The continent of Africa is home to more than 3000 major communities with mixed languages and civilizations. Like any other culture, there are African God and Goddess names, inspired by their deities and heritage. Every tribe has mythological traditions, and folk tales scripted in a language or passed down across generations orally. Usually, the characters illustrated in these scripts are powerful, honored, and worshipped as Gods by people who believe in them. If you believe in the deity and are interested in naming your baby after them, browse through this post as we present a collection of 100 unique names inspired by the African Gods and Goddesses. Anyone bearing these names will surely feel a connection to the divinity and the continent’s rich heritage and tradition.
African God Names For Boys
1. Abassi
Abassi is revered among Efik, Ibibio, and Annang tribes of Nigeria a is considered the zealous god of Efik. People believed that death and evil were brought upon mankind by Atai (Abassi’s wife) after the first man and woman were sent to Earth for settlement. They disobeyed Abassi conditions not to grow crops and not procreate. Abassi is pronounced as ab-bahsi.
2. Abora
Abora is worshipped by the Guanche community of the Canary Islands and is pronounced as ab-o-ra. He is considered the god of sun and light.
3. Adroa
The creator of the first man (Gborogboro) and the first woman (Meme), Adroa was worshipped by the Lugbara people of Central Africa as a supreme God. Adroa is invisible but appears to those who are close to death. The name is pronounced as aadh-roa.
4. Aiwel
People from Bor and Dinka tribes believed Aiwel Longer to be their ancestor. Born from a water spirit and a human mother, he was blessed with divine powers. It is pronounced as aaih-well.
5. Amadioha
The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria believe Amadioha to be the god of justice, who communicates with lightning and thunder. ‘Amadioha’ translates to ‘free will of the people.’ He governs the Sun, is red, and symbolized with a white ram.
6. Anansi
Originated from the Asante people of Ghana, Anansi is an Akan folktale character, popular in west African and Caribbean folklore. Anansi translates to ‘spider.’ He is a cunning trickster who takes the form of a spider and is knows as the god of stories. Anansi is pronounced as ah-nan-shi.
7. Anubis
Anubis is the god of the afterlife who the Egyptians worship and is pronounced as a-new-bis. He judges the heart of the dead and decides whether to lead them to eternal bliss or eternal doom.
8. Anyanwu
In eastern Nigeria, Anyanwu is the Sun god for the Igbo people and is pronounced as aan-yan-wu. Anyanwu means ‘eye of the Sun’ in the Igbo language. Anyanwu carries ideal characteristics, which the people should aspire to attain.
9. Arebati
The Efe people of the Democratic Republic of Congo believe Arebati to be the creator of humankind and the world. He is the God of the skies. The myth says that he created the first human from clay with the help of the moon. Arebati is pronounced as aa-ray-ba-ti.
10. Babalu Aye
A deity among the Yorubas of Nigeria and Benin, Babalu Aye is considered a hardworking God who is always busy trying to stave off infections and diseases. Because of his selfless work, people often offer wine and fruits in his name. The name is pronounced as ba-ba-lu aye.
11. Chuku
The Igbo tribe of Nigeria has great reverence for Chuku (pronounced as choo-kooh)—a powerful god who created the Earth from his mind and deemed that humans should rule over it. It is also believed that he takes the form of a sheep to warn humans of impending doom.
12. Dedun
Dedun (pronounced as deh-done) is the Nubian god of prosperity and wealth. The tribes worshiping him are mostly from in Egypt and Sudan.
13. Denka
Denka, pronounced as din-kah, is the god of fertility for the Dinka community of Sudan. He is also associated with the sky and rain.
14. Duamutef
The Egyptian God Duamutef is considered a protector of the canopic jars used by ancient Egyptians to preserve organs of dead people. He was the son of the God Osiris, and his name is pronounced as dow-mee-teff.
