Xhosa Name Generator

IsiXhosa given names and Xhosa family names

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Xhosa names in isiXhosa spelling: given names such as Nosipho, Luvuyo and Zukiswa, family names such as Mqhayi and Jabavu, and full names in new pairings like Zintle Bikitsha and Andile Mbombo.

About Xhosa names

IsiXhosa given names are words and short sentences, and a speaker hears what they say. Luvuyo is joy, Lukhanyo is light, Xolani asks for peace, Siyabulela means "we give thanks" and Andile "they have increased", a name for a growing family. Many girls' names open with No-, a prefix that marks a female name: Nomvula (rain), Nosipho (gift), Noxolo (peace). Others end in -kazi, as in Thandokazi and Vuyokazi, or in the passive -wa, as in Babalwa and Bulelwa.

The family name comes through the father. This list sets the given names beside Xhosa surnames such as Mqhayi, Jabavu, Soga, Kolisi, Ntini and Madikizela, always in new pairings. Behind the surname stands the clan name, the isiduko, such as Madiba, Tshawe or Jola. It is older than any surname, it serves as a respectful form of address, and people who share one treat each other as relatives. Clan names are not surnames, so they are explained here and not listed.

The spelling is isiXhosa: c, q and x are click consonants, as in Cikizwa, Qaqamba and Xolelwa. Where Xhosa and Zulu differ the Xhosa form is used, so the list has Zintle where a Zulu list has Zinhle, and Thamsanqa for luck where Zulu has Nhlanhla. Shared Nguni names such as Sipho, Themba and Thandiwe appear as well.

How to choose Xhosa names

  • Choose by meaning. These names are words, so Themba (hope), Thamsanqa (good fortune) or Noxolo (peace) says something about the family that gave it.
  • Names in No- and -kazi are for women and girls. Ayanda, Thando, Unathi and Olwethu go to boys and girls alike.
  • Use a short form among friends and family: Thami for Thamsanqa, Thandi for Thandiwe or Thandeka, Xoli for Xolani or Xolelwa, Zuki for Zukiswa.
  • In a traditional scene let people greet an elder by clan name instead of surname. Each family belongs to one clan, so look up the isiduko that goes with the surname you chose instead of guessing.
  • Learn the three click letters before you read a name aloud: c is made with the tongue against the front teeth, q against the roof of the mouth and x at the side.

Frequently asked questions

What do Xhosa names mean?

Most are everyday isiXhosa words. Nomvula comes from the word for rain, Nosipho from isipho (gift), Luvuyo from uvuyo (joy) and Lukhanyo from the word for light. Parents choose a name for what it says about the birth or about their hopes for the child.

What is the difference between a Xhosa surname and a clan name?

The surname is the family name on documents, as in Sinazo Soyizwapi or Bulelwa Tyibilika. The clan name, or isiduko, is shared by many families that descend from one ancestor, and it is used in greetings, thanks and ceremonies. This list holds surnames and leaves clan names to the copy.

Are Xhosa names the same as Zulu names?

The two languages are close relatives, so names such as Sipho, Themba and Thandiwe belong to both. Many others differ: Xhosa has Zintle where Zulu has Zinhle, and Thamsanqa for luck where Zulu uses Nhlanhla. The surnames are largely different too, which is why this list uses family names like Mancotywa, Mbalo and Tyamzashe.

Are these the names of real people?

No. Each full name pairs a given name with a surname in a new combination. Several of the surnames belong to well-known families, so a pairing can match a living person by chance. Treat every full name as an invention.

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All 500 Xhosa 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: 24 names

  • Akhona Pambo
  • Akhumzi
  • Anathi Dana
  • Andile Mbombo
  • Andisiwe Mngqolo
  • Andiswa Ntantala
  • Anele
  • Anelisa
  • Anelisa Booi
  • Aphelele
  • Aphiwe Makaula
  • Asanda Gqoboka
  • Asemahle
  • Asiphe Dalindyebo
  • Athenkosi
  • Athenkosi Ndamase
  • Athi
  • Avela Madlingozi
  • Aviwe
  • Avuyile Jabavu
  • Awonke Msutu
  • Ayabulela Ntubeni
  • Ayanda Madikizela
  • Azola Mavi

B: 16 names

  • Babalo
  • Babalwa Mdladlana
  • Baliso
  • Bandile Nkuhlu
  • Banele
  • Bokwe
  • Bonga Mangcu
  • Bongani Mkonto
  • Bongeka Mngomeni
  • Bongile Matshikiza
  • Boniswa Makiwane
  • Bukelwa Mbeki
  • Bulelani Konkco
  • Bulelwa Tyibilika
  • Buntu Mahala
  • Buyiswa

