Sesotho names
Basotho names / Mabitso a Basotho
We are
collecting names for boys and girls in Sesotho - to be listed on this
site with their meanings. See the names we have so far below. If you have any
corrections or suggestions let me know at (remove spaces): o l i v i e r @ t e a
c h i t z a . c o m
Take note that some names are written using
the Lesotho orthography - sometimes they are used like that even in South
Africa. Where possible South African Sesotho (SASe) and Lesotho Sesotho (LSe)
versions are indicated as such.
Male
| Amohelang | Receive |
| Ata | Multiply / Increase |
| Baholo | Elders |
| Bokang | Praise or rejoice |
| Bongoe (LSe) | One |
| Diboko (SASe) | Praises |
| Dikotsi (SASe) | Accidents |
| Hlompho | Respect |
| Kabelo | Inheritance/Given |
| Kamohelo | Acceptance / Welcome |
| Kananelo | Approval / Appreciation |
| Karabo | Answer |
| Katleho |
Success |
| Kelebogile (LSe) | I am grateful |
| Kelebohile (SASe) | I am grateful |
| Keneiloe (LSe) | I have been given |
| Kekeletso | Addition |
| Kerefese | Derived from English name Griffiths |
| Kgethang (SASe) | Choose |
| Kgotso (SASe) | Peace / Tranquility |
| Khabane | Valuable / Precious / Warrior |
| Khethang (LSe) | Choose |
| Khotso (LSe) | Peace |
| Khotsofalang (LSe) | Be satisfied |
| Kotsi | Danger / accident |
| Kutloano (LSe) | Mutual understanding |
| Kutloisiso (LSe) | Understanding |
| Kutlwano (SASe) | Mutual understanding |
| Kutlwisiso (SASe) | Understanding |
| Leabua | You speak (Plural or courteous) |
| Leauoa | From “ho lauoa” (to be advised) |
| Lebo | Short form of Lebohang (be thankful) |
| Lebohang | Be thankful |
| Lebona | The one who sees |
| Lefa | Inheritance |
| Lefu | Death / Misfortune |
| Lehlohonolo | Luck |
| Lekgotla (SASe) | Court of law |
| Lekhotla (LSe) | Court of law |
| Lemoha | Take cognisance |
| Lemohang | Take cognisance |
| Lenka | Taker |
| Leoatle | Ocean |
| Lepolesa | Police officer |
| Lereko | Abundance / Merciful |
| Lesebo | Gift from the ancestors |
| Lesedi (SASe) | Light / illumination |
| Leseli (LSe) | Light / illumination |
| Letlotlo | Treasure |
| Letsoalo | Fear / Apprehension |
| Letswalo | Fear / Apprehension |
| Lewatle | Ocean |
| Liboko (LSe) | Praises |
| Likotsi (LSe) | Accidents |
| Mafatle | probably adapted from “mafatla” which means a bald head showing old age and wisdom |
| Makalo | Perplexity / Surprise / Bewilderment |
| Makgotla (SASe) | Courts of law |
| Makhotla (LSe) | Courts of law |
| Malefane | One who pays |
| Mamello | Patience |
| Modise (SASe) | Short form of Modisana |
| Moeketsi | The Multiplier / Proliferator |
| Moeletsi | Advisor |
| Mohapi | Victor |
| Mohato | Step |
| Mohau | Pity / mercy |
| Mojalefa | Heir |
| Mokgethi (SASe) | Chooser / one who will choose |
| Mokhethi (LSe) | Chooser / one who will choose |
| Mokhasi | Crawler |
| Mokhethi (LSe) | Chooser |
| Molahlehi | The Lost One |
| Molapo | Stream / River |
| Molise (LSe) | A short form of Molisana |
| Moluleloa (LSe) | We have long awaited your arrival |
| Mosela | Tail |
| Moselantja | Dog's tail |
| Moshanyana | Boy |
| Mosiuoa | The Abandoned One |
| Motlalepule | The Rain Bringer |
| Motsamai | Traveller |
| Motsumi | The seeker |
| Mpho | Gift |
| Neo | Gift |
| Nkoe (LSe) | Tiger |
| Nkoeneane (Nkoenyane) (LSe) | Little Tiger |
| Nku | Sheep |
| Nkwe (SASe) | Tiger |
| Nkwenyane (SASe) | Little Tiger |
| Nthofeela | Thing |
