued

  • Tlhompho Dintwe
  • Tlotlego Motlaleng
  • Tlotlego Serema
  • Tlotlo Ramontsho
  • Tlou
  • Tsaone Lobelo
  • Tsaone Seeletso
  • Tshegetso Ramokoka
  • Tshegetso Ranko
  • Tshegofatso Masilo
  • Tshegofatso Morapedi
  • Tshekedi
  • Tshenolo Molamu
  • Tshenolo Monyatsi
  • Tshepang Gabaake
  • Tshepang Rapoo
  • Tshepiso Maswabi
  • Tshepiso Molefe
  • Tshepo Medupe
  • Tshiamo Modibedi
  • Tshiamo Seloma
  • Tshidi
  • Tshimologo Letlole
  • Tshimologo Moremi
  • Tshireletso Matlhaku
  • Tshireletso Motlhasedi
  • Tsholofelo Letlhare
  • Tsholofelo Mogami
  • Tshukudu
  • Tuelo Lekalake
  • Tuelo Rantao
  • Tumelo Mothibedi
  • Tumelo Thobega
  • Tumisang Pheto

W: 4 names

  • Wame Leburu
  • Wame Malebye
  • Warona Mogotsi
  • Warona Mosikare

Y: 2 names

  • Yarona Monthe
  • Yarona Nkwe