Kikuyu Names for boys and their meaning
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Updated 16th July 2011
The Kikuyu people of Kenya have a very specific way of naming children. The first born son is always given the same name as his paternal Grand father. The old man is usually very eager to be named and may start insinuating that 'he wants to be born' if the couple lingers too long. The child may however have a different baptism name. The second son is always given the names of the Maternal grandfather. If the Mother of the child came from a single parent home, this may present a problem and she may name him after her own grandfather.
In the same vein, the first Daughter is given the name of her paternal Grandmother and the second Daughter After her Maternal Grandmother. Subsequent boys are named after their paternal and maternal uncles alternately. The next girls are named after their paternal and maternal aunties alternately. In case the couple has more children than can be named after relatives that had lived, a little investigation is done among the relatives to know whose turn it is even if he had lived several generations ago and somehow lost his lineage. No one really dies permanently among the Kikuyu since he or she is likely to be reincarnated in his grandchildren or brother's children.
What happens when a couple has more children that there are living immediate relatives? in such a case, some research is done to determine who would have been next in line if he had lived. If it happens that a person was never named after a grand child, the line can still be traced to a great or even great great grandchild.
it should be noted that some names like 'gathua' - the limping one, may have started as nick-names. A nick-name was passed on into the mainstream with the approval of the old man who owned it.
Below is a list of some Boy's names.
1. Chege
2. Chomba - The arabs who traded with the Kikuyu around present day Kikuyu town on the caravan route from the coast were called 'chomba' by the Kikuyu. Today the term is used in reference to Europeans
3. Ciugũ – relating to cow-pens ( where the cows sleep)
4. G ĩchere – a shard, piece of something like a gourd or pot
5. Gachagua
6. Gachanja
7. Gachara
8. Gachii
9. Gachũhĩ – a small finger ring, or ear-ring
10. Gakure
11. Gathaiya
12. Gathanja
13. Gathenya
14. Gathigira
15. Gathogo
16. Gathongo
17. Gathu
18. Gathua - the one who limps (diminutive)
19. Gathuuri - the old man(diminutive)
20. Gatimũ - a spear (diminutive)
21. Gĩcheha
22. Gĩchikũ
23. Gĩchohi – The big beer - was probably first given to a person who made a lot of beer or drunk a lot of it
24. Gĩchuhĩ - A finger ring, eg. wedding ring.
25. Gĩchũki - a big bee
26. Gĩchũrũ - A big ‘porridge’
27. Gĩkonyo - A big belly button
28. Gĩtahi - The big one who gets a liquid (water, beer etc.) –In Kikuyu to get a liquid from a container cannot translate to emptying. It is more like taking or getting.
29. Gĩtari
30. Gĩtaũ - There was a Gĩtaũ riika initiated in 1847
31. Gĩthaiga - The big medicine or herb
32. Githendũ
33. Gĩthĩnji - The slaughterer ( of goats or cows)
34. Gĩthire
35. Gĩtonga - the rich one
36. Gĩtukũ – the big darkness (big night)
37. Gĩtũma - the big arrow root (tuber)
38. Gĩtũra
39. Goko - the small hand
40. Hinga - the hypocrate . The name was also given to a person who could speak more than one language.
41. Ireri
42. Irũngũ
43. Kabirũ
44. Kabutha
45. Kago
46. Kagoci
47. Kagwa
48. Kahara – Abold head is called a 'Kĩhara.' It may have started as nickname. 'the prefix 'Ka' is diminutive. The grandchild was then called by this namesake’s nickname with approval from the old man.
49. Kahiĩ
50. Kahũthia –
51. Kairu – the small black one
52. Kamande - There was a Kamande riika (initiation age set) in 1902
53. Kamangĩ
54. Kamau - there was a Kamau riika initiated in 1845
55. Kamotho
56. Kamotho - 'Kimotho' means left hand. A child may have been jokingly called 'kamotho' by his agemates and the name stack. When he became a grandfather, he authorised the name to be used formerly. Ofcourse not all 'Kamothos' are left handed as the name entered the mainstream ages ago.
