Name Explorer — Baby Names
Baby Boy Names
Looking for the perfect name? Browse boy names from real South African records, see how popular each one is, and how many people of every age share it.
Random name generator
Can’t decide? Get a random boy, girl or unisex name.
Name combiner
Blend Mom’s and Dad’s names into ideas for your baby.
Top 10 Boy Names in South Africa
| # | Name | Popularity | Boys |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannes | 786,247 | |
| 2 | John | 478,711 | |
| 3 | Joseph | 394,012 | |
| 4 | David | 382,781 | |
| 5 | Daniel | 314,216 | |
| 6 | Michael | 293,692 | |
| 7 | William | 291,571 | |
| 8 | Petrus | 285,811 | |
| 9 | Jacobus | 279,943 | |
| 10 | Samuel | 267,165 |
Tap a name for its age groups, boys and girls, and most common surnames, or pick a letter above to browse every name.
Ranked by the number of boys with each name.
310,243 boy names and 324,700 girl names,
of which 183,606 are unisex.
Our Baby Name Generator is based on our South African records, counting every first name a person has. Only real verified South African names are used with this tool. Due to privacy restrictions, records after 2010 are not included. * Updated 21 October 2026.