Xhosa Girl Names
Female Xhosa names come from isiXhosa, a Nguni Bantu language of South Africa. A distinctive feminine feature is the No-/Noma- prefix (e.g., Nomonde, Nomaqhawe), historically marking feminine forms in personal names. Another common structure is verb-based names with the passive suffix -iwe, yielding meanings such as awaited, chosen, or saved (Lindiwe, Khethiwe, Hlengiwe). Many girls’ names express virtues, circumstances, or aspirations, including education, love, patience, and hope.
In modern use, girls often receive both an isiXhosa given name and an English name. Well-known examples include Lindiwe, Hlengiwe, Khethiwe, Mbali, Gugu, Nomfundo, Nomonde, Nomusa, Nontokozo, and Nothando.
Showing 50
of 75 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buyisiwe | Given; gifted; blessed (one who has been given) | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Duduzilethando | Comforted by love | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Dumisile | The one who is praised; praised/praiseworthy | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Gcina | Keep, preserve | Nguni, Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Gugu | Short form of Gugulethu, meaning "our pride" or "our treasure" | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Hlengiwe | Redeemed; saved ("the one who has been redeemed") | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Khethiwe | The chosen one; chosen | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Khetiwe | Chosen; the chosen one | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Lindiwe | The awaited one; long-awaited child | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| manndisa | Sweet; one who brings sweetness or comfort | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Mbali | Flower; blossom | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Mbaliyethemba | Flower of hope ('Mbali' = flower, 'ithemba' = hope) | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nobantu | Mother of the people (one who belongs to or cares for the people) | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nokwazi | She who knows; 'mother of knowledge' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nolwandle | She of the sea / belonging to the sea (literally: 'mother/one with the sea') | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomakhosi | Mother of chiefs/kings; 'queen mother' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomalanga | Mother of songs; one who sings | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomaqhawe | Mother of heroes / she who has heroes | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomathalente | Mother of talents; woman of many talents; gifted one | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomathamsanqa | Mother of luck; fortunate; brings good fortune | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomathemba | Mother of hope; one who brings or embodies hope | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomawethu | Our mother; 'mother of us' or 'mother of the people' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nombandla | Mother of the church / mother of the congregation | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nombusiso | Mother of blessings / brings blessings | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nombuso | Mother of the nation / mother of the kingdom | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomfundo | Lady/mother of knowledge; the learned or educated one | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomonde | 'Mother of patience' - she who is patient | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomqhele | 'She who is crowned' / 'mother of the crown' (the crowned one) | Xhosa | Girl | — | |
| Nomsandile | She who has been given abundance | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomsanelisiwe | She has been satisfied; she is fulfilled | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomthandazo | Mother of prayer; 'she who prays' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomthandile | She who is loved; 'mother of love' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomthunzi | From thunzi 'shade, shadow' - 'she of the shade' or 'mother of shade' (connotes protection/quiet presence). | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomusa | Possessor of mercy; merciful/kind (often interpreted as 'mother of mercy') | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nomzamo | She who strives; literally 'mother of effort' (from mzamo = effort/endeavor) | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nontokozo | Mother of joy / she who brings happiness | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nontuthuko | Mother or one who brings development/progress | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nothando | Literally 'mother of love'; generally understood as 'beloved' or 'one with love' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nothemba | She who has hope (literally, 'mother of hope') | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nothembile | Trustworthy; she who can be trusted; faithful | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nothembiso | Derived from 'thembiso' meaning 'promise' - roughly 'she who is a promise' or 'one of promise'. | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Noxolo | Mother of peace; one who brings peace | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nozipho | Mother of gifts; one who brings gifts | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nozizwe | Mother of the nations / belonging to the people | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Nqobile | Victorious; one who has conquered | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Ntombikayitshi | From 'ntombi' (girl) + 'ka' (of); likely 'daughter of Yitshi' or 'Yitshi's girl.' | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Ntombizikhona | The girls are here | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Ntombizovuyo | Girl who brings joy / joyful girl | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Ntombizwe | Girl/daughter of the nation (from 'ntombi' = girl and 'izwe' = nation/country) | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — | |
| Ntombomhle | Beautiful girl | Xhosa, Zulu | Girl | — |