57. Kaniũ
58. Kanja
59. Karanja - I was informed that this name was first given to an age set that had been afflicted by a strange disease. The sufferers spent inordinately long periods out in the sun, warming themselves - Kwara - to lay out, nja - outside. The Karanja riika was initiated in 1852. Cagnolo records that there was a famine 'of the small bones' at the time.
60. Karĩmi - Kurima is to dig (or to farm). Karĩmi is the small farmer.
61. Kariũki When child died soon after birth, the family may decide to give the next child an alternative name like Kariuki, or Muchoki - the reincarnated one. Kariuki is among the commonest Kikuyu names.
62. Karũgũ
63. Karungu
64. Kenyatta - the first president of the Republic of Kenya was known as Njomo Kenyatta. Both were nick-names. His real names were Johnstone Kamau wa Muigai
65. Kĩbachia
66. Kĩbakĩ – the big tobacco leaf (The third president of the Republic of Kenya is Mwai Kĩbakĩ)
67. Kibe
68. Kĩbunja
69. Kĩhara - baldness
70. Kĩhĩa
71. Kĩhiũ
72. Kĩhoro
73. Kĩhuna
74. Kĩmani - Cagnolo has given the name to mean 'eating beans'. There were two riikas initiated in 1849 and 1850
75. Kimaru
76. Kĩmotho - The left handed one
77. Kĩmunya - the one who uproots plants
78. Kĩng’ori -
79. Kĩnuthia
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80. Kinũthia - a Kinuthia riika was initiated in 1851.
81. Kĩnyanjui
82. Kĩnyua - the one who drinks
83. Kĩoi - The one who lifts
84. Kĩongo - The head
85. Kĩragũ
86. Kĩrĩka
87. Kĩrĩma - the mountain
88. Kogĩ - the small sharp one (sharp brain)
89. Koinange - There was a Koinange riika in 1879
90. kũngũ
91. Kuria
92. Macharia -The one who looks for; searches (in a big way)
93. Mahĩhu
94. Maina - Maina was a 'ruling generation' name among the Kikuyu and an age set name (riika) among many Bantu communities in Kenya. This name is common to almost all the communities in Kenya, including the Kalenjin and Luo who are Nilotic. Mwangi and irungu are also ruling generation names. Dr. Muriuki (A history of the Kikuyu- 1500 to 1900) gives the meaning of “Maina”, a generation set, as being derived from “kuina”, to sing or dance. “Mwangi”, another generation set is derived from “kwanga”, which he states is “rapid expansion”.
95. Maitho - eyes
96. Mathenge – thenge (he goat)
97. Matu - clouds
98. Mbĩra
99. Mbũgua
100. Mbũrũ
101. Mĩchuki
102. Mũchene
103. Mũchoki - the one who returns (initially a child who replaced a departed one but it is often a name handed down from a grandfather to a grandchild like other Kikuyu names.
104. Mũciri - The one who participates in a judicial hearing
105. Mũgane
106. Mũgo - the diviner priest. The Kikuyu have a saying - gũtirĩ kĩrĩra gĩtarĩ mũndũ mũgo wakĩo- Every religion has its priest. A Catholic priest was just another 'mugo' according to the ancient Kikuyu.
