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 |
| T?eliso (LSe) | Consolation |
| T?epo (LSe) | Hope |
| Tshediso (SASe) | Consolation |
| Tshepo (SASe) | Hope |
| Tsie | Locust |
| Tsietsi | Predicament / dilemma |
| T?oeu (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 |
| Lit?eho (LSe) | Laughter |
| Lit?ehoana (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. |
| Mat?eliso (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 |
| T?episo | 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
Sesotho.web.za
J. Olivier
(2015)