Our Ethiopian name database contains 749 Ethiopian surnames and 3.917 Ethiopian first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Ethiopian name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. Africa is very poor organised and has no open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like Ethiopia are very limited to the names we know from other countries. The Ethiopian names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Ethiopian names as well. To create the Ethiopian name database we used 12.617 validated Ethiopian social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Ethiopian surnames

This table show popular Ethiopian surnames. In Ethiopia, surnames are typically passed down through the father's line and are often derived from the father's first name. For example, if a man named Tadesse has a son, his son's surname would likely be Tadesse as well. However, some families may also use their clan or tribe name as a surname, rather than a specific family name. Additionally, some individuals may choose to adopt a different surname for personal or professional reasons.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Mohammed 187 1.5% Egyptian Saudi Arabian Nigerian
Ahmed 168 1.3% Egyptian Pakistani Bangladeshi
Tesfaye 157 1.2% American British Canadian
Tadesse 127 1.0% American British German
Getachew 125 1.0% American Canadian Liberian
Girma 111 0.9% American French British
Bekele 103 0.8% American Canadian German
Abebe 93 0.7% American Mahoran Australian
Hailu 92 0.7% American Emirati Australian
Assefa 86 0.7% American Canadian British
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 12.617 Ethiopian social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Ethiopian first names

In Ethiopia, parents typically choose a first name for their child based on cultural and traditional values. They may consider the meaning of the name, its significance in their culture, or the names of family members who have passed away. Some parents may also consult with religious leaders or elders in their community for guidance in choosing a name. Ultimately, the choice of a first name is a deeply personal and meaningful decision for Ethiopian parents.

Popular Ethiopian male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Mohammed 138 1.4% Egyptian Saudi Arabian Indian
Daniel 121 1.2% American British Spanish
Dawit 117 1.2% American Canadian British
Ahmed 105 1.1% Egyptian Dutch Saudi Arabian
Solomon 98 1.0% American Nigerian Ghanaian
Samuel 95 1.0% American British Brazilian
Abel 83 0.8% Spanish American Mexican
Yonas 78 0.8% American British Indonesian
Tewodros 73 0.7% American British Emirati
Henok 71 0.7% American Swedish Eritrean
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 12.617 Ethiopian social media profiles from which 9.842 (78%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Ethiopian female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Addis 40 1.4% American British Mexican
Meseret 29 1.0% American German British
Desta 26 0.9% Indonesian American Canadian
Selam 20 0.7% Turkish American British
Mahlet 20 0.7% American Australian Emirati
Bisrat 20 0.7% American French Namibian
Tamirat 19 0.7% American Egyptian Somali
Netsanet 19 0.7% British Emirati American
Hanna 19 0.7% American Swedish British
Ethiopia 19 0.7% American Canadian Zimbabwean
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 12.617 Ethiopian social media profiles from which 2.775 (22%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.