Eritrean Names and their Meaning

Eritreans have a different system of naming from most Western countries. Among Christian Eritreans, children are given two names: a secular name at birth and a Christian name during the child's baptism. Unlike most parts of the world, Eritreans do not have family surnames; they use their father's first name as their last names. Moreover, surnames are almost never used to formally address someone. Many Eritrean surnames are also compounds of two separate names. For example, the name Gebre by itself means "servant of". This name would usually be linked with Selassie ("Trinity") to become Gebreselassie or "Servant of the Trinity". This fusion of two names is more common among last names.

Continue reading the main story

Eritrean Names and Their Meanings

Name	Meaning	Gender	Origin__________
Abrihet	She brings light	Female	Tigrinya
Aaron	Exalted	Male	Hebrew
Adiam	Fair; Pretty	Female	Hebrew
Abel	A breath of Air	Male	Hebrew
Almaz	Diamonds	Female	Tigrinya
Abraham	Father of Multitude	Male	Hebrew
Amleset	She made it return	Female	Tigrinya
Adonay	Secret name of God	Male	Hebrew
Ariam	Loyal	F & M	Ge'ez
Afwerki	Mouth of Gold	Male	Tigrinya
Armana	Our Flag	Female	Tigrinya
Aklilu	Laurel wreath	Male	Tigrinya
Aranchi	Orange (Fruit)	Female	Tigrinya
Aman	Handsome	Male	Tigrinya
Armani	Faith	Female	Tigrinya
Anbessa	Lion	Male	Tigrinya
Arsema	Clever	Female	Tigrinya
Amanuel	God Is with us	Male	Hebrew
Aster	Star	Female	Tigrinya
Asmara	United/Unity	Male	Tigrinya
Asmeret	United/Unity	Female	Tigrinya
Awate	Victory	Male	Tigre
Awet	Victory	F & M	Tigrinya
Aziz	The All Powerful	Male	Arabic
Ayana	God Answers Her	Female	Hebrew
Batha	Pleasurable	Male	Tigrinya
Berry	A Berry	Female	English
Biniam	Lucky Son	Male	Hebrew
Bilen	Beautiful	Female	Tigrinya/Bilen
Birhan	Light	Male	Tigrinya
Birikti	Kind	Female	Tigrinya
Birhane	My Light	Male	Tigrinya
Bisrat	Good News	F & M	Tigrinya
Dahlak	Eritrean Island	Male	Ge'ez
Daniat	Judge	Female	Tigrinya
Dan	God Is My Judge	Male	Hebrew
Dehab	Giver	Female	Tigrinya
Daniel	God Is My Judge	Male	Hebrew
Deborah	Bee	Female	Tigrinya
Dawit/David	Beloved	Male	Hebrew
Dellina	Our Desire	Female	Tigrinya
Demsas	To Erase	Male	Tigrinya
Eden	Paradise	Female	Hebrew
Eferm	Fruitful	Male	Hebrew
Elsa	My God is a Vow	Female	Hebrew
Ermias	God will uplift	Male	Hebrew
Elen	Shining Light	Female	Hebrew
Estifanos	Crown	Male	Greek
Eritrea	Red; Red Sea	F & M	Greek
Eyob	Patience	Male	Tigrinya
Ergaalem	Delightful	Female	Tigrinya
Faytinga	Fighting Gun	Male	Kunama
Fatimah	Baby's Nurse	Female	Arabic
Fessehaye	Eternal Happiness	Male	Tigrinya
Feven	Bright; Radiant	Female	Tigrinya
Fikru	His Love	Male	Tigrinya
Fiyori	Flower	Female	Tigrinya
Filmon	Favored by God	Male	Hebrew
Fnan	Pride	Female	Tigrinya
Fitsum	Absolute	Male	Tigrinya
Freweini	Seed of a Berry	Female	Tigrinya
Freselam	Seed of Peace	Male	Tigrinya
Gabriel	God is my Strength	Female	Hebrew
Gebre	Servant of	Male	Tigrinya
Genet	Heaven	Female	Tigrinya
Girma	Majesty	Male	Tigrinya
Haben	Pride	Female	Tigrinya
Goitom	Leader	Male	Tigrinya
Hadinet	Unity	Female	Tigrinya
Habtom	Wealthy	Male	Tigrinya
Halewat	Candy	Female	Tigrinya
Hagos	Joy	Male	Tigrinya
Hanna	Grace	Female	Hebrew
Haile	Power	Male	Tigrinya
Helen	Shinning Light	Female	Hebrew
