Amharic and Ethiopian names
Amharic names from Ethiopia are often small poems, words like Selam (peace), Bemnet (my rock), or Yordanos carry direct blessings straight into a child's identity. Ethiopian tradition also skips family surnames, pairing a child's given name with their father's first name instead. Meaning comes first, lineage second.
Abebe he grew, he flourished (Olympic legend Abebe Bikila)
Abenezer stone of help (the Ebenezer Samuel raised, 'thus far the LORD has helped us')
Alemu his world
Almaz diamond
Amanuel Ethiopian form of Emmanuel
Bekele a beloved classic given name
Bemnet my right hand
Bereket blessing
Bethlehem city of Christ's birth (Betelhem)
Biniam Ethiopian form of Benjamin
Biruk blessed
Blen the pupil of the eye; the apple of the eye
Dagim again, a second time
Dawit Ethiopian form of David
Desta joy
Eden paradise (shared with the English Eden)
Elias my God is Yahweh (form of Elijah); a beloved staple among Ethiopian Christian families
Ephrem Ethiopian form of Ephraim, 'fruitful'; Saint Ephrem wrote the church's great hymns
Etenesh you are the one, matchless
Eyasu Ethiopian form of Joshua; two emperors of Ethiopia bore it
Eyob Ethiopian form of Job
Fasil refers to Emperor Fasilides, builder of the Gondar castles
Feven my joy
Fikru his thought, his idea
Frehiwot fruit of life
Genet paradise, garden of Eden
Girma dignity, esteem
Haben pride, dignity
Haile power, might (Haile Selassie, Haile Gebrselassie)
Hana grace, mercy (shared with Hannah)
Helen classic name tied to Ethiopian Orthodox legend of the True Cross
Henok Ethiopian form of Enoch, 'dedicated'; Ethiopia kept the Book of Enoch
Heran good, excellent (the traditional gloss)
Hirut freedom; also used as an equivalent of Ruth in Ethiopian Jewish communities
Kaleab after Kaleb, the sainted king of Aksum; often read as Ge'ez 'voice of the father'
Kalkidan promise
Kebede a beloved classic given name
Kidus holy
Lidya Ethiopian spelling of Lydia, the New Testament seller of purple
Liya mine, belongs to me (also linked to Leah)
Mahlet psalm, song
Makda from Makeda, the Ethiopian name of the Queen of Sheba (possibly 'greatness')
Mekdes sanctuary, temple
Meklit talent, gift
Mekonnen historic royal name (Ras Mekonnen, Haile Selassie's father)
Menelik legendary founding emperor, son of Solomon and Sheba
Meron our light, our gift
Meseret foundation
Meskerem September; the Ethiopian New Year month
Mikael Ethiopian form of Michael
Mulugeta he who rules or owns it all; from mulu, 'full, complete', and geta, 'lord'
Nahom comforted
Naomi biblical name, common across Ethiopia
Nardos spikenard, the fragrant plant of the anointing oil
Nathnael Ethiopian form of Nathanael
Natnael Ethiopian form of Nathanael, 'God has given'
Rahel ewe (form of Rachel, close to the original Hebrew); the standard form used in Ethiopia and several European languages
Rediet help, divine aid
Robel Ethiopian form of Reuben, 'behold, a son'
Ruth biblical name, common in Ethiopian Orthodox tradition
Saba refers to the Queen of Sheba; also means 'morning'
Samrawit she is unity, she who unites (the common gloss)
Samuel biblical name, widely used
Sara princess (biblical, widely used)
Saron the rose of Sharon (Ethiopian spelling of the biblical Sharon, 'the fertile plain')
Selam peace
Semhal listen, pay attention
Senait good, a good omen (Tigrinya senay, 'good')
Solomon Ethiopia's royal lineage claims descent from King Solomon
Sosina flower
Tesfaye my hope
Tigist patience
Tsion Ethiopian form of Zion
Wolde son of (common classic prefix, also used standalone)
Yared Saint Yared, founder of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical music
Yohannes Ethiopian form of John
Yonas Ethiopian form of Jonah, 'dove'
Yordanos Ethiopian form of Jordan, the river
Yosef Hebrew form of Joseph, 'he will add'
Zerihun his help, his aid
Which of these fits YOUR family? →