| Ntja | Dog |
| Ntsu | Eagle |
| Oatile | Household has been firmly built |
| Oagile | Household has been firmly built |
| Oupanyana | Small grandfather (from Afrikaans: oupa) |
| Paseka | Easter |
| Phahamo | Eminence |
| Pheello | Perseverance/insistence |
| Phetoho | Change |
| Phethisi | Completion / Execution |
| Pheko | Remedy / Cure |
| Phutheho | Congregation or collection |
| Piti | Derived from Afrikaans name Piet |
| Polo (from Polomashwashe) | Alligator |
| Poloko | Safety |
| Pule | Rainy / In the rain |
| Reaboka | We are full of praise |
| Realeboha | We are thankful |
| Reaotlotla | We praise His name (Glory to God) |
| Refiloe (LSe) | We have been given |
| Refilwe (SASe) | We have been given |
| Remaketse | We’re surprised |
| Rethabile | We are happy |
| Sechaba (LSe) | Nation |
| Sehloho | Cruelty |
| Sehlolo | Disaster |
| Sello | Wailing |
| Seretse | Mud |
| Setene | Derived from Afrikaans surname Steyn |
| Setjhaba (SASe) | Nation |
| Tau | Lion |
| Tebello | Expectation ( Vigil or Wake = Tebelo ) |
| Teboho | Gratitude |
| Tefo | Payment/reward |
| Thaba | Mountain |
| Thabang | Be happy |
| Thabiso | Joy-bringer |
| Thabo | Happiness |
| Thapelo | Prayer / Plea |
| Thapeli | Appeal |
| Thato | Love |
| Thebe | Shield |
| Thoriso | Praise |
| Thuso | Help |
| Thuto | Lesson |
| Tiisetso | Perseverance |
| Tlali | Fulfilled |
| Tlhokomelo | Care, being careful |
| Tlholo | Victory |
| Tlotliso | Honour |
| T'sehla | Yellow Man ("Lion's Cub") |
| Tsebo | Knowledge |
| Tsela | Path |
| Tšeliso (LSe) | Consolation |
| Tšepo (LSe) | Hope |
| Tshediso (SASe) | Consolation |
| Tshepo (SASe) | Hope |
| Tsie | Locust |
| Tsietsi | Predicament / dilemma |
| Tšoeu (LSe) | White one |
| Tsotang | "Amazement" or "Astonishment" |
| Tsweu (SASe) | White one |
| Tumelo | Faith |
| Tumisang | Give praise |
Female
| Amohelang | Receive |
| Arabang | Reply / Respond |
| Basetsana | Ladies |
| Bohlokoa (LSe) | Precious |
| Bohlokwa (SASe) | Precious |
| Bokang | Praise or rejoice |
| Bonolo | Ease |
| Bontle | Beauty |
| Botle | Beauty |
| Buang | Speak / Chat |
| Diboko (SASe) | Praises |
| Dikeledi (SASe) | Tears |
| Dikgang (SASe) | Arguments |
| Dimakatso (SASe) | Surprises / Amazements |
| Dimpho (SASe) | Gifts / Presents |
| Dineo (SASe) | Grants / Gifts / Talents |
| Dintle (SASe) | Beauty |
| Dipalesa (SASe) | Flowers |
| Disebo (SASe) | Whispers |
| Dithole (SASe) | Dusty Waste |
| Ditsheho (SASe) | Laughter |
| Ditswanelo (SASe) | Suitable things |
| Felleng | Beyond the End / Exposed |
| Fumane | Found / Discovered |
| Itumeleng | Be joyous / Be grateful |
| Kamohelo | Acceptance / Welcome |
| Kananelo | Approval / Appreciation |
| Katleho | Success |
| Keneoue (LSe) | I’ve been given |
| Keneuwe (SASe) | I've been given |
| Keromang | One who was sent |
| Khauhelo | Compassion / Pity |
| Khothatso | encouragement |
| Kutloano (LSe) | Mutual understanding |
| Kutloisiso (LSe) | Understanding |
| Kutlwano (SASe) | Mutual understanding |
| Kutlwisiso (LSe) | Understanding |
| Lebo | Short form of Lebohang (be thankful) |
| Lebohang | Be thankful |
| Lerato | Love |
| Letlotlo | Treasure |
| Letsatsi | Sun or Day |
| Liboko (LSe) | Praises |
| Liepollo (LSe) | Revelations / Exposures |
| Likengkeng (LSe) | Tears |
| Likeleli (LSe) | Teardrops |
| Likhang (LSe) | Arguments |
| Likhapa (LSe) | Tears |
| Limakatso (LSe) | Surprises / Amazements |