C: 10 names

  • Calata
  • Camagu Nyamakazi
  • Cebo Shiceka
  • Chulumanco
  • Chuma Gqamane
  • Chumani
  • Chwayita Qoboshiyane
  • Cikizwa
  • Cikizwa Mapisa
  • Cwenga

D: 5 names

  • Dandala
  • Dikeni
  • Dumile Kewuti
  • Dumisani Qeshile
  • Dwane

E: 3 names

  • Elethu Mtirara
  • Enkosi Mabona
  • Esona Mgqolozana

F: 6 names

  • Fezeka Sigcawu
  • Fezile Sandi
  • Finca
  • Fundile
  • Fundiswa
  • Funeka

G: 8 names

  • Gcobani Ntsebeza
  • Gcobisa
  • Gcobisa Saule
  • Gogwana
  • Gomba
  • Gqozo
  • Gqubule
  • Gugulethu Nongxa

H: 3 names

  • Hlumela Stick
  • Hlumelo Tshwete
  • Holomisa

I: 3 names

  • Iminathi Mgijima
  • Indiphile Msutu
  • Inga

J: 6 names

  • Jabavu
  • Jayiya
  • Jobodwana
  • Jolobe
  • Jongikhaya Nqatha
  • Jongilizwe Bavuma

K: 19 names

  • Kamvelihle Jiba
  • Kani
  • Khanya
  • Khanyisa
  • Khanyisa Somyalo
  • Khanyiso
  • Khanyiswa Ngcongca
  • Khaya
  • Khayalethu Manyonga
  • Khazimla Mbangeni
  • Kholeka Mcatshulwa
  • Kholekile Ngcukana
  • Kholiswa Mcingana
  • Khulile
  • Khululwa Ntshinga
  • Khunjulwa Jolobe
  • Khuselwa Maqubela
  • Khwezi Sotashe
  • Kungawo Godongwana

L: 39 names

  • Lifa Jezile
  • Likhona
  • Linamandla Luhabe
  • Lindeka Mgebisa
  • Lindelwa Lamani
  • Lindikhaya Ntlabakanye
  • Lindile
  • Lisakhanya
  • Lisakhanya Mhlauli
  • Lithemba Zantsi
  • Liyema
  • Liziwe Mhlaba
  • Lizo Ntsaluba
  • Lonwabo Ngonyama
  • Loyiso Ngesi
  • Lubabalo Njongwe
  • Lukhanyiso Dandala
  • Lukhanyo
  • Lulama Gqamane
  • Luleka Xasa
  • Lulekwa Mxoyana
  • Lulu
  • Lumka Fikeni
  • Lumko
  • Lunathi Jarana
  • Lunga
  • Lungelwa Ndungane
  • Lungile Biko
  • Lungiswa Hani
  • Luthando
  • Lutho Ntlabakanye
  • Luvo Vundla
  • Luvuyo Tunzi
  • Luxolo
  • Luyanda Gqola
  • Luzuko Mavi
  • Lwanda Yawa
  • Lwando Dayimani
  • Lwazi Finca

M: 69 names

  • Madikizela
  • Madlingozi
  • Makeba
  • Makhaya
  • Makwetu
  • Malusi
  • Mandela
  • Mandilakhe Satyo
  • Mandisa
  • Mandisa Ntunja
  • Mandisi Mkiva
  • Mandla Joyi
  • Mangcu
  • Maqoma
  • Masande Mpongwana
  • Masibulele Zenzile
  • Masixole Sipamla
  • Mawande Magala
  • Mazwai
  • Mbombo
  • Mbulelo Nxesi
  • Mbuyiselo Tolashe
  • Mcebisi Patosi
  • Melikhaya Kondlo
  • Mfeketo
  • Mfundo Jafta
  • Mfuneko Mkiva
  • Mgoqi
  • Mgqolozana
  • Mihlali Mapimpi
  • Mkhuseli
  • Mlamli Suka
  • Mluleki Dweba
  • Mlungisi Dabula

M, continued

  • Mncedi Gqabi
  • Mninawa Manjezi
  • Mnyanda
  • Monde Nonkonyana
  • Mongezi Faku
  • Monwabisi
  • Mpahlwa
  • Mpendulo Sebe
  • Mphumzi Losi
  • Mpumelelo Dalindyebo
  • Mpumezo Sogoni
  • Msimelelo Ndlebe
  • Mtembu
  • Mthetheleli Mayekiso
  • Mthetho Bhanga
  • Mthobeli
  • Mthunzi
  • Mthuthuzeli Marawu
  • Mvoko
  • Mxolisi Mancotywa
  • Mxoyana
  • Mzamo
  • Mzikayise Nebulane
  • Mzimasi Kalawe
  • Mzimkhulu Ngqula
  • Mzingisi Mpofu
  • Mziwoxolo
  • Mzolisi
  • Mzonke Matanzima
  • Mzoxolo
  • Mzukisi Stofile
  • Mzuvukile Skweyiya
  • Mzwakhe Luhabe
  • Mzwandile
  • Mzwanele Msengana

