Discover Beautiful African American Names

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

Healer (Greek). In Greek mythology, Jason was a prince who led the Argonauts on a quest to find the Golden Fleece.

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

“Hunter” (English origin)

No meaning available

Variation of “Tyron,” meaning “king”

Form of Roe: Roe-deer; small, agile European deer (Middle English).

Form of Herman: Army man, soldier (Old German); high-ranking person (Latin).

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Tad, a form of Thaddeus: Father (Greek; Late Latin; Old Welsh).

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

“Priceless” (variation of Antoine)

Spear; spearman (Old English).

Blend of “Ky” and “Ron”

Form of Ellsworth: From the estate of a noble one (English).

“Healer” (Greek origin)

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

“God is gracious” (modern American origin)

Form of Oliver: Kind, affectionate one (Old Norse; Scandinavian).

Variation of “Armando,” meaning “army man”

Modern African American name

Form of Arvin: Friend of the people (German).

Form of Lot: To cover (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

From the north estate (Old Anglo-French).

Hebrew origin, meaning “field of God”

No meaning available

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

Unique African American name with “-ell” suffix

No meaning available

“From the moor town” (English origin)

No meaning available

Blend of “Ke” and “Monte”

Meaning and origin unknown.

Meaning and origin unknown.

“Little hill” (English origin)

Form of Coolidge or Coleridge: Dweller from the ridge where charcoal was made (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Traveler” (German origin)

Victory, triumph (Chinese).

Handsome (Irish).

No meaning available

“Tender” (variation of Terrence)

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

No meaning available

Blend of “Trey” and “Devonte”

Descendant of the hound of valor (Gaelic); 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.

Variation of “Antoine,” meaning “priceless”

Father of the multitude (Hebrew; Old Testament—first of the patriarchs, father of the Hebrew nation, ancestor of the Hebrews and Arabs). Name found among enslaved men in the South during the mid-nineteenth century.

Black-eyed one (Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Dweller at the elm tree moor (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Son of the dark one (Irish Gaelic).

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

“Manly” (shortened form of Andre, modern American origin)

Unique combination of “Ja” and “Shawn”

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Adonis: Handsome lord (Greek).

Blend of “Jamar” and “Marcus”

No meaning available

Virtue name, meaning “bravery”

Unique African American name

Form of Ellis or Elliott, English and French forms, respectively, of Elijah: Jehovah is my God (Hebrew; Old Testament—Prophet who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

“Son of Japheth” (modern American origin)

No meaning available

Elder; intermediary (Middle English).

English origin, meaning “maker of cords”

English form of Evert: Strong or brave as a boar; always true (Dutch).

Form of Derek: Ruler of the people (Old German).

Form of Sharp: Keen, active, quick (English; Irish; Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Word name—from the word blaec: Dark complexioned (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Variation of “Sean” with unique spelling

Gatekeeper (French, from the Latin).

Modern African American name

Latin origin, meaning “fifth,” adapted in African American communities

Possible form of Akin, Akins: Warrior, hero, brave man or boy (ah-KEEN, ah-KEENS—Yoruba, Nigeria).

No meaning available

Dear friend (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

The truly bold; noble; sacred prince; genuine (Anglo-French; German).

“Gift of God” (modern American origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Lamont: Law man (Scottish, from the Old Norse); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Variation of “Naeem,” meaning “gracious”

“Lover of horses” (Greek origin)

Form of Kateb: Writer, scribe (kah-teb—Arabic, North Africa).

“The Lord is my God” (Hebrew origin)

Form for a name that begins with “Red,” such as Redford, a form of Radford, a place name in England.

Acquired (Hebrew; Old Testament—the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel).

Form of Thomas: Twin (Aramaic; Greek; New Testament).

Name that honors Saint Julian the Hospitaler, legendary patron of travelers, boatmen, innkeepers, and the like.

Blend of two names such as Quinn (wise; intelligent—Irish Gaelic) and Shawn (God is good, gracious—Irish).

“Powerful” (Swahili origin)

Unique blend of “De” and “Marius”

Shield, rim, edge (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Forest worker” (English origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Tarik: Visitor (Swahili, East Africa).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Youkioma: Almost perfect (Hopi, Native North American).

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

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

Surname or family name given for a first or middle name: Hostage, noble youth; bright, famous (Early Medieval English).