Discover Beautiful African American Names

Modern African American name

Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

No meaning available

Pulling the branch of a tree; troublemaker (Xhosa, South Africa).

From the wine town (English).

“God is gracious” (modern African American name)

Bringer of light and knowledge (Latin).

Dweller at the hall or manor house (Old English).

No meaning available

“Son of Iver,” popularized in African American culture

No meaning available

Form of Leslie: Garden of hollies; gray fort (English; Gaelic; Scottish).

Unique blend of “Quan” and “-ell”

Unique modern name

God's gift (Hausa, West Africa).

“Lord” (Scottish origin)

Form of Curtis: Courteous one; court-bred (Old French).

Form of Francis: Free man, or Frenchman (Latin).

“Army ruler” (English origin)

Salvation (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

Form of Lucius: Bringer of light and knowledge (Latin).

“Resolute protector” (German origin)

Form of William: Resolute protector (Old German).

Good friend; friend of God (Old English).

No meaning available

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

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

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown.

Blend of “Ja” and “Quell”

“Great hill” (Scottish origin)

A modern twist on “Aldric,” meaning “old and wise ruler”

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

No meaning available

Form of the Middle English Jenyn, a form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

To rejoice (Latin).

Modern African American name

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Darius: King, kingly; one who is wealthy (dah-RI-us—Hebrew).

Form of author, a book writer (English).

No meaning available

Behold, a son (Hebrew; Old Testament—eldest son of Jacob and Leah).

King; person given the title of king for his royal bearing or for the part played in a religious pageant (French).

Created name from African-American culture.

Created name from African-American culture.

“Defender of the people” (Greek origin)

“He who wins the struggle” (Yoruba origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

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

From the black or dark water (Scottish Gaelic).

No meaning available

Owner of a grassy plain; territory (Middle English, from the German).

Torrent; rapid stream (Latin).

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

The master (Hindi, India).

Dweller at the thorny estate (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Unique spelling of “Marquis”

No meaning available

Unique blend of “Aldon” and “-is”

No meaning available

Long life (Swahili, East Africa).

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

Unique African American name

Word name—Question; doubt (Latin).

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

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

Latin origin, meaning “tender, gracious,” used widely

Form of Bem: He is peaceful (behm—Tiv, Nigeria).

“Son of the right hand” (shortened form of Benjamin)

The chosen one (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

“Raven” (French origin)

Form of Abram: Exalted father (Hebrew; Old Testament—Abraham’s name before God changed it). Name found among enslaved men in the South during the mid-nineteenth century.

No meaning available

Chalk ridge (Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Brittany: Place name—a peninsula in northwestern France (Latin).

Form of McNeil: Champion (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Modern name variation, combining “De” with “Mario”

No meaning available

From the style of American music jazz; origin unknown.

No meaning available

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

“Settlement of free men” (English origin)

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

No meaning available

Spanish form of Joseph: God will add or increase (Hebrew).

Form of Otha: Prosperous (German).

“Lover” (Irish origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

Watchful one (Hebrew).

Unique combination of “Ja” and “Shawn”

“Pierces the valley” (French origin)

Form of Kendrick (son of Henry—Irish Gaelic; royal ruler—Old English).

No meaning available

Blend of “Ra” and “Quan”

Form of Quincy: Dweller at the fifth son's estate (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Scott: Dwells in Scotland (English).

“Little redhead” (Irish origin)

Form of Ervin: Handsome (Irish); sea friend (English).

“God is with us” (Hebrew origin, popular in African American communities)

“Steward” (Scottish origin)