Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Warrior” (Irish origin)

Handsome, cheerful, harmonious one (Irish Gaelic).

French origin, meaning “God is gracious”

Created name from African-American culture.

“Broad clearing” (English origin)

Blend of “Bri” and “Son”

“Famous ruler” (German origin)

“Manly, brave” (modern African American origin)

Form of Sharif (sha-REEF): Honorable, eminent (Arabic, North Africa).

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.

No meaning available

Scottish form of John: God is gracious (EE-an—New Testament; Hebrew).

The master (Hindi, India).

No meaning available

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

“Church” (Scottish origin)

Russian form of John: God is gracious (New Testament; Hebrew).

From the field by the small river (Old English).

“Youthful” (Latin origin)

“Army guard” (German origin)

Form of Brian: Strong one (Celtic).

Combination of “Quan” and “-trell”

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

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

Born in pain (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

“Hugh’s town” (Scottish origin)

Form of Alexander, Sanders (son of Alexander), Sandor (form of Alexander): Helper and defender of humankind (Greek).

Unique African American name

“Wise, intelligent” (Arabic origin)

Form of Hula: Eagle (Osage, Native North American).

Form of Muhammad: Worthy of praise; the Blessed (after the Prophet); thankful (Arabic, North Africa; Sudan; Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Festus: Meaning and origin unknown. In the New Testament, the procurator of Judea through whom Paul made his famous appeal to Caesar.

From the New Testament, John the Baptist (bah-TEEST—French). Commonly used with the combination name, Jean-Baptiste.

No meaning available

Curly-haired one (Latin; New Testament).

Elder; intermediary (Middle English).

Dwells in Scotland (English).

Variation of “Raul” with “-ston” suffix

No meaning available

Unique African American name with a modern sound

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

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

Form of Yoseph or Joseph: He shall add (YOO-suf—Arabic, North Africa; Hebrew; Swahili, East Africa).

No meaning available

Blend of “Da” and “Quan”

“Vain” but associated with “strength” due to Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali (Latin origin)

Divinely strong (German).

“Renowned warrior” (German origin)

From the spring farm (Old English).

Handsome one (Old French).

Quarrelsome (Middle German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Third” (modern American origin)

No meaning available

“God heals” (Hebrew origin)

Great king (Zulu, South Africa).

Modern African American name

Created name from African-American culture.

Unique variation of “Amari”

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

No meaning available

No meaning available

English origin, meaning “woad hill”

Form of Kwasi or Kwesi: Born on Sunday (Akan, Ghana; Ewe, Ghana).

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown; surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Form of Bert: Shining brightly; glorious one (Old English).

Polished chief (Irish Gaelic).

Form of Alvah: Exalted one (Hebrew).

“Fiery” (Welsh origin)

Form of Darius: King, kingly; one who is wealthy (Hebrew).

Form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

Strength of God; God will strengthen (Hebrew; Old Testament—prophet for whom a book in the Old Testament is named).

No meaning available

Praise (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

“Faith” (Swahili origin)

Irish origin, meaning “slender”

African origin, unique name

Meaning and origin unknown.

Form of Verdell: Flourishing, green (French).

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

“Gatekeeper” (English origin)

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

“Resolute protector” (German origin)

Tell me (oo-SEH-nee—Yao, Malawi).

Upright, just one (Old French).

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

Stage name of rap artist Coolio, whose friend one day asked him, “Who do you think you are, Coolio Iglesias?”

Form of Charpentier: Worker of wood (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Created name from African-American culture.

Variation of “Marvel,” meaning “miracle”

Botanical name used for both boys and girls (Old English).

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

African origin, meaning “one who brings joy”