Discover Beautiful African American Names

Created name from African-American culture (leh-MONE).

Form of Lyman: Man of the meadow (Middle English).

Meaning and origin unknown. Name found among free black men who lived and worked in late eighteenth-century New England.

Unique blend of “Mar” and “Tavious”

Meaning unknown (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

“High, coastal land” (English origin)

Word name—the French word tres (tray): Three.

Pleasing to Krishna, the name of a popular Hindu deity (Sanskrit).

Meaning and origin unknown. Name used among free black men since the 18th century.

No meaning available

Descendent of the unlucky one (Irish; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Clever warrior” (English origin)

Form of Steven, a form of Stephen: Crowned one (Greek).

Sword friend or speech friend (Old English).

No meaning available

“Powerful, respected” (Arabic origin)

“Red-haired” (English origin)

Son of the black one of peace (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Rightly guided (Arabic, North Africa).

“Gray-haired” (Welsh origin)

From the French Sylvestre and the Latin Silvester: Dweller from the forest.

“Citizen of Rome” (Latin origin)

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

“Forest worker” (English origin)

Form of Dumisani: Praise (Xhosa, South Africa).

Form of Colbert: Famous helmeted one; dark-haired one (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Keeper of the park” (English origin)

Form of Javan: Greece (Hebrew; Old Testament). Javan was a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, whose descendants, after the flood, populated what is now Eurasia.

Created name from African-American culture.

From the spring farm (Old English).

Variation of “Ulric,” meaning “wolf power”

“Mighty warrior” (African origin)

Irish origin, meaning “slender”

English origin, meaning “rejoice”

“Raven” (French origin)

No meaning available

Fulfillment (Muslim).

Blend of “Trey” and “Devonte”

Combined names that reflect John the Baptist (French; Hebrew; New Testament).

Spanish form of Melchior: King city; king of light (Judeo-Christian legend).

Form of Birkett: Dweller at the birch headland (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Second-born child (man-NOO—Akan, Ghana).

Strong (Fulani, West Africa).

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

No meaning available

“Fire” (Latin origin)

Resolute protector (Old German).

Son of Jeffrey (divinely peaceful—Old French; God’s peace—English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Home lover’s estate; blunt hill (Old English).

No meaning available

Blend of “Ja” and “Darius”

Unique modern name

Form of Eugene: Well born, noble (Greek).

No meaning available

Resolute and brave (Old English).

No meaning available

“Linden tree hill” (English origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Divinely peaceful (Old French).

“God’s gift” (shortened form of Theodore)

“Soldier” (Latin origin)

“Lover of horses” (Greek origin)

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Sean, the Irish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

No meaning available

Modern African American name

Form of Woli: Prophet (Yoruba, Nigeria).

Word name—A young rabbit (English).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Irish form of Miles: Generous (German).

“Prince” (Arabic origin, popular in African American culture)

“Mack’s stream” (Scottish origin)

Place name—city in Japan (KOH-bay).

Form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).

Akan origin, meaning “born on Saturday”

Word name—From khayim: Life (Hebrew); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Bright” (Latin origin, commonly used in African American communities)

No meaning available

“Powerful” (Irish origin)

No meaning available

Form of Anthony: Inestimable, priceless one; worthy of praise (Latin).

Unique African American name

Lordly one (Greek).

No meaning available

Virile or masculine one (ar-SEE-nee-oh—Greek; ar-SAY-nee-o—Spanish).

John's town (Middle English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

From the pasture meadow (Old English).

Form of Ahmadou, a West African form of Ahmed: More commendable, praiseworthy (Arabic, North Africa).

Justice (Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Darrell: Little dear or beloved one (French).

Unique name blending “De” with “various”

Form of Christopher: Believer in Christ; anointed one; Christlike (Greek).

Of honorable birth; nobleman, leader (Old English).

No meaning available