SOME ZAMBIAN NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS

Zambia has 72 languages and in each language they all have their different names and meanings, some people choose to name their children due to various reasons, others might just like the sound of the name or the meaning. In most African countries they tend to name according to the situation the child was born into and you end up with a name that has a bad meaning, for instance if the child was born in a time of sorrow or when the family was going through a financial situation.

Some studies have shown that in most cases your character tends to lean towards the meaning of your name, for example if your name means strong or courageous you tend to also posses those exact qualities this is not a proven fact but their have been some instances where your name carries much more weight than just being your name, it is a form of declaration on how you might turn out.

LIST OF ZAMBIAN NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS

Musonda Taster

Mapalo Blessing

Kangwanga Healing Tree

Mumba Inside the house

Chuma wealth

Chilufya One who is lost

Bukata Gods glory

Nchimunya The same

Mutinta Change

Michelo Roots or herbs.

Cheelo nothing, meaningless

Lweendo Journey

Mainza rain season.

Muchala to remain behind

Milimo work

Ailoola Dark one

Bufuku Night, darkness

Kasuba The sun

Makala Charcoal

Malwa Misfortune

Matoka White’ purity 

Mulopa Blood

Munyama Blue or black cloth

Musanya The sun,

Mwiloola Dark one

Namangolwa born in the evening

Kuunga To gather

Liboma The smasher

Likando Manyando – sufferings

Likonge is a kind of water grass

Lisulo royal hunting party

Lubinda stubborn

Lutangu A tale

Liywali Bad Day

Mwitumwa War monger

Masiye orphan

Mubiana one who misses someone or something

Mundia one who deserts me

Munjita one who calls me

Mukatimui bad woman

Maamba,Yamba Samba mean to talk or to speak

Mutafela one who is finished)

Muyenga is to render fat or bees wax

Musowe throw away)

Monde born in the 1st quarter of the moon or disaster/ mysterious

Mwangala Joy

Naluca The wee one

Nalukui Ilukui fierce one

Akufuna They are troubling themselves

Alisinda The reliable one

Imbuwa Reliable one or keeper

Inyama Meat Lover

Imaanga, liwanyika/lewanika – Builder or reconciler

Imataa bad-tempered

Ilinanga Born during drought

Inambao lion

Imuunga Administrator

Kufekisa To resemble

Katongo is a wanderer

Kufamuyeka One who dies for what has been given

Katota Is a person who knocks on something or hammers

Kapatiso bolt fasten