Discover Beautiful African American Names

A form of Randolf: Shield wolf (Old English). The wolf suggests courage.

Stone (EH-ben—Hebrew).

Modern African American name

No meaning available

English form of Merlin: Dweller in the fortress by the sea (Welsh); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Good, wise man; prophet of Islam (Arabic, North Africa; Islam).

Form of Chester: Dweller at the fortified army camp (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

“Land” (German origin)

“Settlement with a leek garden” (English origin)

Gemstone name, meaning “black”

Variation of “Isaac,” meaning “laughter”

Form of Ahmad: Praiseworthy, more commendable (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Latin origin, meaning “from Hadria”

Modern name, meaning “thankful”

Form of Ace: Unity; first in luck or accomplishment (Latin).

The pilgrim (Swahili, East Africa).

Arabic origin, meaning “knight, horseman”

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

Form of Nggangga: Doctor, diviner, priest (n-GAHN-geh—Kongo, Central Africa; Tshiluba, Congo).

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.

Form of Coleman: Coal worker (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

A traditional beaded belt that carries the meaning "light of Kenya" (Kikuyu, Kenya).

Form of Glenn: Dweller in a glen or valley (Irish Gaelic).

Combination of “La” and “Monte”

Unique modern name

Form of Alex or Alexander: Helper and defender of humankind (Greek).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Raphael: Healed by God (Hebrew).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Form of Pompey: Tendril; young shoot (Latin). Name found among free black men who lived and worked in early eighteenth-century New England.

“Linden tree hill” (English origin)

Modern variation of “Aaron”

Blend of two names such as Malcolm (disciple of St. Columba—Scottish Gaelic) and Marcus (little hammer; little warlike one—Latin).

Arabic origin, meaning “morning star”

No meaning available

From the town by the sea (English).

“Interpreter” or “fiery leader” (Arabic origin)

No meaning available

Form of Nikolaos: Victorious army; victorious people; victorious one (Greek).

From the high or hedged forest (Old English).

No meaning available

Small one (Old Welsh).

Free man (Old English).

Mighty with the spear (Old English).

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

“Young warrior” (modern American origin)

Form of Dawud, the Arabic form of David: Beloved one (dah-WUUD—Arabic, North Africa; Hebrew; Old Testament—king of Israel).

“Son of Jay” (modern American origin)

Meaning and origin unknown.

Modern African American name

Unique blend of “Ty” and “Rail”

Italian origin, meaning “free”

“Heir” (Scandinavian origin)

Unique blend of “De” and “Quandre”

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Modern African American name

“Broad clearing” (English origin)

No meaning available

Unique African American name

King (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Protected by Thor, the ancient Norse god of thunder (English).

Form of Marquis: Nobleman (mar-KEE—French; MAR-quis).

Form of Zachariah: Jehovah has remembered (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Blend of “Ja” and “Vari”

Form of Cordier: Make or seller of cord (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Pierces the valley” (French origin)

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Reginald: Mighty and powerful; judicious; wise counselor (Latin; Old English; Old German).

A form of Lawrence: From the place of the laurel tree; laurel-crowned one (English; Latin); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

A form of Randolf: Shield wolf (Old English). The wolf suggests courage.

Lime-tree wood (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Forest worker” (English origin)

No meaning available

From the fir forest (Old English).

Attendant; he who serves (Old French, from the Old German).

Form of Dick, a form of Richard: Powerful ruler (Old German).

“Free man” (Latin origin)

“Meadow land” (English origin)

No meaning available

Red-haired or ruddy-complexioned one (Latin); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Amharic origin, meaning “descendant”

No meaning available

Welsh origin, meaning “king”

“Devotion to God” (variation of Caleb)

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

Spanish origin, meaning “of the sea”

Place name—a place in Greater Manchester, England: Settlement of Cara's people; dwellers at the rocky settlement (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Isaiah: Salvation of God (Old Testament—prophet; Hebrew).

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

Sea friend (Old English).

Form of Vernon: Youthful, springlike, born in the spring (Latin).

No meaning available