Zambian names and meanings

This is in no way a complete list of Zambian names and does not include all the tribes of Zambia.

Names beginning with A

• Alinani means "He (God) is with me" in Namwanga/Mambwe
• Alinaswe means "He (God) is with us" in Namwanga/Mambwe

Names beginning with B

• Banji means "we are many" in Tonga
• Beenzu means "visitors" in Tonga
• Bupe means "gift" in Chibemba
• Busiku means "night" in Tonga & ChiTumbuka

Names beginning with C

• Chabota means "It is beautiful" in Tonga/Tonga
• Cheelo means "ghost" in Tonga
• Chikondi means "love" in Chewa
• Chipego means "gift" in Tonga
• Chiyeso means "an attempt" in Chewa
• Chola means "one born after a twin" in Chibemba
• Choolwe means "luck" in Tonga

Names beginning with D

• Dalisani means "bless us" in Chewa
• Daliso means "blessing" in Chewa

Names beginning with G

• Ganizani means "[you must] think" in Chewa

Names beginning with H

• Hachikoko means "harvest" in Tonga

Names beginning with K

• Kabwe means "the little stone" in Chibemba
• Kaweme means "the beautiful one" in Chibemba
• Kondwani means "be happy" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Kumbukani means "you must remember" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa

Names beginning with L

• Lelato means "love" in Lozi
• Limpo means "gift" in Lozi
• Lukundo means "love" in Namwanga/Mambwe
• Luwi means "[God's] mercy, kindness" in Lunda
• Luyando means "love" in Tonga

Names beginning with M

• Mainza means "one born in the rainy season" in Tonga
• Malindi means "holes" in Tonga
• Maluba means "flowers" in Chibemba
• Mapalo means "blessings" in Chibemba
• Mapenzi means "trouble or problems" in Tonga
• Masauso means "trouble or problems" in Chewa
• Masuzyo means "troubles or problems" in ChiTumbuka
• Mayaba means "a prematurely born baby" in Tonga
• Mbuyi means "older twin" and Kapa "younger twin" in Lunda
• Milimo means "work" in Tonga & ChiTumbuka
• Misozi means "tears" in Chewa
• Mpimpa means "the 'folding' twin" in Tonga
• Mubanga means "strong" in Chibemba and is the name of the uMubanga tree
• Mujinga means "curled up" or "twisted" in Lunda for a child born with its umbilical cord around the neck.
• Mulonga means "river" in Tonga & ChiTumbuka
• Musunga means "soft or porridge" in Chibemba
• Mutende means "peace" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Mutinta means "different" in Tonga
• Mwiza means "you have arrived" in ChiTumbuka & Mambwe

Names beginning with N

• Natasha means "I am thankful" in Chibemba
• Nchimunya means "the same as the one before" in Tonga
• Njavwa means "Help[ed] me" in Namwanga/Mambwe
• Nsansa means " happiness" in Chibemba
• Nsonyi means "[remove] shame" in Lunda for a child born to a woman who remained childless for a long time.
• Ntembwa means "first twin" in ChiTumbuka
• Nyuma means "second twin" in ChiTumbuka

Names beginning with T

• Tafika means "we have arrived" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Takondwa means "we are delighted" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Tamara means "some loved ones are no longer with us" in ChiTumbuka
• Taona means "we have seen" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Taonga means "we are thankful" in ChiTumbuka & Chewa
• Temwani means "be joyful" in ChiTumbuka

• Thandiwe means "beloved" or "the loved one" in ChiTumbuka & Ngoni

• Thokozani means "be thankful" in Chewa
• Thukudza means "we are coming" in Chewa
• Tikambenji means "what can we say" in Chewa
• Tilabilenji means "what can we say" in Nsenga

Names beginning with W

• Wankumbu means "He (God) is merciful" in Namwanga/Mambwe
• Watonta means "She is tired" in Namwanga/Mambwe to indicate that the mother might not want any more children.
• Wedi for a first-born means "emerge" in Lunda. The second-born is called Chilondawedi meaning "the one who follows the first" and the last born child is named Kabinda meaning "to enclose doorway with posts".
• Wongani means "be thankful" in Chewa