107. Mũhĩa -
108. Mũhoho
109. Mũhoro
110. Mũhũri
111. Mũirũrĩ
112. Mũite
113. Mũkundi
114. Mũnene
115. Mũngai
116. Mũngania
117. Mũragũri
118. Mũrakaru
119. Mũraya – the tall one
120. Mũrĩgĩ
121. Murigo – the burden (laggage)
122. Mũrĩithi – the herdsman
123. Mũrĩmi – the farmer
124. Mũrira – the one who protects
125. Mũrĩranja – the one who protects the courtyard
126. Mũrĩu – the drunkard
127. Muriũki – the one who ressurected
128. Mũrũngarũ – the upright one
129. Mũtegi – the trapper (of animals)
130. Mũthĩnji – the slaughter (of animals)
131. Mũthũi – the honey tapper
132. Mũthũngũ – the white man
133. Mũtiga – the one who abandons
134. Mũtugi – the generous one
135. Mũtũng’ũ
136. Mũya
137. Mwagĩru – the good one
138. Mwai
139. Mwangi - This is another generation set is derived from “kwanga”, which Dr. Muriuki states is “rapid expansion”.
140. Mwanĩki
141. Mwathi – the hunter gatherer
142. Ndegwa – the bull
143. Nderitũ
144. Ndiangui
145. Ndirangũ - prohibiting war. A Ndirangũ riika was initiated in 1862
146. Ndũn'gũ
147. Ng'ang'a - Two Ng'ang'a riikas were initiated in 1856 and 1857
148. Ngarĩ – the leopard
149. Ngechũ
150. Ngengi
151. Ngichũ
152. Ngigĩ – locust (there were several Ngigĩ riikas in the past to commemorate locust invasions).
153. Ngina
154. Nginyo
155. Ngũgĩ - There was a Ngũgĩ riika in 1876
156. Ngũnjiri
157. Ngure
158. Njagĩ
159. Njaramba
160. Njaũ – Calf (baby of a cow)
161. Njenga - Broken bits of maize. Maize was foreign to the Kikuyu before the coming of the Portuguese at the coast. When the Kikuyu first saw maize, it looked quite like the hailstones that came with heavy rain - mbura ya bebe. And so they called Maize, bebe. When they crashed maize in a pestle and mortar, the result was sand like grains - Njenga. The word has the same roots as the Swahili 'chenga chenga' for many grains or bits of something.
162. Njerũ – White one
163. Njogu – the elephant
164. Njoka
165. Njomo – the first president of the Republic of Kenya was known as Njomo Kenyatta. Both were nick-names. His real names were Johnstone Kamau wa Muigai
166. Njonjo
167. Njoroge - a Njoroge riika was initiated in 1858
168. Njuguna - a Njuguna riika was initiated in 1853, soon after the Karanja famine.
169. Njũki - the bee
170. Nyamu - animal
171. Nyoike
172. Nyoro
173. Thairu
174. Theuri
175. Thuku
176. Thuũ
177. Wachira,
178. Wachiuri
179. Wachiuru
180. Wahome
181. Waigwa
182. Wainaina - Courageous. A Wainaina riika was initiated in 1861
183. Waita – of war
184. Waititũ
185. Wakaritũ
186. Wamahiũ
187. Wambũgũ
188. Wamiti - of the trees (herbs)
189. Wamũgũnda – of the farmland
190. Wanderi
191. Wang’ombe
192. Wang’ondu – of the sheep
193. Wanyoike
194. Warari
195. Warũĩ – of the river
196. Warũirũ
197. Watene – of long ago
198. Wawerũ
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I had said that because the Kikuyu saw the owl as a harbinger of death, no one would have wanted to be associated with it, therefore, Ndundu as a person's name could not have been associated with the owl. Since then, an old Kikuyu saying came to mind - ita ritari ndundu rihuragwo na njuguma imwe - a warrior group that is not united is beaten with one club (knobkerie). Ndundu is therefore a united group or platoon and also connotes 'unity'
Google Kikuyu people and select the Wikipedia link. It might hold a clue as to the name Ndundu which isn't an owl as you said but has to do with the old Kikuyu judicial system.
Thanks Kamau,
Mbiyu will be promptly added in this 'work in progress.'
You don't have the name Mbiyu like Jomo Kenyatta's brother-in-law Mbiyu Koinange
Grace Wanjiku, you are most welcome. We will continue updating.
Did not know that Kibunja was a kikuyu name,am greatful for the kikuyu names knowledge provided by all of you.
