Amazigh (Berber) First Names and Their Meanings
Amazigh names are among the most beautiful names given in Morocco. Rooted in the Tamazight language, they speak of light, freedom, lions and stars, and many carry the memory of Amazigh kings and queens of North Africa. Since Tamazight became an official language of Morocco in the 2011 constitution, Amazigh first names are fully accepted by the civil registry and have become increasingly popular.
See also: the official list of Moroccan first names and Moroccan last names & their meanings.
Amazigh First Names for Boys
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anir | Angel |
| Aksil (Aksel) | Leopard; name of the resistance king Kusaila |
| Amayas | Cheetah |
| Massin (Massinissa) | "Their lord"; the great Numidian king |
| Yuba | Name of the Numidian kings Juba I and Juba II |
| Ziri | Moonlight |
| Idir | Alive, he lives |
| Gaya | Numidian king, father of Massinissa |
| Izem | Lion |
| Aghilas | Panther, big cat |
| Amnay | Horseman, rider |
| Itri | Star |
| Aylal | Bird |
| Amazigh | Free man - the very name of the Berber people |
| Badis | Name of Zirid and Hammadid kings |
| Sifaks | Syphax, king of western Numidia |
| Amestan | Protector, defender |
| Anaruz | Hope |
| Asirem | Aspiration, hope |
| Amenzu | The first-born |
| Aderfi | Freed, emancipated |
| Ayrad | Lion (Rif variant) |
| Afulay | Apuleius, the Amazigh writer of antiquity |
| Takfarinas | Numidian soldier who led a revolt against Rome |
Amazigh First Names for Girls
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tilila | Freedom, joy |
| Tiziri (Thiziri) | Moonlight |
| Itto | Classic Middle Atlas name, heroine of Amazigh tales |
| Izza | Beloved, dear |
| Kella | Daughter of the Tuareg queen Tin Hinan |
| Tin Hinan (Tinhinan) | "She of the tents", ancestral Tuareg queen |
| Kahina (Dihya) | The warrior queen of the Aures who resisted the Umayyad conquest |
| Damya | Another name of queen Dihya |
| Numidia | The ancient Amazigh kingdom |
| Silya | From Cilia, ancient North African city |
| Tafsut | Spring (the season) |
| Tanirt | Angel |
| Taderfit | Freedom, emancipation |
| Tamila | Turtledove |
| Thanina | Legendary noble bird |
| Tifawt | Light, dawn |
| Tudert | Life |
| Tumert | Happiness |
| Illi | My daughter |
| Tala | Spring, fountain |
| Titrit | Star |
| Massilia | Feminine of Massin; also the ancient name of Marseille |
A Short History of Amazigh Names in Morocco
For decades, civil registrars often refused Amazigh first names on the grounds that they lacked a "Moroccan character", and families had to fight to register an Anir or a Tilila. Things changed with the recognition of Tamazight in the 2011 constitution: instructions were issued to accept Amazigh names, and the official reference list now includes them. Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year (January 14), even became a national public holiday in 2024 - see our page on Moroccan public holidays.
About a quarter to a third of Moroccans speak one of the three main Amazigh languages - Tarifit in the Rif, Tamazight in the Middle Atlas and Tashelhit in the Souss - and names vary slightly between regions (Ayrad in the Rif, Izem in the Atlas, both meaning lion). To go further into the culture, read about the origins of the Moroccan people and the traditional Berber carpet, or visit the Berber Museum in Marrakesh.
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