| Limpho (LSe) | Gifts / Presents |
| Lineo (LSe) | Grants / Gifts / Talents |
| Lintle (LSe) | Beauty |
| Lipalesa (LSe) | Flowers |
| Lisebo (LSe) | Whispers |
| Lithole (LSe) | Dusty Waste |
| Litšeho (LSe) | Laughter |
| Litšehoana (LSe) | Little laughter |
| Litsoanelo (LSe) | Suitable things |
| ‘Malefu (LSe) | Mother of death or illness |
| ‘Malesotho (LSe) | Mother of Lesotho |
| ‘Mampe (LSe) | Mother of ugliness |
| ‘Mathapelo (LSe) | Mother of prayer (or person called Thapelo) |
| Makhokolotso | Refuse |
| Maleshoane (LSe) | Ladybird |
| Maletsatsi | From Letsatsi (meaning 'day' or 'sun') |
| Mamello | Patience / Perseverance |
| Mantso | The dark one |
| Mariha | Witner |
| Masoabi | Shame |
| Mathe | Saliva |
| Matlakala | Waste Paper or Broken Sticks. |
| Matšeliso (LSe) | Consolation |
| Matshediso (SASe) | Consolation |
| Mmalefu (SASe) | Mother of death or illness |
| Mmalesotho (SASe) | Mother of Lesotho |
| Mmampe (SASe) | Mother of ugliness |
| Mmaseretse (SASe) | Mother of mud |
| Mmathapelo (SASe) | Mother of prayer (or person called Thapelo) |
| Moipone | Self-Admirer |
| Mookho | Tear / Lacrimation |
| Mosa | Grace |
| Mosela | Tail / The Last One |
| Moselantja | Dog’s tail |
| Mosimodi (SASe) | Traditional fable name |
| Mosimoli (LSe) | Traditional fable name |
| Mosimotsana | Traditional fable name |
| Motle | Beautiful |
| Mpatsi | ? |
| Mpho | Gift / Present |
| Mponeng | Behold me or Admire me |
| Naledi (SASe) | Star |
| Naleli (LSe) | Star |
| Neo | Grant / Gift / Talent |
| Nkhetheleng | Choose for me |
| Nthabi | Short form of Nthabiseng (make me happy) |
| Nthabiseng | Make me happy |
| Nthati | One to love me |
| Ntsebo | Adapted from the word for whispers |
| Ntsoaki (LSe) | Girls amongst boys
and is usually given to a girl who is the only daughter amongst her male
siblings / Word related to verbs "to stir" or "mix up" |
| Ntswaki (SASe) | Girls amongst boys
and is usually given to a girl who is the only daughter amongst her male
siblings / Word related to verbs "to stir" or "mix up" |
| Nyakallo | Joy |
| Oarona | Ours |
| Paballo | Protection |
| Palesa | Flower |
| Phutheho | Congregation or collection |
| Pont'so | Show / Exhibition / Revelation |
| Pula | Rain |
| Pulane | Rainy |
| Puleng | In or during the Rain |
| Qenehelo | Pity |
| Ramatjato | From 'tjato' (agility) |
| Ramatla | From 'matla' (strength) |
| Ramona | From 'mona' (selfishness) |
| Ratsebo | From 'tsebo' (knowledge) |
| Reabetsoe (LSe) | We have been provided for |
| Reabetswe (SASe) | We have been provided for |
| Reabiloe (LSe) | We have been blessed |
| Reabilwe (SASe) | We have been blessed |
| Refiloe (LSe) | We have been given or awarded |
| Refilwe (SASe) | We have been given or awarded |
| Relebohile | We have thanked / We are grateful |
| Remaketse | We are surprised |
|
Rethabile | We are happy |
| Seeng | Gone (astray) |
| Shoeshoe | Flower from the tsikitlane plant Hypoxis argentea |
| Tebatso | Distraction / Make forget |
| Tebello | Expectation |
| Thato | Love |
| Thuto | Lesson |
| Tiisetso | Perseverance |
| Tlotliso | Honour |
| Tlhokomelo | Care, being careful |
| Tokoloho | Freedom / Independence |
| Topollo | Emancipation / Release |
| Tšepiso | Promise |
| Tshepiso | Promise |
| Tumelo | Faith |
Biblical or related names
| Amose | Amos |
| Daniele | Daniel |
| Esaia | Isaiah |
| Estere | Esther |
| Ezekiele | Ezekiel |
| Filemone | Philemon |
| Jakobo | James |