Hi Kamau,
It is likely there was a Kamba ancestor. You could ask the oldest relative to confirm. Intermarriages are common in Muranga along the common border on the Kenol, Makuyu, sagana road. Saying Siro instead of Shiro may be just modernity since letter 'S' has entered Kikuyu through English and Swahili usage. Ndundu is an owl, but since it was feared to cause death, I doubt anyone would carry its name.
Thanks for the help. The name Muchembi is in my family, does that mean that we could have Kamba ancestors somewhere? I'm from Muranga where we say susu instead of the more common 'shosho'. Also, a lot of words are pronounced with the distinctive Kamba 's' instead of sh like in the example above. I have a cousin named Wanjiru but we pronounce it siru instead of the more common shiru. I know Ndundu is an owl
Hello Thuo, I have still not found the meaning of Thuo, but I will keep the search.
Kamau, you cannot use the 'special characters' in this comment capsules, they will appear as question marks.
Githii, was the cloak that was worn by men. Rich men and chiefs would wear cloaks made from colobus monkey or other special animal. Gathee, an old small man; Muthee - and old man; Muchembi- from the Kamba Musembi; Kabata - a Kikuyu dance; Getei - ? Karabu - ? Kiambiroiro - the name of a mountain; Kamiti - of trees; Ndundu -? Huhu- a bat; Muhunyu -? Ruiru - a ruver by that name; Ruhiu - a big knife; Wakhungu- ? Wahiga - perhaps associated with a stone; Ng'arua -? Kahiga - small stone; Waikhenye-? Wakiihuri - of the calabash; Nderu - beard; Gachiengo-? Igeria - one who tries; Rie (i think Rie might be short of something but i can't figure out what)- ?, Gicicio - mirror; Gashamba - strong male; Makara - charcoal; Ikinya - step (footstep). I have put question marks where I have no idea.
It's a pity I can't write the names in proper Gikuyu alphabet
My brother is called Githii, I wonder if you know what that means. I've also heard Gathee, Muthee. There is Muchembi, Kabata, Getei, Karabu, Kiambiroiro, Kamiti, Ndundu, Huhu, Muhunyu, Ruiru, Ruhiu, Wakhungu, Wahiga, Ng'arua, Kahiga, Waikhenye, Wakiihuri, Nderu, Gachiengo, Igeria, Rie (i think Rie might be short of something but i can't figure out what), Gicicio, Gashamba, Makara, Ikinya.
Hi, I am trying to find the meaning of the name Thuo. I am half German-Half Kikuyu and I would be quite pleased if anyone assisted me to know the meaning and origin of my name
The average Kikuyu will tell you the 'shyness' interpretation because the word 'thoni' is use everyday to mean shy. A week will not pass before someone says "I felt thoni, Why are feeling thoni before your own cousin etc. The word also means shame. A child will be told 'nd nduri na thoni! literaly 'you have no shame.' It is not surprising then that Muthoni is associated more with Shyness than with 'in-law'
About 'gakuo'. This comment box will not allow me to use Kikuyu characters so where the u should have a sign above it I will bracket it.
Gakuo - (o like in always):a small piece of cloth
Gaku(u) - o like in own) with a strees on the middle 'u':small hippo from the word 'ngu(u)
Gaku(u)- with a quick transition from the middle 'u' to the last one: small dead one.
I have given you the three above because Kikuyu is tonal and the meaning could lie anywhere.
Now about unfortunate names - People seem to love whatever name they were given regardless of its meaning. The Kikuyu have a proverb: ritwa ni ria gukuria mwana (a name is for the child to grow): Don't attach too much to a name.
Ponder about these names:
Murage - the killed one
Wamuku(u) - belonging to the dead one
Muite - the strangled one
Muriu - the drunkard
Ngondu - Sheep (the Kikuyu believed that sheep were among the most stupid animals, and I suspect people with this name suffered excessive bullying)
So, a name is for the child to grow.
Thanks for the explanation on Muthoni! That's so interesting! I wonder if that tradition/origin is common knowledge among the average Kikuyu since even a child could tell me it had to do with shyness.
