Discover Beautiful African American Names

Son of William: Resolute protector (Old German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

The crown honored us (Yoruba, Nigeria).

Form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).

Unique blend of “Ty” and “Rail”

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

No meaning available

Form of Leon, a form of Leo: Lion (Latin).

“Wealthy spear” (English origin)

Combination of “Ta” and “Shawn”

Handsome, cheerful, harmonious one (Irish Gaelic).

Form of Cadell: Spirit of battle (Irish; Welsh).

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

Meaning and origin unknown.

Italian origin, meaning “brave”

Brilliant raven; he shall be famous (English; German).

Blue jay (Old French).

The sun; throne (sy-rus—Old Persian).

One involved in the wool trade (Dutch; English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Abduhl: Servant of God (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

“Honor and respect” (Yoruba origin)

Dweller near the wood; woodsman; woodworker (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Blend of two names such as Alvin (friend of all; noble friend—Old German) and Ester (star—Hebrew; Persian [Farsi], Iran).

French origin, meaning “brotherly,” popular in African American culture

Form of Pernell: Little Peter (French).

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

Form of a place name: Loudoun, a county in the state of Virginia; Loudoun, a street in London, England.

Form of Angelo: Angel or messenger (Greek).

No meaning available

French form of Elijah: Jehovah is my God (Hebrew; Old Testament—Prophet who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Name that honors Saint Elmo, an early bishop and martyr of the Christian faith. He is the patron saint of sailors.

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

Great king (Zulu, South Africa).

Created name from African-American culture.

Pilgrim carrying a palm (Latin).

From the Scandinavian country Denmark (Old Norse).

“Tumult” (Celtic origin)

“Settlement with a leek garden” (English origin)

“Son of Will” (English origin)

“Mighty warrior” (African origin)

“Crooked nose” (Scottish origin, widely adapted)

Form of Carl: Freeman, peasant, man (English).

Created name from African-American culture.

“Wagon maker” (English origin)

“Wise” (Latin origin)

Form of Mustafa: The chosen one (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Modern take on “Alden,” meaning “old, wise friend”

Poet; a man of learning (Irish Gaelic).

Black (ahs-WAHD—Arabic, North Africa).

Blend of “Ra” and “Shawn”

“Righteous, fair” (virtue name, widely used)

Long life (Swahili, East Africa).

No meaning available

“Follower of Christ” (German origin)

“Heathland” (English origin)

“Free landholder” (English origin, widely used)

Judge from the hill (English; Hebrew; Old Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Dexterous one; right-handed; skillful (Latin).

Variation of “Raul” with “-ston” suffix

Hebrew origin, meaning “field of God”

“Gift of God” (Hebrew origin)

Martial one (Italian; Latin).

Blend of “De” and “Montae”

Form of Halsall: Nook of land (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Royal chieftain (Irish).

No meaning available

Form of Riddock: From the smooth field (Irish Gaelic).

Modern African American name

Unique African American name

From the iron one’s estate (Old English).

No meaning available

Form of Earl: Nobleman, chief (Old English).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Vaughn: Small one (Old Welsh).

From the place of the laurel tree; laurel-crowned one (English; Latin).

Form of Philon, a form of Philemon: Loving, friendly (Greek; New Testament).

“Army guard” (German origin)

Form of the word veritas: Truth (Latin).

Form of Sam: To hear (Hebrew).

“Wisdom” (Ghanaian origin)

Worker at a manor house; the hall (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Irish origin, meaning “descendant of Shea”

Variation of “Isaac,” meaning “laughter”

Wrathful; hater (Latin form of the Greek hero Odysseus).

Life is the first thing (n-doo-BWEE-see—Igbo or Ibo, Nigeria).

James spelled backward

Bald one (Late Latin).

Japanese origin, meaning “thunder and lightning”

Unique blend of “Mar” and “Quavious”

Modern African American name

No meaning available

Smooth, polished one; tender (Latin).

Created name from African-American culture.

Unique African American name

“God is good” (Greek origin)

Form of Bernard: Brave as a bear (Old German).

French origin, meaning “nobleman,” popular in African American culture

Dispenser of provisions; provider (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“God is my strength” (Hebrew origin)

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