15. Eshu
Eshu is essentially the messenger between heaven and the Earth—the Gods and the people. He is a deity of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, and he carries the sacrifices that people have to offer to the gods in heaven. This trickster is known as cunning, and his name is pronounced as ee-shoe.
16. Geb
Gebis (pronounced as jebb) is the Egyptian god of germination and a mythological member of the pantheon of Gods. It is believed that his laughter created earthquakes.
17. Ggulu
Considered to be the sky god by the people of Uganda, Ggulu is the creator of all things in heaven as per the Gandan creation myth. According to legends, he rewarded his daughter to Kintu, the first human on Earth, and gave her the basic materials to start life in Uganda. It is pronounced as gu-gu-luh.
18. Imana
Banyarwandas are a small tribe of Rwanda with dramatic personalities as per their folk tales. Imana is one such deity who uses his long hands to distance himself from humanity after his plans for immortality was interrupted by some human. Banyarwandas is pronounced as ee-maan.
19. Kaang
A creator god of the San (Bushmen) people of South Africa, Kaang is said to have received opposition in the world that he sent destruction and death to the Earth in a fit of anger. Kaang is pronounced as kah-ng.
20. Katonda
Father of all Gods living in heaven, Katonda (pronounced as ka-ton-duh) is believed to be the creator of the first human ‘Kintu.’ This king and judge of the universe is worshipped by the Buganda people from East Africa who are, in present times, settled in Uganda.
21. Kibuka
Kibuka is a war god for the Baganda people of Uganda. He was sent by his brother to help and assist King Nakibinge, who was constantly at war. He is known to disguise as clouds and then rain spears on the enemies. The name is pronounced as keh-boo-kah.
22. Kwoth
Kwoth, also known as the spirit of the sky, is the supreme creator god of the Neur people in South Sudan. In African mythology, Kwoth is revered as the one who created humans and also the one who has control over natural phenomena.
23. Lesa
Lesa, the creator god of the Bemba tribe from northeastern Zambia, controls the rain and the power of fertility given to flora and fauna. People collectively conduct rituals in times of distress to ask for help from Lesa. The name is pronounced as lee-sah.
24. Libanza
Libanza (lee-banj-ah) is the first man according to Boloki mythologies of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Born from a mother figure who gave birth to all animals on Earth, Libanza was believed to have shape-shifting abilities. He was also considered to be the creator of the universe in Upoto mythologies.
25. Mebege
In the Central African Republic, the Fang people considered Mebege to be the supreme God of creation. The myth says that before creating the Earth, he was alone in the universe with only a spider, Dibobia, as a company. Mebege is pronounced as may-bay-gay.
26. Mukasa
In Baganda’s traditional religion, Mukasa is believed to be the chief of Balubaale (the group of gods in Baganda Pantheon). He dwells in lakes and is the God of prosperity, harvest, fertility, and health. The name is pronounced as moo-ka-sah.
27. Mulungu
Mulungu is the one who watches over the Earth and is worshipped by the Nyamwezi people of Tanzania, East Africa as the supreme creator of everything. He distances himself from all living beings and has no personal connection with them. Mulungggu is pronounced as muh-loong-uh.
28. Mwari
Also known as Inkhosi in northern and southern Ndebele, Mwari is God;’s omnipotent creation according to the Shona traditional religion that is concentrated in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The name is pronounced as mu-wa-rhee.
29. Neiterkob
Neiterkob (pronounced as nhai-tehr-kob), a supreme being with high intelligence, was believed to be the messenger between humans and Enkai, the God of the people of the Maa community. These communities were prevalent in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
30. Nhialic
Nhialic, according to the native Dinka people of South Sudan, is the supreme creation of God. He dwelled in the sky and was the leader of the Dinka pantheon. Thunder and lightning were interpreted as signs of his presence on the Earth. Nhialic is pronounced as nhi-yamay.
31. Nyame
In the Akan language, Nyame means ‘omniscient, omnipotent sky God,’ the one who knows and sees everything. The Akan people of Ghana consider Nyame to be their God. The name is pronounced as nee-ya-meh.
