A
Amahle: The beautiful ones. Boy/girl
Andile: They have extended, the family is growing. Boy/girl
Anele: The last born. Boy/girl
Ayanda: They augment (the family). Boy/girl
Ayize: Let it happen/come. Boy/girl
B
Bandile: They have extended in number. Boy
Bheka: Behold. Boy
Bhekani: You all look. Boy
Bhekisisa: Be very careful, cautious. Boy
Bhekithemba: Look after hope, look for hope. Boy
Bhekizizwe: Look after the nations. Boy
Bhekokwakhe: The one who minds his own. Boy
Bongani: Be thankful. Boy
BongiNkosi: Be grateful to God. Boy
Busisiwe: (Baby) is blessed. Girl
Buyisiwe: Returned. Boy
D
Dingane: One who is searching. Boy
Dingani: What do you need. Boy
Duduzile: Consoled. Girl
Dumisani: Praise God. Boy
Dumisile: They have praised. Boy/girl
G
Gabisile: Has made (people) envious, but they won’t get it. Girl
Gugulethu: Our treasure, precious. Also Gugu. Girl
H
Hlengiwe: Redeemed. Girl
J
Jabulani: Be happy, rejoice, also Jabu. Boy
Jabulile: She is happy. GirlJabulisile: She has brought joy. Girl
K
Khanyisile: Has brought light. Girl
Khanyisile: Bringer of light, brought light. Girl
Khethiwe: Chosen, the one who is chosen. Girl
Kholwa: Believe. Boy/girl
Kwanele: It is enough. Boy
L
Langalibalele: When there was sunshine. Boy
Langelihle: Good/lovely day. Boy
Lindelani: Wait. Boy
Lindiwe: Waited for. Girl
Lindokuhle: Wait for the best. Boy
Londisizwe: Protect/take care of the nation. Boy
Londiwe: Protected/kept safe. Girl
Lunga: Be good/kin. Boy
Lungani: You all be good/kind. Boy
Lungile: Kind/good.
Luyanda: It (love) is growing. BoyLwandile: It (love) has intensified. BoyLwazi: Knowledge. Boy
M
Malibongwe: Let it (His name) be praised. Boy
Mandla: Strength/power. Boy
Mandlakhe: His efforts. Boy
MandleNkosi: Power of God. Boy
Manelesi: Satisfier. Boy
Mbalenhle: Beautiful flower, also Mbali, flower. GirlMelamina: Carry my name. Boy/Girl
Melokuhle: Oone who represents good things. Boy/Girl
Mcebisi: The one who brings wealth, gives wise advice. Boy
Minenhle: Good, lovely, beautiful day. Boy
Mlungisi: The one who brings order, fixer, restorer. Boy
Mnqobi/Manqoba: The one who conquers in hopeless situations. Boy
Mondli: Feeder. Boy
Mpendulo: An answer. Boy
Mpilenhle: Prosperous life. Boy/girl
Mpumelelo: Success. Boy
Msizi: Helper. Boy/girl
Mthandeni: Love him/her. Boy/girl
Mthokozisi: The one who gives joy, certifies. Boy
Musa: Kindness, mercy. Boy
MusaweNkosi: Grace of God. Boy
Muzikayise: He who builds his father’s home. Boy
Mzamo: Attempts, efforts. Boy
N
Nandi: Sweet. Girl
Nathi: Short for Nkosinathi. Boy
Ndondoloza: Prudence. Girl
Ndumiso: Praise. Boy
Nelisiwe: Satisfied. Girl
Nhlakanipho: Wisdom. Boy
Nhlanhla: Luck. Boy
Njabulo: Happiness, joy. Boy
Nkazimulo: Glory. Girl
Nkosinathi: God is with us. Boy
Nkosingiphile: The Lord gave me. Girl
Nkosiphendule: God has answered. Boy
Nobantu: Mother of people. Girl
Nobesuthu: Girl
Nobuhle: Mother of beauty, goodness. Girl
Nokulunga: Mother of goodness, kindness. Girl
Nolwandle: Mother of oceans. Girl
Nolwazi: The one with knowledge. Boy/girl
Nomagugu: Mother of treasures. Girl
Nomalanga: Mother of sun, sunshine. Girl
Nomandla: Mother of strength. Girl
Nomasonto: Mother of Sundays, churches. Girl
Nomathalente: Mother of talents. Girl
Nomathemba: Mother of hope, trust. Girl
Nomcebo: Mother of wealth. Girl
Nomthandazo: Mother of prayer. Girl
Nomusa: Mother of kindness, grace, mercy. Also Nomsa. Girl
Nomvula: Mother of rain, after the rain. Girl
Nomzamo: Mother of attempts, efforts, struggle. Girl
Nondondoloza: Girl
Nonhlanhla: Mother of luck. Girl
Nonjabulo: Mother of joy. Girl
Nonkululeko: Freedom. Girl
Nothando: Mother of love. Girl
Nothembi: Girl
Noxolo: Mother of peace. Girl
Nozibusiso: Mother of blessings. Girl
Nozipho: Bearer of gifts. Girl
Nozizwe: Mother of nations. Girl