Thanks for your quick reply! I wasn't expecting that so fast but its great.
Another suggestion: Gakuo (I believe this means small dead thing--an unfortunate name)
Hello Malaika, thanks for the compliments. That will give me some fuel for a few more years.
As you say, this is a work in progress. For some names, there aren't any Kikuyu people alive who know the meaning so I am still researching. For example, my Clan name is 'Anjiru a Mbari ya Thuku - Anjiru of the House of Thuku. Thuku is common boys name. But I have not found an elderly person yet who knows the meaning.
I have checked the site with meanings of Kikuyu names. For the self explanatory names to a Kikuyu speaker it is Okay. For those that have hidden meanings, the site gives the literal one. For example, Jomo is given as 'burning spear.' That cannot be true. I read a book (I forget which) that associated the word with 'guchomora' to unsheath a sword. That to me is more credible. It was also the name of a beaded belt that kenyatta wore.
Your are right about Mungai (mu-Ngai) - of God. Another variant is Muigai - of the Devider, because God devided the land among his people so he was also the Great Devider.
I am impressed by your knowldge of Gikuyu. You are right about all the names you have mentioned. About the following names, I wish to get back to you later so that I am factual - (Chege, Gichege, Mwaniki, Ndung'u, and Wangeci).
Muthoni means 'in-law'. Athoni is the plural. Uthoni is the 'state of being an Inlaw' or the place where the in-laws stay. The Kikuyu have a proverb that says - Uthoni ndurangarangagwo. This means that one does not fool around with in-laws; one does not spend too much time with in-laws; in-laws should be given maximum respect. In other words, you should be shy when you are among your in-laws. If my mother-in-law is called Njeri, my second daughter should be called Njeri according to tradition. Now if I happen to live very near My mother-in-law, I will find it very difficult to shout 'NJERI' when I am calling my daughter. Should my Mother-in-law answer thinking that I was calling her only to find out that I was calling a child, that would be very mannerless on my part. In such a case, I would have named my daughter 'Muthoni', because of that poroximity with my Mother-in-law. In short, the name Muthoni is about shyness, but it really means in-law.
I will add the name Kairu to the hub. I always welcome suggestions. Keep the comments coming.
I just saw your other page about Kikuyu names for girls. I overlooked the fact that this page is just for boy names! Disregard my comments/questions about girl names (Mukami, Wangeci, etc.); I will repost them on the appropriate page :)
First of all, I SO appreciate the work that you are doing here! I have been very encouraged by reading your blog. It is a rare and inspiring sight to see a mugikuyu value and esteem his language and culture in such a rigorous, academic way like you do. Your passion is contagious! I am a muthungu from America but I have many very close friends in Kenya (Kinangop, specifically) and am trying to learn the language. I already speak Swahili but aquiring Gikuyu is proving to be a bit more difficult, mostly because of the scarcity of resources!
I know that this hub is probably a work in progress, but do you think that you will be able to find meanings for many of the other names? I came across this site that has some meanings: http://www.namesite.com/names/ethnicity/Kikuyu What is your impression? Do you find it to be credible?
Also, would you agree with me that Mungai means "of God" or something along those lines? I know mu- is a nominal prefix and "Ngai" means God. God-person?
Some others appear self-explanatory...Muraya, Munene...
Also, my sisters' middle names are Kairu and Muriithi (I know, I know, they are boys names...but they were named after wonderful family friends) and I know they mean black and shepherd, respectively. My Kikuyu name, Mukami, means one who milks. Perhaps you could add Kairu and Mukami to the list?
Any thoughts on the names Chege, Gichege, Mwaniki, Ndung'u, or Wangeci? Also, I've read (from the site I gave you) that Muthoni means an in-law but from native Agikuyu I've been told it means someone shy. What do you think?
Sorry for the barrage of questions!