32. Nzambi a Mpungu
The believers of this supreme creator God are spread across Central Africa, and other Kongo religions. Nzambi a Mpungu was the creator of the Universe, and he is known to control natural happenings. The Kongolese name is pronounced jam-bee aa poong-gooh.
33. Nzame
The creator of the universe and everything in it, Nzame refers to a trinity of deities, namely Nzame, Mebere, and Nkwa. Mebere and Nkwa were in charge of creation’s male and female aspects, while Nzame managed the heavenly bodies. Nzame is followed by the Fang people residing in Equatorial Guinea, Gabo,n and Cameroon and is pronounced as jah-meh.
34. Ogbunabali
Also known as the death deity, Ogbunabali is known to kill his victims in the night, primarily criminals and anti-social beings. Ogbunabali is pronounced as a-beu-naa-li.
35. Ogun
Ogun is commonly known as the God of iron and war for the Yoruba people from southwestern Nigeria. He is believed to be the pathfinder for all the deities. He is the spirit that everyone who works with iron equipment looks up to. Ogun is pronounced as oh-goon.
36. Osanyin
Osanyin (oh-san-yen) is a one-eyed, one-legged, and one-armed deity of herbs and medicine worshipped by the Yoruba tribe of Western Africa.
37. Roog
In West Africa, Roog or Rog is identified as the supreme creator of the Serer religion of the Senegambia region. It is sacrilegious to make images of Roog, and so there is no place for his worship. The followers of Serer religion worships Roog by praying through Pangools (ancient saints and spirits).
38. Sagbata
Fon people are a tribal group residing in Togo and Benin. Fons consider Sagbata (pronounced as jahg-bata) to be the Earth god who supports all life. He is also associated with natural phenomena of rain, snow, hurricanes, and plant growth.
39. Shango
Shango was a warrior and a King among the Yoruba people of Niheria. He later elevated to the levels of God, also called Orishas, and anointed as the ‘God of war and thunder.’
40. Soko
The Nupe people of Nigeria consider Soko (pronounced as so-kow) as a supreme deity who can only communicate via spirits. It is believed that the dead spirits are often unwilling to help humans in sending messages to Soko.
41. Tano
Tano is the God of war and strife in both Agni and Ashanti mythologies of Africa. The Tano river in Ghana is named after him, and the name is pronounced as taa-now.
42. Thixo
Thixo is a deity revered by many South African tribes, especially among Xhosa and Ponda communities. He is the Sun god who is also attributed as the creator God. Thixo is pronounced as thee-sho.
43. Ungungi
Ungungi is a god of blacksmiths. Followers of the Zulu religion worship him. The name is pronounced as goo-joon-gi.
44. Waka
‘Waaq’ means ‘God’ in almost all East Cushite languages. The Cushitic-speaking people from Somali and Oromo believe Waka, also known as Waaq, Waqa, or Waaqa, to be their supreme God according to their traditional religion. It is pronounced as wah-ka.
45. Were
The Luo people from Kenya worship Were (wehr-ay) as a godfather. He is portrayed as a benevolent God taking an interest in poetry, literature, and prayers. As a patient God, he is accepted as a father figure in the tales.
46. Wulbari
Based in today’s Togolese Republic, the Krachi people believed Wulbari to be their supreme creator God as per their traditional religion. The name is pronounced as wool-bahri.
47. Wuni
In Ghana, the Dagomba tribes worship Wuni (wuh-nee), an animal God. In folk tales, Wuni is said to be in charge of the creation of life.
48. Xevioso
Born from Mawu and Lisa, as per the Dahomey Mythology, Xevioso is the God of thunder of the So Region. The Dahomey people celebrated him for the rain he brought for the crops. Xevioso is said to give divine justice and the name pronounced as jay-vi-oh-so.
49. Xu
Xu, pronounced as zoo, is the sky god of the Bushmen of South Africa. He is said to have created them and is a powerful healer who helps in times of turmoil.