Nqobile: Has come up victorious in what was a hopeless, dreadful, precarious situation. Girl
Nqobizitha: Conquer the enemies. Boy
Ntokozo: Joy/happiness. Girl
Ntombi: Girl, woman. Girl
Ntombifuthi: Another girl. Girl
Ntombizanele: Enough girls. Girl
Ntombizodwa: Only girls, also Zodwa. Girl
Ntombizonke: All girls. Girl
Ntuthuko: Development. Boy
O
Olwethu: It’s (love is) ours. Girl
Owethu: He/she is ours. Boy/girl
P
Phila: They/you are in good health, well. Boy
Philangezwi: They/you live by the word of God. Boy
Philani: They/you be well. Boy
Philisiwe: They/you healed. Girl
Phumlani: Rest. Boy
Q
Qophelo: Of stature, of high standard. Boy/Girl
S
S’bu: Short for Sibusiso. Boy
S’thembiso: Promise. Boy
Sakhile: We have built. BoySamukelisiwe: We have received a gift. Girl
Sandile: We have extended, increased in number. Boy
Sanele: We are satisfied, have enough. Boy
Sibonelo: Example. Boy
Sibongakonke: We’re grateful for everything. Boy
Sibongile: We are grateful. Girl
Sibongiseni: (You) be thankful with us. Boy
Siboniso: Being a leader. Boy
Sibusisiwe: We’re blessed. Girl
Sibusiso: Blessing. Boy
Sifiso: Wish, what we had wished for, also S’fiso. Boy
Sihawukele: Have mercy on us. Boy
Sihle: Mercy, compassion. Boy/girl
Silondile: Has kept, protected us. Girl
Simangaliso: Miracle. Boy
Simangele: Surprise. Girl
Simosihle: Beautiful feeling, also Sihle. Girl
Simphiwe: We have her/him as a gift. Boy/girl
SimphiweyiNkosi: He’s our gift from God. Boy
Sindisiwe: Saved. Girl
Sinegugu: We have precious treasures. Girl
Sinenhlanhla: We have luck. Girl
Sinethemba: We have hope. Girl
Siphamandla: Give us strength. Boy
Siphelele: We are complete. Boy
Siphephelo: Refuge, place of peace. Girl
Siphesihle: Beautiful gift, also Sihle. Boy/girl
Siphokazi: Gift, also Sipho. Girl
Siphosethu: Our gift. Boy
Sithembiso: Promise. Boy
Siyabonga: We are grateful. Boy
Siyanda: We are increasing. Boy
Sizani: You all help. Girl
Sizwe: Nation. Boy
Slindile: We’re waiting. Girl
Sphiwe: We have gotten, received a gift. Boy
T
Thabani: You all be joyful. Boy
Thabisa: Bring joy. Girl
Thabisile: Has brought joy. Girl
Thabo: Happiness. Boy
Thalente: Talent, gift from God. Boy/girl
Thamsanqa: We have luck. Boy
Thandanani: You all love one another. Boy
Thandazile: Has/have prayed. Girl
Thandeka: Lovely, beloved. Girl
Thandiwe: Beloved. Girl
Thando: Love. Boy
Themba: Trust, hope, faith. Boy
Thembeka: Be reliable, trustworthy. Girl
Thembekile: Trustworthy, reliable. Girl
Thembile: Hopeful, trusting. Girl
Thembisile: Have, has promised. Girl
Thenjiwe: The trusted one. Girl
Tholakele: Found. Girl
Thulani: Be still, quiet, hush (a consolation). Boy
Thulisile: She who made things quiet. Girl
Thuthuka: Become a better person. Boy
Thuthukile: Has become a better person. Girl
U
Uminathi: (see Unathi)
Unathi: She/he is with us. Also Uminathi. Boy/girl
V
Vusumuzi: Rekindle the family, builder of the home. Boy
W
Wandile: You are extra. Boy
X
Xolani: You all have peace/take it easy. Boy
Xolisile: (We are) sorry. Girl
Z
Zakhele: Create (something) for yourself. Boy
Zama: Try. Girl
Zamokuhle: Try the good. Girl
Zandile: They have multiplied. Girl
Zanele: They (girls or children) are enough. Girl
Zenzele: Do it yourself. Boy
Zenzile: You’re responsible for what you’ve become. Girl
Zibuyile: The dowry cows have come back. Girl
Zinhle: (The girls) are good, beautiful. Girl
Ziphozonke: All the gifts. Boy/girl
Zithembe: Trust yourself. Boy
Zodwa: Short for Ntombizodwa. Girl
Zonke: All. Boy/girl
Zonkizizwe: All nations. Boy/girl
Zwelakhe: His country, land. Boy
Zwelethu: Our land, country. Boy
Zwelibanzi: Huge, wide country, land. Boy
🏆 Popular people from Zulu last name
-
Sandile Zungu (Finance/Sports)
Businessman, founder of Zungu Investments, and owner of AmaZulu FC.
