25 baby names inspired by african royalty

25 baby names inspired by african royalty


Discover some strong, history-filled names for babies, like Amina, Nandi and Makeda




Beyond the beauty of spelling, African names carry with them history, struggle, and strength. Watch:

  • The mine: name of the queen of Zazau, who is currently in Nigeria. Amina was a warrior who protected her people by building a wall, known as “Amina’s Wall”.
  • Tiye: she was one of the queens of Kemet, in Ancient Egypt, between 1398 and 1338. The queen was also known by the names Taia, Tiy and Tiyi.
  • Makeda: means “great” and was the name of the queen of Sheba, of the ancient kingdom of Arabia Felix. The name Makeda is of Ethiopian origin and is mentioned in religious books under the name or title “Queen of Sheba”.
  • Nefertiti: Married to Tiye’s son, Pharaoh Akhenaten, Nefertiti was queen of Kemet from 1370. The meaning of the name Nefertiti is “the fairest has come.”
  • Nefertari: means “the most beautiful, the most perfect”. Nefertari was an Egyptian queen of Kemet, now Egypt. She was married to Pharaoh Ramesses II and conducted peace negotiations with neighboring kingdoms.
  • Ramesses II: was an Egyptian pharaoh who became known for his great achievements during his reign between 1279 and 1213 BC Ramesses was called “The Great”.
  • Storytelling: Pharaoh of Egypt in the 3000s BC Narmer was responsible for unifying the kingdoms of Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt during his rule.
  • Akosua: The current princess of Wenchi in Ghana, Akosua is 56 years old and an actress and writer. You have already participated in some cinematographic works. .
  • Mansa: Mansa Musa was the richest African king of his time. The king commanded the Mali Empire in the 14th century.
  • Kahina: in Arabic it means “prophet” or “seer”. Kahina or Dyhia was a military and religious leader who commanded a state in the northeast of present-day Algeria. Over the years the leader’s name has been linked to freedom, as Kahina fought against Islamic expansion.





10 baby names inspired by African queens
10 baby names inspired by African queens

  • Note: queen of the kingdom of Waalo, located today in northwestern Senegal. Ndatté Yalla fought against French colonization during her reign.
  • Adelina: She was part of the Haitian royal family as empress consort from 1849 to 1859.
  • Menelik: Descendant of the Queen of Sheba, Menelik was king of Abyssinia from 1844 to 1913.
  • Mentewab: iEmpress of Ethiopia in 1700. Mentewab was also known as Welete Givorgis, meaning “daughter of Saint George”.
  • Yennega: Born in Ghana, Yennega was princess of the kingdom of Dagomba and is considered “Queen of the Nation” by the people of Burkina Faso, an African country.
  • Sundiata: Sundiata Keita founded the pre-colonial African empire called Mali.
  • Nzinga: the Angolan woman known as Ginga or Nzinga was queen of the Dongo Kingdom and then the Matamba Kingdom until her death in 1663. Nzinga was also recognized as Ana de Sousa by Portugal.
  • Cleopatra: The most famous Egyptian queen was born in Alexandria, Egypt. The commander ruled the Ptolemaic kingdom. The name Cleopatra has Greek origins and means “as great as her father”.





African baby names
African baby names

  • Agonizing: queen mother of the kingdom of Dahomey, Agonimé was enslaved and taken to Brazil. According to historical sources, the African queen was one of those responsible for the introduction of religions of African origin into Brazilian lands.
  • Idea: queen of the people of Benin, in present-day Nigeria. Idia was a warrior who fought her kingdom against her together with her son Hesigies.
  • Yes: queen mother of Fijsu, of the Ashanti empire in pre-colonial Africa. Yaa Asantewaa led rebellions against British colonialism.
  • Kigel: The last king of the East African country of Rwanda, Kigeli V took office in 1959 and reigned until 1961.
  • Shaka: also known as Tchaka or Chaka, was an African military strategist and later considered king of the Zulus, an ethnic group in South Africa.
  • Nandi: Nandi ka Bhebhe was the queen of the Zulu kingdom. During her reign she suffered from problems with the father of her son. After her death, the Zulu queen Nandi ka Bhebhe was recognized for her motherhood and her path.
  • Ranavalone: Queen of Madagascar, Ranavalona fought against the European invasion of the country from 1820 to 1861.

Source: Terra

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