| Jeremia | Jeremiah |
| Jeso | Jesus |
| Jobo | Job |
| Joele | Joel |
| Johanne | John |
| Jonase | Jonah |
| Josefa | Joseph |
| Luka | Luke |
| Majobo | Mother of Job |
| Mareka | Mark |
| Maria | Mary |
| Mariha | Maria |
| Mattheu | Matthew |
| Mikea | Micah |
| Moshe | Moses |
| Paolosi | Paul |
| Peterose | Peter |
| Ruthe | Ruth |
| Sakaria | Zechariah |
| Samuele | Samuel |
| Seeta | Seth |
| Sofonia | Zephaniah |
| Timotia | Timothy |
Traditional names from Basotho literature and history
| Bereng | Basotho chief |
| Dimo | Man eater in Basotho legends |
| Lepoqo | Moshoeshoe's real name |
| Letsie | Basotho chief |
| Mantsopa | One of the female leaders in the history of Basotho |
| Masilo | Traditional name from legends |
| Masilonyane | Diminutive form of "Masilo" (both used often with twins) |
| Masopha | Basotho chief (Son of Moshoeshoe) |
|
Matjhatjhametse | The swift one |
| Mohlomi | One of the wisest leaders, name means the founder or the planter |
| Mokhachane | Moshoeshoe's father |
| Molapo | Basotho chief |
| Monaheng | One of the ancestoral chiefs |
| Mosemodi | Traditional boys name from legends |
| Mosemotsane | Diminutive form of "Mosemodi" (both used often with twins) |
| Moshoeshoe | Father of the Basotho nation (first king) |
| Mphafane | Praiser |
| Nthatisi | Historical female name |
| Qhonqholotsane | Traditional name |
| Seeiso | Basotho chief (Name maybe related to verb 'isa' - to take to/to lead to) |
| Sekgolokgotjhane | Wanderer |
| Senate | Mother of King Moshoeshoe II |
| Senkatana | Boy-hero in many Basotho legends |
| Tselane | Traditional fable name |
Nick names or love names
| Sesotho nickname or love name | English translation / explanation |
| Leba la ka | My pigeon |
| Moratuoa (LSe) | Darling |
| Moratuwa (SASe) | Darling |
| Mutloanyana (LSe) | Little rabbit |
| Nana | Baby (as in infant) |
| Ngoana | Literally 'child' but also used by young mean referring to girls |
| Ratu | Love of mine |
| Toebanya (LSe) | Little mouse |
There are many ways of naming newborns by the Basotho. Often Basotho children are named to other family members and ancestors. As the Basotho believe a bad name is a bad omen a lot of names refer to positive qualities such as Katleho (success); Letlotlo (treasure) or Teboho (gratitude). If a child is born after a child has died the newborn is often given a 'bad name' so as ensure the child stays alive and is not given too much love by giving a positive name, hence names such as Nku (sheep), Lefu (death) or Ntja (dog).
Sometimes names are various animals , e.g. Noko, Phuthi, Pulumo, Sebata or tribal totems such Tau, Koena, Mosia, Mofokeng. It can also be plants (Sefate, Sehoete, Shoeshoe, Palesa). Names are even sometimes given to commemorate or remember a certain event or circumstances.
For more on Basotho
names, see:
GUMA, Mthobeli. 2001
Nordic Journal of African Studies 10(3): 265-279
The Cultural Meaning of Names among Basotho of Southern Africa: A Historical and
Linguistic Analysis.
http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol10num3/guma.pdf
Thank you to
the following contributors to this page:
Bokang Makhetha
Prof. Tseliso Maseela
Rethabile Masilo
Moroesi Mathibeli
Tebello Mosese
Thabo Seseane
Likengkeng
Thokoa
Jo Fernandez
Refilwe Moretiemang Matebesi
Sello Kgomo
Maleshoane Selemela
Mafereka Mashoai
Khadebe Makenete
Page updated: 29/05/2009
Sesotho.web.za
© J. Olivier
(2009)