-
Alexander Grey Zulu (Politics/Law)
Prominent Zambian politician and cabinet minister.
-
Onthatile Zulu (Sports)
Rising star in South African field hockey and national team player.
Popular people from Zulu last name
- Misizwe Mtshali (Technology/FinTech) – South African tech professional who worked at Microsoft and MTN Business. Now based in Singapore as an entrepreneur in the FinTech space. [Source: SA Chamber of Commerce Singapore]
- Princess Kasune Zulu (Legal/Social Justice) – Zambian HIV/AIDS activist and author included in “Notable African American & Black Heritage” biographical profiles. [Source: Gale eBooks]
- Ntandoyesizwe Zulu-Tembe (Royalty) – Daughter of the late amaZulu King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini. Married to businessman Moses Tembe. [Source: Sunday World]
Popular people from Zulu last name
Misizwe Mtshali (Technology/FinTech)
South African tech professional who worked at Microsoft and MTN Business. Now based in Singapore as an entrepreneur in the FinTech space. Represents South African tech expertise on international stage.
Princess Kasune Zulu (Legal/Social Justice)
Zambian HIV/AIDS activist and author included in “Notable African American & Black Heritage” biographical profiles. Advocate for social justice and public health awareness.
Ntandoyesizwe Zulu-Tembe (Royalty)
Daughter of the late amaZulu King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini. Married to businessman Moses Tembe. Represents continuity of Zulu royal heritage.
Royalty from Zulu last name
Zulu I kaMalandela (c. 1627-1709)
Founder of the Zulu clan, son of Malandela. When Malandela died, he divided the kingdom into two clans, the Qwabe and the Zulu. Zulu I established the royal lineage that would eventually unite numerous clans into the powerful Zulu nation.
King Shaka kaSenzangakhona (c. 1787-1828)
Founder of the Zulu Kingdom and one of the most influential monarchs in African history. Through military innovation and strategic conquests, he transformed a small chiefdom into a powerful empire that dominated much of present-day KwaZulu-Natal. His policies and military reforms created the foundations of Zulu identity and power.
King Mpande kaSenzangakhona (1798-1872)
Half-brother of Shaka who reigned from 1840 to 1872. He had at least 28 children by different wives, many of whom have living descendants. His reign saw the Zulu kingdom maintain its independence while navigating complex relationships with Boer settlers and British colonial forces.
King Cetshwayo kaMpande (1834-1884)
Son of Mpande who led the Zulu nation during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. His forces achieved a famous victory at the Battle of Isandlwana but were ultimately defeated. He was later restored as king before his death in 1884.
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (1948-2021)
Longest-reigning Zulu monarch, ruling for nearly 50 years from 1971 to 2021. He had six wives and 28 children. He revived cultural practices including the annual Reed Dance ceremony to promote pride in Zulu traditions and HIV awareness. He was a direct descendant of King Cetshwayo, who led the Zulu nation during the 1879 war against the British army.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini (b. 1974)
Current reigning monarch of the Zulu nation, installed in 2021 following the death of his father. His mother was Queen Mantfombi Dlamini, daughter of King Sobhuza II of Eswatini. As the son of the “Great Wife” whose lobola was paid by the nation, he is the rightful heir according to Zulu tradition. His reign has faced legal challenges from other branches of the royal family but continues with the support of millions of Zulu people.