50. Zanahary
The Malagasy people of Madagascar worship Zanahary. He is known to possess two sides to him, the earth and the sky side. The two sides are said to be at odds with each other create calamities such as earthquake, flood, and more. The name is pronounced as zha-na-haari.
African Goddess Names For Girls
51. Abena
Abena or Abena Budu is the Goddess of the rivers, worshipped by the Effutu people from central Ghana. She is said to be caring and protective towards her followers and treat them as her children. The deity is also associated with wealth symbols such as gold and brass. Abena is pronounced as ah-beh-nah.
52. Abuk
The mother to the God of rain and fertility, Abuk is the first and the only female deity in Dinka mythology in South Sudan. Also regarded as the Goddess of Gardens, she is symbolized by a snake, the moon and a sheep. It is pronounced as ah-book.
53. Aha Njoku
The Igbo people of Nigeria worship Aha Njoku for a better harvest. She is also known by the names Ahia Njoku and Ifejioku, and the name is pronounced as aha-joh-kooh. Igbos consider her as the protector and blesser of the yam plant, an important food source.
54. Ala
Ala (pronounced as ah-lah) is a deity of morality and creativity for the Odinani people of southern Nigeria. She is considered the mother and creator of all creatures.
55. Anyanwu
In the Igbo language of Nigeria, Anyanwu means ‘the eye of the sun.’ She is regarded as the solar deity and a giver of life. The name is pronounced as anya-an-wooh.
56. Asase Ya
The Bono people of Ghana consider Asase Ya to be the Earth goddess of fertility. She was the wife of the sky deity Nyame and is believed to be the mother of the trickster god Anansi. Asase Ya is pronounced as ah-sa-shay-yah.
57. Ayum
Ayum (ah-yoom) was believed to be one of the children of Nhialic, the creator of God in Dinka mythology from South Sudan. She was the goddess of the wind who prevented rain from falling to the Earth.
58. Bunzi
A rain goddess in Kongo mythology, Bunzi (pronounced as bun-jeh) appears as a multi-colored serpent who brings rain. She took over her mother’s reins when the latter was killed.
59. Funza
Funza is the goddess of water and worshipped by the west Central-African Kongo people. She was the wife of Mbumba. In some traditions, people believe that Funza gave the first Nkisi (object with sacred qualities) to the people of Earth. The name is pronounced as fuhn-jah.
60. Gbadu
The goddess of fate, Gbadu is the deity of the Fon people based in Benin, Nigeria, and Togo. In Dahomey mythology, she is believed to have 16 eyes, sits on top of a palm tree, and looks after three kingdoms – Earth, sky, and sea. Gbadu is pronounced as baa-doo.
61. Gleti
In Dahomey mythology Gleti is the moon Goddess and is described as the mother of the stars. The myth says when the shadow of Gleti’s husband falls on her face, an eclipse occurs. It is pronounced as gley-tee.
62. Inkosazana
The Zulus of South Africa believe that Inkosazana (een-koh-seh-jah-na) is responsible for the growth of maize crops, an essential dietary supplement. She is also revered as the goddess of fertility.
63. Hathor
Hathor (hay-the-er) is an ancient Egyptian goddess who is revered as the goddess of love. She is hailed as a mother figure to all women and is said to keep the skies clear. In symbols, she is often portrayed as a cow.
64. iNyanga
For the Zulu people of the Nguni group in South Africa, iNyanga is considered the moon goddess. Nyanga means moon and iNyanga is associated with the IziNyanga, the healer deity. The name is pronounced as ee-nyang-aa.
65. Isis
Isis (ee-sishs) is an important goddess in ancient Egyptian mythology. She is the wife of the fertility god Osiris. The Pharaohs regarded her as a divine mother and believed that she helped humans to enter the afterlife after their death.
66. Kahindo
Kahindo (pronounced as ka-heen-doh) is associated with good luck and fortune. According to the mythologies of the Congolese Nyanga tribe, she was the daughter of Muisa, the God of the underworld.
