Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Little fire” (Irish origin, adapted in African American culture)

“Ruler with spear” (German origin)

English origin, meaning “heather-covered hill”

Chancellor, church official; chief recordkeeper; a diligent man who earned his good fortune (English).

Modern African American name

Knowing (English).

“Golden town” (French origin)

“Linden tree hill” (English origin)

Form of César, Spanish form of Caesar: Long-haired or hairy; through use, emperor (Latin).

Unique African American name

Hazelnut tree (Old English).

“Heir” (Scandinavian origin)

Form of Jefferson: Son of Jeffrey (English).

Form of Sean, the Irish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

Form of Sundara: Beautiful (Sanskrit).

Blend of two names such as Moses (mercy; saved from the water—Egyptian; Hebrew; Old Testament—referring to the biblical Moses) and Keziah, a form of Ketziah: (a type of cinnamon—(Hebrew; Old Testament—second daughter of Job, born to him after his great affliction).

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

Variation of “Pax,” meaning “peace”

Unique African American name

No meaning available

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

“Forest worker” (English origin)

No meaning available

Arabic origin, meaning “comfort”

Word name—The number five (Spanish).

No meaning available

Unique African American name

Champion (Irish Gaelic).

Meaning unknown (Nigeria).

Freeman, peasant, man (English).

Meaning and origin unknown.

Place name—capital city of England and the United Kingdom.

“Broad clearing” (English origin)

Benevolent; content, happy (nah-EEM—Arabic, North Africa).

Heard by God; hearing; one who hears (Hebrew; New Testament).

Form of Aloysius, a form of Louis: Famous warrior (al-oh-WIH-shus—French; Late Latin).

Unique African American name

Unique African American name

No meaning available

“Ruler’s counselor” (Scottish origin)

“Of the night” (French origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Levardis, a form of the word veritas: Truth (Latin).

Dweller in the country (German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture.

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

Strong, manly (Latin; Old German).

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Read: Red-haired or red-complexioned (Old English).

Form of Ananiah: Jehovah has given (ah-nah-NI-ahs—New Testament; Hebrew).

“Brave, powerful” (English origin)

Nobleman (mar-KEE—French; MAR-quis).

Keeper of the money; money lender (Italian); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“God’s gift” (shortened form of Theodore)

Flourishing, thriving; trustful; first son; follower of the prophet Muhammad (Arabic, North Africa; Mandinka, West Africa; Muslim; Swahili, East Africa).

Order, harmony; the universe (Greek).

If pronounced "gy-an," form of Gyantwaka: By what one plants, the planter (gy-an-twak-ah—Iroquois, Native North American).

Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).

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

“Ever ruler” (Norse origin)

Form of Leo: Lion (Latin).

Unique blend

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

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

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

Vigilant; watchful one (Greek; Latin).

Boundary marked by clovers; brook near a clay bed (French; German; Old English).

“Seen” (Yoruba origin)

Lively one (Old English).

“Free landholder” (English origin, widely used)

Spanish form of Clement: Mild, gentle, merciful (Latin).

Form of Maxwell: Greatest in excellence; great pool or spring (Irish; Latin; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Created name from African-American culture.

“Beautiful” (Arabic origin, widely used in African American communities)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.

“Son” (Scottish origin)

“Marshland” (English origin)

Well-born one; young warrior (EV-an—Irish Gaelic; Old Welsh).

Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

No meaning available

No meaning available

“Manly, brave” (modern African American origin)

Form of Darrell: Little dear or beloved one (French).

Form of Darrell: Little dear or beloved one (French).

Strong, manly (French).

Peaceful one (English).

English form of the Latin Martinus: Warlike one. Rooted in the mythological god of war, Mars.

Meaning and origin unknown.

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.

Unique variation of “Brendan,” meaning “prince”

Born in pain (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Blend of “Da” and “Quan”

Helper and defender of humankind (French).

Form of Gaspar: Treasure holder (Persian); in the New Testament, one of three kings from the East bearing gifts to the Christ child in Bethlehem.

Blend of two names such as Lee (from the pasture meadow—Old English; poetic—Irish Gaelic) and Darryl (little dear or beloved one—French).

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

Form of Albert: Noble and brilliant or illustrious (Old English).

Seed of rulership (Arabic, North Africa; Persian [Farsi], Iran).