Hausa names

22 names from the Hausa naming tradition, each with its meaning, origin, pronunciation and how it is seen around the world.

AbdullahiBoy"Servant of God", from the Arabic name Abd Allah.
AbubakarBoy"Father of the young camel", the Arabic honorific name Abu Bakr.
AdamuBoy"Man", or by another reading "red earth", from the Hebrew name Adam.
AishatuGirl"Living" or "alive", the Hausa spelling of the Arabic name Aisha.
AlheriGirl"Goodness" or "kindness", from the Hausa word alheri.
AliyuBoy"Exalted" or "high", the Hausa form of the Arabic name Ali.
AsabeGirl"Saturday", from the Hausa word for that day of the week.
HalimatuGirlMeaning "gentle, patient", the Hausa form of the Arabic name Halima.
HamisuBoyTraces to the Arabic word for "fifth", khamis, which also names Thursday; in Hausa it marks a boy born on that day.
HarunaBoyThe Hausa and Fula form of Harun, the Qur'an's name for the prophet Aaron, brother of Musa (Moses).
Hauwa'uGirlThe Hausa form of Hawwa, the Arabic name for Eve, the first woman in the Quranic and Biblical accounts.
JummaiGirlFrom Hausa Jumma'a, "Friday", itself from the Arabic word for the day of congregational prayer; given to a girl born on…
KyautaUnisexThe everyday Hausa word for "gift", given as a name to a child seen as a long-awaited blessing.
LadiGirlFrom Hausa Lahadi, "Sunday" (itself from Arabic al-ahad, "the first day"); given to a girl born on that day.
LawalBoyFrom Arabic awwal, "first".
MammanBoyA clipped Hausa form of Muhammadu, ultimately from Arabic Muhammad, "the praised one".
MuhammaduBoyThe Hausa and Fula spelling of Muhammad, from an Arabic root meaning "the praised one".
NuhuBoyThe Hausa and Swahili form of Noah, from Hebrew Noach, traditionally read as "rest" or "comfort".
RabiuBoyFrom Arabic rabi', "fourth", itself from arba'a, "four".
RakiyaGirlThe Hausa form of Ruqayya, an Arabic name most likely from a root meaning "to rise".
SafiyaGirlThe Hausa form of Safiyya, an Arabic name meaning "pure" or "close friend".
SalisuBoyFrom Arabic thalith, "third".