Hamid	Praise	Male	Arabic
Himbirti	Belly Button	Female	Tigrinya
Hanes	God is Gracious	Male	Hebrew
Hermon	Into the Palace	Female	Hebrew
Hayat	Lion	Male	Tigre
Hewan	Life Giver	Female	Tigrinya
Henok	Dedicated	Male	Hebrew
Hiyab	Gift	Female	Tigrinya
Habte	Wealth	Male	Tigrinya
Jamila	Beautiful	Female	Arabic
Johnathon	God's Gift	Male	Hebrew
Jannah	Paradise	Female	Arabic
Idris	Fiery Leader	Male	Arabic
Jasmine	A Flower	Female	Arabic
Isaias	Lord's Salvation	Male	Hebrew
Kedijah	Early Baby	Female	Arabic
Issac	He will laugh	Male	Hebrew
Kidisti	Blessed	Female	Tigrinya
Kidane	My Vow/Covenant	Male	Tigrinya
Keren	Mountain;Hill	F & M	Tigrinya/Bilen
Kifle	To Pay	Male	Tigrinya
Lemlem	Lush Greenery	Female	Tigrinya
Libena	Our Heart	M & F	Tigrinya
Liah	Delicate; Weary	Female	Hebrew
Luwam	Calm; Peaceful	M & F	Tigrinya
Lula	Abundance	Female	English
Massawa	Shout Loudly	Male	Ge'ez/Tigre
Makda	High Tower	Female	Tigrinya
Mebrahtu	His Light	Male	Tigrinya/Tigre
Mariam	Beloved	Female	Hebrew
Medhane	My Medicine	Male	Tigrinya
Medhanit	My Medicine	Female	Tigrinya
Mewael	Long Life	Male	Tigrinya
Merhawit	Guidance	Female	Tigrinya
Merhawi	Gudiance	Male	Tigrinya
Milka	Her Good looks	Female	Tigrinya
Mesfin	Duke	Male	Tigrinya
Meron	Gift of God	F & M	Tigrinya
Michael	Resembling God	Male	Hebrew
Mehret	Mercy	Female	Tigrinya
Nebay	Caretaker of Elders	Male	Tigrinya
Nigisti	Queen	Female	Tigrinya
Nahom	Comfort	Male	Tigrinya
Niyat	-	Female	Tigrinya
Negasi/Negus	King	Male	Tigrinya
Rahel	Sheep	Female	Hebrew
Osman	Tender Youth	Male	Arabic
Rita	Pearl	Female	Hebrew
Petros	Rock	Male	Hebrew
Roma	Rome, Italy	Female	Italian
Rezene	With Heavy Pride	Male	Tigrinya
Ruta	Friend	Female	Hebrew
Robel	Prince	Male	Tigrinya
Rahwa	Satisfied	Female	Tigrinya
Russom	Over Their Heads	Male	Tigrinya
Saba	To Satisfy	Female	Hebrew
Saare	Winner	Male	Tigrinya
Sarah	Princess	Female	Hebrew
Sammy	God Heard	Male	Hebrew
Selam	Peace	F & M	Arabic
Samson	Sun	Male	Hebrew
Semhar	Eritrean Region	F & M	Tigrinya/Tigre
Samuel	Asked of God	Male	Hebrew
Semret	Unity	Female	Tigrinya
Senai	Gift from Above	Male	Tigrinya
Segen	Ostrich	Female	Tigrinya
Sebhat	Praise the Lord	Male	Tigrinya
Senait	Good Luck	Female	Hebrew
Semere	Fulfill	Male	Tigrinya
Semira	Highest Heaven	Female	Arabic
Selassie	Trinity	Male	Tigrinya
Sesuna	Popcorn	Female	Tigrinya
Sheshy	Jubilation	Male	Tigrinya
Shewit	New Harvest	F & M	Tigrinya
Simon	Listener	Male	Hebrew
Shikorina	Sweety	Female	Tigrinya
Solomon	Peace	Male	Hebrew
Sophia	God Will Show	Female	Hebrew
Tadesse	To Renew	Male	Tigrinya
Tsion	Zion	Female	Hebrew
Tekle	To Plant	Male	Tigrinya
Tigisti	Patience	Female	Tigrinya
Teodros	Expensive Gift	Male	Hebrew
Tsibekti	Beautiful	Female	Tigrinya
Tesfay	My Hope	Male	Tigrinya
Wegatha	Dawn	Female	Tigrinya
Tesfalem	Hope of Wise Man	Male	Tigrinya
Winta	Need	Female	Tigrinya
Woldu	His Son	Male	Tigrinya
Yirgalem	A Calm World	F & M	Tigrinya
Yemane	Right Side	Male	Tigrinya
Yodit	Praise	Female	Hebrew
Yohannes	God Is Gracious	Male	Hebrew
Yohanna	God is Gracious	Female	Hebrew
Yoel	God Is Willing	Male	Tigrinya
Yordanos	River Jordan	Female	Hebrew
Yonas	Dove	Male	Tigrinya
Zahra	White Flower	Female	Arabic
Zecahrias	God will Remember	Male	Hebrew
Zewdi	Crown	Female	Tigrinya
Zula	Brilliant	Male	Tigrinya/Tigre
Source: Madote.com

Sponsored Ads