Lekofi

Syllable breakdown

Name meaning and origin

Origin

Sepedi/Northern Sotho (South Africa)

Meaning

a Sepedi (Northern Sotho) masculine name meaning shield, from the Sepedi lekofi or khofi (a shield, a protective covering); in the traditional warrior culture of the Northern Sotho and other Bantu-speaking peoples of southern Africa the shield (khipi or khofi) was the central piece of defensive equipment for warriors, and names meaning shield declare that the child will serve as a protector for his family and community; warrior names built on implements of protection or combat are common across Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa, and other Bantu naming traditions and reflect the historical context of inter-ethnic warfare and the need for strong men who could protect their communities; Lekofi is used primarily among Sepedi-speaking communities in Limpopo Province and the greater Johannesburg-Pretoria metropolitan area

Gender

male

Also spelled

Lekofi, Lekhophi