African baby names

[LolaTheShowgirl]

A friend is due to give birth in a few weeks and still has not decided on a name. Both her and her DP are British born and of African origin (not sure which country from) and so have compiled a list of possible names and as i've told her the great advice mumsnetters offer, she's asked me to put the list to you for your opinions.

For boys:
Dakarai (Dak-are-eye)
Dumisai (Doom-is-eye)
Sundai (Sund-eye)

For girls:
Jendayi (Jend-eye-ee)
Kamali (Kam-ah-lee)
Shona (Show-nah)

Tsungai - is easy - Tss - un guuy

Oh I could give you a whole list of Zimbabwe boys names (mostly beginning with T - though you're not allowed to nick my DS's names )

Their surname is African beginning with N.

Ohh eck, don't think they know the complications with Shona. As they've both been brought up over here and only gone over to Africa once or twice each as children they're quite ignorant of possible names. My friend was in a right state because she just wants to please the grandparents-to-be with a native name but is completely lost. Both their names are ones you hear everyday over in the UK but will definately pass on the info with regards to Shona and she can discuss it with her mum.

yeah, I asked the teacher in the end before making a prat of myself!

it is a nice name

Oh, IceQueen just read your post! Must find out where their heritage is! I know he is bilingual but my friend only speaks English, unless she does speak another language but i've never heard her.

go on the Ice Queen - your audience awaits....

I'm sure that if any of their chosen names aren't culturally "right" the gradparents will quickly say so.

But while it's nice of them to want to please the grandparents, they need to please themselves first!

Lola, they're all lovely names and none would be out of place in my children's primary school in South London.

ok I'll start of with just few, mainlythe T's as that's what I know most of - and I have to get sorted downstairs as it looks like a bomb has hit it,

Tafara,
Tafadzwa
Takunda
Tongai
Tatenda
Tapiwa
Tamuka

Anesu
Farai
Simbarashe (shortened to Simba)

A few girls off the top of my head

Anashe
Nyashe
Rufaro

Welliemum, I think she is passed caring now, she is forever shattered and just wanting to sleep but secretly I know they both want their child to know their african heritage, be bilingual and to have pride. ) I'm so excited I could burst!

lots of girls have names such as

Primrose, Grace, Faith, etc etc (and my closest female in-laws are Millicent, Lynn, Yvonne and Florence! - so not very Zimbabwean sounding at all LOL)

Tafara and Simba are beautiful names. Must put them to her but i'm sure Simba will have the link forever with the Lion King which is a shame really! Damn that silly cub!

no - you can't have Tafara - that's my DS1's name -

I think that's lovely Lola, much nicer than calling the baby Jack/Emily (no offence to other Jacks and Emilys.... )

Oh nooooo. Ok, well you can't deny I have taste!

She'll have to have a Simba then! They will probably go with one of their favourites off the list for a boy really and for a girl....who knows?!?! When you have a baby and you see him/her for the 1st time do you automatically think "oh yes, you're a Simba"?

Just a little question...are all the characters from the Lion King real African names because I really love Rafiki!

There is a Zimbabwean girl in ds's class at school - she is Yvonne-Vera, her sister is Emilia and the mum is Ancilla, dad Edmund.

Most of the Zimbabwean namesI know are from cricketers, e.g. Mpumulele (Pommie or Pom for short, which I love) he used to play cricket for Zim, but now commentates and is a lovely guy, so that has good associations.

When we visited South Africa we found a lot of people had names like Beauty, Pleasance, Cheerful etc.

OP, I AM from Zimbabwe so i can tell you that some of the names are not nice.

Jendai is really bad because it almost has the same sound as well,,a man's balls so that one is a no no. Here goes..

Dakarai, not keen
Dumisai, which is Ndebele and shortened Dumi is ok
Sundai means push in a Shona dialect

Kamali, not good and Shona well, if they are not from Zimbabwe then it doesn't matter, i quite like it..

I have a lot of suggestions though if she is interested, for example my name

So Much hello there. Mpumelelo is actually South African..

This thread is years old.

The only one I remember from my time in Sierra Leone is Ayodele nn Ayo

hahaha, i need sleep. Didn't even check, thnks suspect..

Most Africans I know have an English name as well and, flit between the two.