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About SA Names

SA Names is an independent guide to South African baby names and their meanings, across all of the country’s languages.

How we source meanings

Names are compiled from cultural sources, language references and community knowledge. South African names are living things — a single name can carry different shades of meaning from one family, region or generation to the next, and spellings vary. We present meanings as indicative, not the single definitive answer, and we welcome corrections.

Why names matter

In many South African cultures a name is far more than a label. It can honour an ancestor, record the circumstances of a birth, or speak a family’s hopes and gratitude aloud. We hope this helps you find a name that carries the right story for your child.