| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayesha | Various possible meanings: 'life' (from Swahili maisha), 'graceful/proud walk' (from Arabic Maysa), or a compound of Sanskrit elements suggesting 'desire/wish'. | Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Mayisha | Life; living; alive | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Meleka | Generally associated with 'queen' (from Malika) or 'angel' (from malak/melek); exact meaning depends on root | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Milele | Forever; eternal; everlasting | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Moshi | In Swahili: 'smoke'. In Japanese, 'moshi' (もし) is a common word meaning 'if' and appears in the greeting 'moshi-moshi'; it is not a traditional Japanese given name. | Japanese, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Msamaki | From Swahili 'samaki' meaning 'fish'; can be interpreted as 'fish' or 'fisherman'. | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Mwaka | "year" - often used to mark the year of birth or association with the new year | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Mwinyi | Owner; possessor; lord/master | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Niaby | Likely a modern coinage; possibly related to Swahili 'Nia' (purpose) or a variant of Niabi | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Ntatu(Na-Ta-Tu) | 'third' or 'third-born' (associated with the third child) | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Nyoka | Snake; serpent | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Omena | Finnish: 'apple'. Luo/Swahili: a small/dried fish (often the silver cyprinid, called dagaa). | Finnish, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Paka | Cat (from the Swahili word paka) | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Paza | Varies by origin; possible meanings include 'peace' (from Spanish Paz) or 'to raise/expand' (from Swahili). Also used as a short form or pet name. | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Quvenzhané | Sprite, fairy | American, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Rafiki | Friend; companion | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Rajabu | Derived from the Arabic month Rajab - the seventh month of the Islamic calendar; often given to boys born in that month; connotes reverence/respect. | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Ramdhanie | Either 'born during Ramadan' (Swahili/Arabic origin) or 'wealth/possessor of Ram' (Indo-Hindu origin). | Hindi, Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Rehemah | Mercy, compassion | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Roho | Soul; spirit; heart | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Sajili | From Arabic root S-J-L: 'to register' / 'record' (Swahili verb meaning 'register' or 'registration') | Arabic, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Sakia | No single established meaning; sometimes treated as a variant of Arabic 'Sakina' meaning 'tranquility, calm', or as a distinct name in some African contexts | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Sasa | Diminutive of Alexander/Alexandra meaning 'defender of mankind'; also 'bamboo grass' in Japanese; 'now' in Swahili. | Japanese, Slavic, Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Sayari | Planet (celestial body) | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Sefu | Sword | Swahili | Boy | — | |
| Shamba | Farm; field; garden | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Shanga | Bead; ornament; small jewel | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Shawani | Uncertain - possible meanings include 'of the Shawnee (people)', or a variant of Shivani meaning 'beloved of Shiva'; exact meaning depends on origin | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Siku | Swahili: "day". Greenlandic/Inuit: "ice" (often referring to sea ice). | Swahili | Unisex | — | |
| Subirah | Patient; patience, endurance | Arabic, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Tanginika | Joining place | Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Uhuru | Freedom, independence | Arabic, Swahili | Boy | — |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Swahili-origin name in our dataset.
