Meaning: most probably from Old Dongolawi ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲕⲩⲧ-, 'servant' (cf. Nobiin ⲛⲟⲩⲅⲟⲩⲇ) + -ⲁ = 'the servant'.
If this interpretation is correct, the name would be the southern variant of the name Kouda.
Meaning: perhaps from the Greek root *νουντηρ- + -ⲓ. νουντηρ- may be a composite word made of νοῦν (accusative of νοῦς, 'mind, sense') and the verb τηρέω, 'watch over, take care, observe, preserve', producing the meaning 'to watch over mind, to preserve sense'; cf. a parallel composition νουνέχω, 'to have mind, to have sense, to be sensible'. Alternatively, ⲛⲟⲩⲛ-, perhaps cognate with the Kenzi nun, 'shadow, shade' (Old Nubian ⳟⲟⲩⲣ-) + ⲧⲓⲣ-, 'to give’ + -ⲓ (agent substantive formant) = 'giver of shade'.