N: 112 names

  • Namhla Mlandu
  • Nandipha Nontshinga
  • Ncapayi
  • Nceba Maswana
  • Ncedo
  • Ncumisa Mkwayi
  • Ndileka Nohamba
  • Ndumiso Ncapayi
  • Ndyebo Nyezwa
  • Ngcukana
  • Nikiwe Rani
  • Nkosana Mjekevu
  • Nkosinathi Ngcukana
  • Nkululeko Sigcau
  • Nobomi Nkwinti
  • Nobuhle Mbalo
  • Nobuntu
  • Nobuntu Mngxitama
  • Nokhanyo
  • Nokulunga
  • Nokuzola Ncapayi
  • Nokwanele Notshe
  • Nolitha Gobodo
  • Noloyiso
  • Noloyiso Mtembu
  • Nolubabalo Ngcuka
  • Nolufefe Ntshona
  • Nolundi Kwinana
  • Nolusindiso Sotyu
  • Noluthando Ndletyana
  • Noluvuyo
  • Noluvuyo Biko
  • Nolwazi
  • Nolwazi Mtyanda
  • Nomakhosazana Nzo
  • Nomakhwezi
  • Nomakhwezi Mtimkulu
  • Nomalanga Sinxo
  • Nomalizo
  • Nomalizo Vavi
  • Nomalungelo Mfeketo
  • Nomandla Jobodwana
  • Nomaphelo Wayile
  • Nomathamsanqa
  • Nomathemba
  • Nomathemba Sobukwe
  • Nomawethu Nyauza
  • Nomaxabiso Qunta
  • Nomazizi
  • Nomazizi Mpetha
  • Nombeko
  • Nomboniso
  • Nombulelo Mbete
  • Nomfundo Makaula
  • Nomfuneko
  • Nomfuneko Soga

N, continued

  • Nomfusi
  • Nomgcobo Xuma
  • Nomhle Sandi
  • Nomkhitha
  • Nomonde Nomvete
  • Nomphelo
  • Nomsa
  • Nomsa Tyamzashe
  • Nomthandazo Ngcaba
  • Nomvula
  • Nomvula Nodada
  • Nomvuyiso Zibi
  • Nomvuyo Mancotywa
  • Nomzamo Goniwe
  • Nonceba Tisani
  • Noncedo Dlala
  • Nondumiso Sodlaka
  • Nonkosi
  • Nonkosi Mpupha
  • Nonkululeko Latsha
  • Nontando
  • Nontando Nkayi
  • Nontle Bokwe
  • Nontobeko Ntshanga
  • Nontsikelelo Ngewu
  • Nosiphiwo Nqakula
  • Nosipho
  • Nosisa Somyo
  • Nosiviwe
  • Nosiviwe Tshiqi
  • Novuyo Feni
  • Noxolo
  • Nozizwe Buhlungu
  • Nozuko Bam
  • Nqaba Ndongeni
  • Nqabisa Bungu
  • Nqatha
  • Ntando Mzamane
  • Ntandokazi
  • Ntandokazi Mantashe
  • Ntantala
  • Ntobeko Mini
  • Ntombekhaya Nqweni
  • Ntombentsha
  • Ntombentsha Tshwete
  • Ntombizanele
  • Ntombomzi Nyezwa
  • Ntomboxolo Fassie
  • Ntsaluba
  • Ntsika Rubusana
  • Ntsikelelo Nomandela
  • Ntyatyambo Gqozo
  • Nwabisa Sipamla
  • Nyameka Ngesi
  • Nyaniso Jobodwana
  • Nzuzo

O: 7 names

  • Odwa
  • Olona
  • Olwethu Mda
  • Onela Tete
  • Ongeziwe Macozoma
  • Onke Mxenge
  • Oyama

P: 14 names

  • Phakamile Mahola
  • Phakamisa Ntshanga
  • Phelokazi
  • Phelokazi Calata
  • Phila Magubeni
  • Philasande Ndabeni
  • Phumeza Xaluva
  • Phumla
  • Phumla Makinana
  • Phumla Sebe
  • Phumlani Lungisa
  • Phumza Bungane
  • Poswa
  • Pupuma