To ynw - My Mbari is Thuku but I have not found someone who can tell me the meaning. Perhaps it was a riika (cirmcusion age set) whos meaning has been forgotten.
to kiarie - I can only guess that the Kamanya is derived from 'menya - know' and that it has something to do with knowing, or knowledge.
what does kamanya mean
emmanuel - wow, that's really interesting..thank you for your help. i forgot to add the name "thuku" to the list, do you happen to know the meaning of this name?
Waweru means from the dry lands. Open grasslands on flat ground are called 'weru'. the word also gives the impression of dry lands, as Kamba country was known to be. It is even used for deserts. A person from Kambaland adopted by the Kikuyu would be called Waweru. The name has of course lost that original meaning.
I am not sure about Mwaura but I guess it comes from 'kwaura' - to remove a covering. Kwara - to place a cover. Mwaura was probably a person working in hides and skins to make leather goods who would be seen to 'kwaura' the skins after a given time of being stretched out in the sun to dry. This is pure conjecture. Kibutu - I have no idea. But mbutu means eyelashes. Kibutu would a big eyelash. Help from the others please.
does anyone know the meanings of the names 'mwaura', 'waweru', and 'kibutu'?
You are right - Wambugu was derived from 'deviner.' Will update with more 'animal' names soon.
There are other names that are shared by both girls and boys in Nyeri like Wagura , in othaya it's girls name but in Tetu it's boys names .I would also like to more names like Wambugu Ihope it was derived from mbugu of a diviner,Nderi (vulture ),Wanyagia Muruuthi ,Ngatia (Lion )Kibiru
Njenga, your name is interesting. First of all, maize was foreign to the Kikuyu before the coming of the Portuguese at the coast. When the Kikuyu first saw maize, it looked quite like the hailstones that came with heavy rain - mbura ya mbembe. And so they called Maize, mbembe. Now when they crashed maize in a pestle and mortar, the result was sand like grains - Njenga. The word has the same roots as the Swahili 'chenga chenga' for bits of something. Isn't that interesting? I will update this information besides your name. Thanks for the inciteful query.
what does my name mean? I hope there's some deeper meaning other than maize..ha ha
Thanks for the additions. In MS word you get the special vowels from 'symbols' and then you 'copy paste' each time you need them. There is probably an easier way but that's the way I do it.
When updating, I will order the names alphabetically. I intend to credit readers directly in the hub when they contribute the meanings of the names. Initially I will give a literal meaning e.g. Wangombe - of cattle; followed by the origins where it is known... Work in progress.
Thank you. For Wachiuru, I intended to man Wachiuri.
You can also check if you have the following names: Mukundi, Munene, Muraguri, Maitho, Gathongo, Gachii, Muraya, Murigo, Ngina, Gachagua, Kimaru, Njaramba, Muchoki, Murigi, Ndiangui.
You may need excel spreadsheet to sort out the names. Where can one get Kikuyu keyboard/fonts?
Thanks for your contribution. Consider this to be a work in progress where readers' input is highly welcome so that we can have a complete database of Mt. Kenya region names.
I have included the additional names.
The information you have here is going to be very helpful to people. People would be interested to know the meaning of Kikuyu names for boys and girls. Perhaps you can call for your readers to suggest more names which you may have omitted (a small table with three columns can hold 300 names).
People would also be interested to know the place where each name is most common – Kiambu, Nyeri, Muranga, Kirinyaga, etc. This really is an important component of history that is getting mixed up and the sooner the various names are documented, the better.
It would also be interesting to get a similar listing of Embu and Meru names. For example, if you look at your list of names for names starting with “N” - Ndegwa, Ngare, Ngigi, Njagi, Njau, Njeru, Njogu, and Njoka, they are names that are more common in Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu and Meru than they are in Muranga and Kiambu. Why?
May I add some more names - Wamiti, Wachiuru, Nyamu, Wachira, Mwai, and Thairu?
Muchugi 16 hours ago
My name is very common in parts of Kiambu district (Mucugi) and I don't have a clue what it means. someone joked it's realted to dancing or jumping?? Great job on this site and keep up. Anyone who knows what names of various places like Kiambu, Nyeri etc mean?