155 Amazing Names for Basenjis: Ideas for Sleek & Graceful Dogs
By Kit Copson
Updated on
One of the most ancient dog breeds in the world, the sleek and graceful Basenji originated in central Africa and is famous for being the “barkless” dog. If you’ve recently welcomed a Basenji into your home but aren’t sure what name would best suit them, we feel you. Naming a dog isn’t as easy as it sounds, but never fear.
In honor of this special and timeless breed, we’ve rounded up what we consider to be the best names for Basenjis. We hope you find something you and your Basenji will love here! Pick your favorite African, elegant, cute, or nature-inspired Basenji dog name below:
How To Name Your Basenji
Before a new dog comes home, most of us spend a lot of time mulling over what would be the perfect name. It can feel like you’re going around in circles sometimes, but there are some simple ways to narrow things down.
To get inspiration for naming your Basenji, you can consider various factors like where they originate from, their history, what they look like, and what their personality is like.
Basenjis originated in central Africa and were found by European explorers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 19th century. Therefore, you might consider a name from one of the various languages spoken on the continent of Africa.
Top 40 African Basenji Names & Meanings
If you’ve decided to go for an African name to pay homage to your Basenji’s history, here are some beautiful options with meanings. These names come from various languages including Swahili, Lingala, Zulu, and Kongo.
Male African Basenji Names
- Ade (meaning “royal”)
- Bobo (meaning “born on Tuesday”)
- Jahi (meaning “dignified and proud”)
- Buluu (meaning “blue”)
- Tamu (meaning “sweet”)
- Kengo (a boy’s name)
- Jambo (meaning “hello” in Swahili)
- Nuru (meaning “light”)
- Juma (meaning “Friday”)
- Oba (meaning “king”)
- Ekon (meaning “strength”)
- Kojo (meaning “born on Monday”)
- Amani (meaning “harmony” and “peace”)
- Soni (meaning “shy”)
- Kembo (meaning “heaven”)
- Simba (meaning “lion”)
- Nalo (meaning “loveable”)
- Leki (meaning “little brother”)
- Ayo (meaning “joy”)
- Duka (meaning “all”)
Female African Basenji Names
- Ami (meaning “Saturday’s child”)
- Kali (meaning “energetic”)
- Asha (meaning “life”)
- Nala (meaning “lion” and “queen”)
- Titi (meaning “flower”)
- Mei (meaning “month of May”)
- Nsuka (meaning “last born”)
- Chima (meaning “God knows”)
- Laini (meaning “soft”)
- Rahma (meaning “compassion”)
- Safia (meaning “friend” and “pure”)
- Amina (meaning “trustworthy” and “honest”)
- Malika (meaning “queen”)
- Ghali (meaning “expensive”)
- Nia (meaning “lustrous”)
- Kissa (meaning “first daughter”)
- Adia (meaning “gift”)
- Neema (meaning “born in prosperity”)
- Mesi (meaning “water”)
- Umi (meaning “servant”)
Top 40 Elegant Basenji Names
Basenjis are known for being graceful dogs with a real air of dignity about them. Here are some elegant names with their shortened versions (if applicable) to mull over.
Male Elegant Basenji Names
- Archibald (Archie)
- Maximilian (Max)
- Winston
- Preston
- Gatsby
- Admiral
- Chester
- Hugo
- Bartholomew (Barty)
- Duke
- Prince
- Dickens
- Orion
- Jacques
- Archer
- Byron
- Blake
- Romeo
- Alfred (Alfie)
- Paxton
Female Elegant Basenji Names
- Charlotte (Lottie)
- Sophie
- Jewel
- Princess
- Dior
- Grace
- Chanel
- Ella
- Isabella (Bella)
- Lady
- Stella
- Bianca
- Beatrice (Bea)
- Lola
- Diamond
- Queen
- Scarlett
- Willow
- Effie
- Harper
Top 50 Cute Basenji Names
As well as being beacons of grace and dignity, Basenjis are simply adorable. They have very expressive faces that convey a wide range of emotions including sadness, alertness, thoughtfulness, and sheer happiness. Here are our favorite cute and simple Basenji names.
Male Cute Basenji Names
- Milo
- Mickey
- Teddy
- Bruno
- Rocky
- Ace
- Bugs
- Jake
- Scout
- Loki
- Thor
- Casper
- Captain
- Ollie
- Roscoe
- Stitch
- Gus
- Buzz
- Simba
- Remy
- Rambo
- Murphy
- Buddy
- Bear
- Yogi
Female Cute Basenji Names
- Chloe
- Betty
- Lucy
- Lily
- Millie
- Holly
- Pixie
- Misha
- Angel
- Daisy
- Belle
- Zoe
- Maggie
- Mika
- Ginger
- Penny
- Trixie
- Abby
- Hallie
- Honey
- Kiki
- Mimi
- Coco
- Lila
- Mitsy
Top 25 Nature-Inspired Basenji Names
Basenjis are dogs that love spending time being active and exploring the outside world with their humans. Here are some beautiful nature-inspired names to consider.
- Rain
- Snowy
- Fox/Foxy
- Sandy
- Pepper
- Storm
- Midnight
- Iris
- Ash
- River
- Ocean
- Winter
- Summer
- Sky
- Coral
- Savanna
- Woody
- Blossom
- Amber
- Pearl
- Neptune
- Forest
- Cliff
- Cloud
- Sunny
Final Thoughts
Though picking the perfect name can be time-consuming, it’s always worth the wait! Remember that you’ll be using this name throughout your Basenji’s life, so it has to be something you love and that suits them to a tee. We hope that our top name recommendations for Basenjis have left you feeling inspired!
Featured Image Credit: Yuri Kravchenko, Shutterstock
