| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bwana | Master; boss; sir | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Canisa | Swahili: 'church'. Rare/alternate derivation from Latin 'canis' meaning 'dog' (uncommon as a name meaning). | Latin, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Chui | In Swahili, 'chui' means 'leopard'. It is also used as a romanization of the Chinese surname 崔 (Cuī). | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Elimu | Education; knowledge; learning | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| emani | Faith | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Hamisi | Born on Thursday; from Arabic 'Khamis' meaning 'fifth/Thursday' | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Hamisy | Thursday-born (born on Thursday) | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Hazina | Treasure; treasury; wealth; precious | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Iean Zaara | Iean: 'God is gracious'; Zaara: 'radiant, blooming; flower' | Gaelic, Persian, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Imaniah | Related to Iman/Imani - 'faith' or 'belief' | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Jabaris | Brave, mighty, courageous | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Jabary | Brave, valiant; powerful | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Jabo | Typically a diminutive of Jacob ('supplanter') or Jabari ('brave'); used as an informal masculine name | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Jambo | Literally 'matter' or 'affair'; commonly used as a greeting meaning 'Hello!' | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Jamii | Community; family; society | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Jannisah | A modern blended name often interpreted as 'God is gracious' or 'beloved/alive' depending on influence | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Jelanni | Mighty; majestic; powerful | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Jengo | Building; structure | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Jifunza | To learn; study | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Jiko | Varies by origin: in Japanese it can relate to 'self' or take different meanings depending on the kanji and is also used as a dharma/monastic name; in Swahili jiko means 'stove' or 'hearth'. | Japanese, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Jimo | Unclear. If derived from James, means 'supplanter'; otherwise no widely attested meaning | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Joharie | Jewel, precious stone | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Jumba | Mansion; large house; great house | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| kamarah | Derived from Arabic 'Qamar' meaning 'moon'; often interpreted as 'moon' or 'moonlight'. | Arabic, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kambi | Swahili: "camp, encampment"; Tamil: "wire, rod, pole" (meanings vary by language) | Swahili, Tamil | Unisex | — | |
| Kameri | Likely 'moon' (if derived from Arabic/Swahili qamar); alternatively a modern variant of Cameron (originally 'crooked nose'). | English, Scottish, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Kanira | No widely established meaning. Possible associations: 'small/atom' if linked to Sanskrit 'kanikā', or meanings inferred from similar-sounding names; may also be an invented name without a fixed meaning. | Hindi, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| khamari | Like the moon; moonlight | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Khamisi | Born on Thursday / Thursday | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Kibibi | Little lady; young or respected woman (diminutive of bibi, 'lady/grandmother') | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kijana | Young person; youth; young man | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Kimalinde | Approximate blended meaning: 'beautiful/gentle linden' or 'protected by the linden' - a modern name combining notions of beauty/protection | Spanish, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kimati | Likely related to the Kikuyu name Kimathi; often interpreted as 'conqueror', 'leader', or 'one who overcomes' (meanings vary and are not well documented) | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Kisia | Uncertain - origin-dependent. Could be a local/placename in East Africa, a diminutive related to Katherine ('pure') if linked to Kasia, or related to Kesia/Keziah (cassia/spice) in other traditions. | African American, English, Polish, Slavic, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kitu | Thing, object | Bantu, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kitwana | Unclear/rare name; possibly derived from Bantu roots, tentatively 'little one' or 'child' (uncertain) | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Kuwanyauma | One who rises again; returns from hardship; resurgence / renewal | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Kwelli | Truth | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Lewa | Varies by origin - commonly associated with 'white/pure' (Hebrew Levana); other meanings depend on regional language | Hebrew, Polish, Polynesian, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Mahbuba | Beloved | Arabic, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu | Girl | — | |
| Maisha | Life; living | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Maishah | Life; living (Swahili). In related Arabic forms, can connote a graceful, proud gait. | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Maishia | Variant of Maisha, meaning "life" (Swahili). | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Malaika | Angel / angels | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Mapenzi | Love; affection; beloved; romance | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Mariamu | Variant of Mary/Mariam; commonly interpreted as 'beloved' or 'sea of bitterness' | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Mashama | Uncertain; possibly linked to Maria/Miriam ('bitter' or 'beloved') or interpreted in some African/Swahili contexts as 'blessing' or 'good fortune'. | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Mashuki | Not well documented; meaning is unknown and may vary by origin if derived from Japanese elements or Swahili roots | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Maskini | Literally 'poor' or 'needy'; can also connote humility or modesty | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Matata | No worries | Swahili | Unisex | — |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Swahili-origin name in our dataset.
