Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Third” (modern American origin)

Variation of “Khalil”

“White-haired man” (English origin)

Form of Cleophas: One who comes to give a speech (Aramaic; New Testament); one of two disciples who encountered Jesus on the Road to Emmaus.

Watchman, defender, true man (Old German).

Unique African American name

Precious substance from the tusks and teeth of slaughtered elephants (Latin).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Form of Alvin: Friend of all; noble friend; friend of the elves (Old English).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Rasheed or Rashid: Rightly guided (Arabic, North Africa).

Form of Clifford: From the cliff ford; one who dwells at the ford near the cliff (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Consecrated to God; devoted to God (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Variation of “Aaron” with “G”

French origin, meaning “lawyer,” adapted in African American culture

Form of Norman: Man of the North (English; French).

Unique African American name

Meaning and origin unknown.

Form of Sean, the Irish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

“Deer wood” (English origin)

Black-eyed one (Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Small songbird (Old English).

Form of Cyril: Lordly one (Greek).

Form of Jaleel: Majesty (Arabic, North America).

Courageous; valiant, warlike one (Irish).

No meaning available

Brown-haired one (Irish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

English origin, meaning “noble’s son”

Son of Hendry (Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Gerald: Rules by the spear (German).

Blend of two names such as Lee (from the pasture meadow—Old English; poetic—Irish Gaelic) and Darryl (little dear or beloved one—French).

Goes through one place to another, referring to a shooting star (Shawnee, Native North American).

Modern African American name

Form of Jason: Healer (Greek).

Our God, our Lord (Yoruba, Nigeria).

“Blessed” (Latin origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Firstborn (Bassa, Liberia).

One of three men thrown into a fiery furnace (Old Testament).

Unique modern name

Blend of “Ja” and “Quan,” commonly used in African American communities

Rightfully guided (Swahili, East Africa).

Portuguese and Spanish form of Peter: Rock or stone (Latin; New Testament).

Hill of the powwow (pow-hat-an—Algonquin, Native North American).

“Fortress” (French origin)

“Land of the noble” (Irish origin, popularized in African American culture)

Form of Maxwell: Greatest in excellence; great pool or spring (Irish; Latin; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Rules by the spear (German).

Army man, soldier (Old German).

Created name from African-American culture.

Hebrew origin, meaning “strong”

No meaning available

Form of Archibald: The truly bold; noble; sacred prince; genuine (Anglo-French; German).

“White hawk” (Welsh origin)

Dweller at the crossroads; toll collector (Middle English; Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Augustine: Exalted one, imperial, revered (Latin).

“Dark river” (Scottish origin)

Faith leader (Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Nelson: Son of the champion; son of Neal (English).

No meaning available

Mighty or wise protector (Old German).

Form of Ruggero, the Italian form of Roger: Famous spearman (Old German).

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Combination of “Le” and “Quon”

No meaning available

Wall builder; mason (Old English).

Player of the rote—an early medieval stringed instrument (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Danish crossing (English).

Created name from African-American culture.

Acute hearing (Greek).

Place name—city in Cuba (Spanish).

Son of the ardent one (Old Welsh).

Son of shield (Old English).

Fuller or thickener of cloth (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

French origin, meaning “wool worker”

Arabic origin, meaning “leopard”

Dweller in the valley (Old English).

The sun; throne (sy-rus—Old Persian).

“Beacon hill” (English origin, popularized in African American culture)

Bright, intelligent (Scandinavian).

Male form of Kimberley: From the royal fortress meadow (Old English).

“Great Lord” (Welsh origin, popularized in African American culture)

Knowing (English).

“Beautiful” (Arabic origin, widely used in African American communities)

“Calm” (modern African American origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Rocky hill (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture.

“Arrow maker” (English origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

Powerful warrior; army ruler (Old German).

Created name from African-American culture.

French form of Aemilius: Industrious one; rival (Latin).