67. Kiruka
The rain goddess as per Nyanga mythology, Kiruka was an old woman who controlled the rain. She used to drag and carry the clouds behind her to wherever she went. Lightning god Nkuba was believed to be her son. Kiruuuka is pronounced as kih-ru-kah.
68. Kitaka
The Baganda people of Uganda considered Kitaka to be the Earth Goddess. They believed Kitaka caused earthquakes when she passed, and so she was also believed to be the goddess of earthquakes. Kitaka is pronounced as ki-tah-ka.
69. Maat
Maat (pronounced as muh-aht) is an Egyptian goddess of truth and justice. She is often depicted with wings on each arm or as a woman with an ostrich quill on her head.
70. Mami Wata
Mami Wata is a water spirit and has the form of a mermaid. She is famous as the African goddess of wealth and good fortune. The name is pronounced as mah-meh-waa-ta.
71. Mamlambo
The Zulus of South Africa worship Mamlambo as the ‘goddess of rivers.’ She is imagined as a gigantic snake akin to the shape of a flowing river. It is pronounced as maam-lahm-boh.
72. Marwe
Marwe (mahr-way) is a deity from Kenyan folktales. Marwe, though initially human, through her bravery and helping nature, impressed the gods who gave her prosperity and reverence in the afterlife.
73. Mawu
Worshipped in the Dahomey region of Western Africa, Mawu (mah-woo) is a creator goddess and considered to be the spouse of the male god Lisa.
74. Mbaba Mwana Waresa
Mbaba Mwana Waresa was the daughter of Umvelinqangi, the sky god. The Zulu people of Southern Africa worshipped her as the goddess of fertility as she had control over the rain, harvest, agriculture, and rainbows. The name is pronounced as mu-baba mu-wah-na wah-reysa.
75. Mboze
Mboze is the mother of Bunzi, the rain goddess as believed by the Woyos of Zaire. She is often referred to as the ‘great Mother’ and said to appear like a rainbow. Mboze is pronounced as ehm-bohj.
76. Mebeli
In Congo, Mebeli is believed to be the spouse of Phebeli. It is said that the couple gave birth to the first humans after being blessed by the supreme creator Massim Biambe.
77. Menhit
In Egyptian religion, Menhit was one of the war deities. She was described as fierce and unforgiving, and the name roughly translated to ‘the one who annihilates’. She was also referred to as Menkit or Menhet. It is pronounced as men-hit.
78. Mitandi
Mitandi (pronounced as mee-tahn-di) is a goddess who takes the form of a spider, as believed by the Nyangas, who are tribal people who live predominantly in the Kivu localities near Rwanda in Congo.
79. Modjaji
Modjaji is a rain goddess of South Africa. She is believed to have special powers to control the rain cycle and is a key figure among the Balobedu community of South Africa.
80. Moneiba
Moneiba is a protector goddess of women revered by people on Hierro island. She is described as a great warrior in African mythology and the name pronounced as moh-nei-bah.
81. Moombi
The Kikuyu people of Kenya worship Moombi. She is the partner of Gikuyu and mothered nine daughters who assimilated with the locals for furthering the family lines.
82. Musoka
In Nyanga mythology, Musoka is the sister of Mukity, the river god. In contrast to Mukity’s control over fast and strong flowing water, Musoka commanded over the shallow and calm waters. She assisted the villagers in crossing the rivers using her serpents. Her name is pronounced as muh-soh-ka.
83. Musso Koroni
Musso Koroni is a trickster goddess of mayhem among the Bambara of Mali and Senegal. She is considered the first woman to be created and gave rise to men’s race. Musso Koroni is pronounced as moo-soh-koh-roh-ni.
84. Mweri
The moon goddess of the Nyanga people, Mweri (mway-rhee) watches over the Earth during the night. She can control what one sees in a dream and can send divine messages and nightmares.