Q: 5 names

  • Qaqamba Xundu
  • Qhama Mpahleni
  • Qhawe
  • Qhayiya Mzileni
  • Qondile Njikelana

S: 48 names

  • Sabatha Mgudlwa
  • Sabelo Mvovo
  • Sakhele Pityana
  • Sakhiwo
  • Sakhumzi Ndara
  • Sandile Majeke
  • Sandiso Mabuyane
  • Sesethu Maqoma
  • Sibabalwe
  • Sibongile
  • Sibulele Dlala
  • Sicelo Masualle
  • Sikelela
  • Sikhumbuzo Mkalipi
  • Simamkele Mqhayi
  • Simphiwe Pikoli
  • Simthembile Qwelane
  • Sinazo Soyizwapi
  • Sindiswa
  • Sindiswa Poswa
  • Sinesipho Ntini
  • Sinethemba
  • Sinethemba Magona
  • Sinovuyo
  • Sinovuyo Matshiqi
  • Sinoxolo Ncamashe
  • Siphamandla
  • Siphelo
  • Siphenathi Solontsi
  • Siphiwo Tutu
  • Sipho Mngqolo
  • Siphokazi
  • Siphosethu Mvana
  • Siphosihle Sonjica
  • Sisipho Gogwana
  • Sithembele Madinga
  • Siviwe Sizani
  • Sivuyile
  • Siyabulela Makalima
  • Siyamthanda Matshikiza
  • Siyanda Tyali
  • Siyasanga
  • Sizwe Dwane
  • Solomzi Makupula
  • Somila Mnyanda
  • Songezo Ngalwana
  • Sonwabile
  • Sotyu

T: 28 names

  • Thami
  • Thamsanqa
  • Thandeka
  • Thandi
  • Thandiswa Citashe
  • Thandiwe
  • Thando Mabandla
  • Thandokazi
  • Thandokazi Mayambela
  • Thandolwethu
  • Themba
  • Themba Baliso
  • Thembakazi
  • Thembalethu Nkwinti
  • Thembeka Balindlela
  • Thembeka Tikana
  • Thembelani Kani
  • Thembile Nxesi
  • Thembinkosi Makeba
  • Thembisa
  • Thembisa Zokwana
  • Thenjiwe Masola
  • Thobani
  • Thobeka
  • Thozama Mkutukana
  • Thumeka
  • Tshwete
  • Tyibilika

U: 1 name

  • Unathi Mankayi

V: 16 names

  • Vavi
  • Velile Siwa
  • Viwe
  • Vukani Mabandla
  • Vukile
  • Vusumzi
  • Vuyani Mbekile
  • Vuyelwa
  • Vuyelwa Madlanga
  • Vuyiseka
  • Vuyiseka Ngcukaitobi
  • Vuyisile
  • Vuyiswa Bobani
  • Vuyo Nkuhlu
  • Vuyokazi Kolisi
  • Vuyolwethu Kondlo

W: 3 names

  • Wandile Siboto
  • Wandisile Yako
  • Welile Mvoko

X: 8 names

  • Xabiso Mzimba
  • Xhanti Mpahlwa
  • Xolani
  • Xolela Mgqwetho
  • Xolelwa Sokutu
  • Xoli
  • Xolile Bam
  • Xolisa Tambo

Y: 8 names

  • Yamkela Holomisa
  • Yandisa Mbenge
  • Yanga Makwetu
  • Yibanathi
  • Yolisa
  • Yolisa Majodina
  • Yoliswa Mpongwana
  • Yonela Tinto

Z: 39 names

  • Zamikhaya Diko
  • Zamile Pekezela
  • Zandile Ngqawana
  • Zanele Fuzile
  • Zanoxolo
  • Zenande
  • Zenande Tsotsobe
  • Zikhona Mgoqi
  • Zimasa Gomba
  • Zimkhitha
  • Zimkhitha Mdoda
  • Zingisa
  • Zintle
  • Zintle Bikitsha
  • Zinzi
  • Zinzi Dyantyi
  • Zinziswa
  • Zinziswa Jayiya
  • Zithulele Pupuma
  • Ziyanda
  • Ziyanda Mpumlwana
  • Zizipho
  • Zizipho Gola
  • Zodwa Mtuze
  • Zola Ncita
  • Zolani
  • Zoleka
  • Zoleka Makubalo
  • Zolile
  • Zuki
  • Zukile
  • Zukisa
  • Zukiswa Gqubule
  • Zuko
  • Zusiphe Nonkonyana
  • Zwelakhe Dyani
  • Zwelethu Sisulu
  • Zwelibanzi Mazwai
  • Zwelinzima