Sekani is a masculine name of Tumbuka origin, derived directly from the Tumbuka word sekani meaning "laugh". As a virtue-inspired name, it reflects the cultural value placed on joy and positivity within Tumbuka-speaking communities.Etymology and MeaningThe name comes from the Tumbuka verb 'sek- meaning 'to laugh', with the suffix indicating an imperative or nominalized form. Unlike the unrelated Athabaskan ethnonym Sekani (a First Nations people in British Columbia, Canada, whose name means 'people on the rocks'), the Tumbuka name has no connection to physical geography or group identity—it is purely a given name conveying the wish for the bearer to be cheerful and bring laughter to others.Distribution and UsageSekani is most commonly found in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania among Tumbuka speakers, who primarily inhabit the northern region of Malawi along with adjacent areas in neighboring countries. The name may also appear in diasporic communities, though it remains relatively rare in global naming databases.Cultural SignificanceTumbuka naming traditions often reflect desired qualities or circumstantial events at birth. Sekani as a name is likely chosen in hopes that the child will be a source of delight and mirth for the family, mirroring other common Tumbuka names such as Sekana or other variants with the same root.Meaning: "laugh"Origin: TumbukaType: First nameUsage regions: Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania (Tumbuka communities)