85. Nambi
Daughter of the sky god Ggulu, Nambi and her sister were the ones who discovered the first man, ‘Kintu’, as per the Gandan creation myth. She eventually becomes Kintu’s wife and the mother of his children.
86. Nana Buluku
Revered as the supreme deity of numerous religions across West Africa, Nana Buluku was the mother of the moon spirit Mawu and the sun spirit Lisa. It is said that she retired after giving birth to Mawu-Lisa, and left the prefabricated universe to them for completion. Nana Buluku is pronounced as nana bu-lu-kooh.
87. Nomhoyi
Nomhoyi (nohm-ho-yei) is a female deity of the Zulu traditional religion in Southern Africa. She is believed to be the goddess of rivers.
88. Nut
A goddess of the sky in Egyptian religion, Nut is often portrayed as a nude woman arched over the Earth or a cow. It is said that she swallowed the sun at night and brought it back again in the morning.
89. Nyingwan Mebege
Worshipped by the Fang people of the Central African Republic, Nyingwan Mebege is associated with feminine energy, fertility, and the moon. She is one of the three supernatural beings that emerged from the cosmic egg created by Mebege. The name is pronounced as naying-wahn may-bay-gay.
90. Oduduwa
Oduduwa is the earth goddess of the Yoruba tribe. She is the chief creator of the Earth and its inhabitants. Oduduwa is pronounced as oh-doo-doo-wah.
91. Ogboinba
This Ijo mythological character Ogboinba (ohg-bwan-bah) is the God of second chances. The Ijo people believe that she lives in the eyes of a pregnant woman. They seek her blessings for the protection of children and pregnant women.
92. Olapa
The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania worshipped Olapa as the goddess of the moon. She was married to the sun god Enkai. The name is pronounced as oh-lapa.
93. Oshun
Oshun is worshipped by the Yoruba and other western African tribes. She is a goddess of love and sensuality and associated with divination.
94. Oya
In the Yoruba communities of western Africa, Oya is revered as one of the most powerful warrior goddesses. She is considered a governess of rain, thunder, wind, lightning, and other natural phenomena.
95. Pamba
In Ovambo mythology, Pamba (pahm-bah) is revered as the creator and patron of life itself. Pamba inspires the people to follow a matrilineal way of life, with the women of the household making major decisions of the family.
96. Sekhmet
Sekhmet (pronounced as saykh-met) is a part of the pantheon of gods in the ancient Egyptian religion and is one of the war gods. She is associated with famines and disease as well as medicine and healing and is depicted as an ally of Sun god Re.
97. Velekete
A sea goddess in the folklore of the people of Badagry, Nigeria, Velekete has a shrine named after her called the Velekete Shrine. People from faraway towns visit to pay tribute. The name is pronounced as veh-leh-keet.
98. Woyengi
Known as the goddess of fate or destiny, Woyengi (pronounced as woh-yen-jee) is the one who created the Earth for the Ijo people of Nigeria. As per the legend, it is said that Earth was already filled with trees and animals when she first arrived. She created the first humans with clay and gave them a choice to choose their gender.
99. Yemaya
Yemaya(yeh-mah-yea) is depicted as a mermaid goddess in the Afro-Caribbean religion of Santeria. She is considered the mother of all living beings as it is believed that life started in the ocean.
100. Yemoja
A water spirit of the Yoruba tribe, Yemoja (pronounced as ye-moh-ha), is believed to be a benefactor of the rivers and streams of Nigeria and Cuba.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Some people may want to name their children after African gods and goddesses as a sign of reverence for them or to bestow their blessings on their children. In addition, giving your child a powerful mythological name can instill confidence and discipline in them when they grow up. Many people without an African origin may also find these names interesting and want to use them to name their children. If you’re one of them, this list of names with their meanings will help you choose the one that suits your preferences.
African baby names may be given to honor the ancient Gods and Goddesses. Get more information about 12 African gods and goddesses from this video.
