Swahili Name Meanings

Tibbeh · **Posted:** Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:30 am

I was bored so I decided to look up the Swahili name meanings of the characters from not only the actual movies, but the series of books The Lion King: Six New Adventures.

Afua (A Snake in the Grass) - 'to save, pardon, cure'
Ahadi (A Tale of Two Brothers) - 'promise, agreement'
Bahati (Follow the Leader) - 'luck'
Beba (A Snake in the Grass) - 'to carry, transport'
Boma - 'fortress'
Cheka (How True, Zazu?) - 'to joke'
Chewa (Vulture Shock) - 'he who has a very large mouth'
Choyo (Vulture Shock) - 'greed'
Chumvi (Nala's Dare) - 'salt'
Dailia (Follow the Leader) - 'gentle'
Haraka (Follow the Leader) - 'haste, hurry, bustle'
Jambo (Nala's Dare) - 'hello'
Jelani (Follow the Leader) - 'mighty'
Joka (A Snake in the Grass) - 'big snake'
Karibu (Follow the Leader) - 'welcome'
Khalfani (Follow the Leader) - 'destined to rule'
Kiboko (Vulture Shock) - 'hippopotamus'
Kopa - 'heart'
Kula (Nala's Dare) - 'eat'
Kwaheri (Nala's Dare) - 'good-bye'
Leo (Vulture Shock) - 'today'
Lulu (Follow the Leader) - 'pearl, precious'
Mayai (Follow the Leader) - 'eggs'
Mbili (Vulture Shock) - 'two'
Mega (Vulture Shock) - 'worn down'
Moja (Vulture Shock) - 'one'
Mosi (Follow the Leader) - 'first born'
Muwa (Follow the Leader) - 'sugar cane'
Nassor (Follow the Leader) - 'victorious'
Ngawa (Vulture Shock) - 'civet cat'
Ni (Nala's Dare) - 'I am'
Nzee (Follow the Leader) - 'old'
Nzuri (Follow the Leader) - 'good, beautiful'
Pamba (Follow the Leader) - 'cotton'
Pembe (Follow the Leader) - 'ivory'
Pimbi - 'hyrax'
Pudini (Follow the Leader) - 'caramel pudding'
Pumbaa - 'to be stunned, at a loss for words'
Rafiki - 'friend'
Sarabi - 'mirage'
Shenzi - 'savage, rude'
Simba - 'lion'
Sukari (Follow the Leader) - 'sugar'
Taka (A Tale of Two Brothers) 'dirt' or 'trash'
Tatu (Vulture Shock) - 'three'
Wali (Vulture Shock) - 'cooked rice'
Zuzu - 'inexperienced'

Gold Wolf · **Posted:** Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:36 am

A really good find all of those are correct. :lol:

Tibbeh · **Posted:** Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:40 am

haha. Thanks. ^^ I'd have to say my favorite name (and meaning) is Sukari / "Sugar". lol

Brown Wolf · **Posted:** Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:23 pm

I think the name and meaning, Dailia/gentle is my favorite

Gold Wolf · **Posted:** Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:41 am

My favorite Swahili meanings are,sarabi=mirage,and simba=lion.

sunkissin · **Posted:** Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:30 pm

Wow, awesome finds Tibby!!!

My faves are

Cheka - "joke"
Chewa - "he who has a very large mouth" :lol:

Dailia - "gentle"
Sukari - "sugar"

Also, 'Nala' is Swahili for Gift ^.^

Gold Wolf · **Posted:** Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:44 pm

Zira is Swahili for (to)hate.

(deleted user) · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:08 pm

I liked

Pudini - 'caramel pudding'

Wali - 'cooked rice' :lol:

Gold Wolf · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:48 am

Kimba is a Swahili word meaning,corpse.or dungheap. :shock:

Cogitor · **Posted:** Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:41 pm

http://www.yale.edu/swahili/

An on-line Swahili dictionary!
Not exactly names as such, but does explain a lot of names.

Tikaani Strike · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:55 pm

That's awesome! I speak Swahili and I think this is a great way to learn things on these names!

But my favorite is one that's not on here,

"hodari" meaning "courageous" or somethin along the lines of that.

Jaylacine_Chiboa · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:48 am

great finds! i gave my character a Swahili name Chiboa which means dog.XD

Moo's Magic · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:01 pm

lol if i want a name for my chars i usually use an african name.... but for that i go on " babynames.com"

Animation Source Forums

Swahili Name Meanings