Discover Beautiful African American Names

Meaning and origin unknown.

Blend of two names such as Boyce (word name—English, Irish, and Scottish forms of bois: wood, dweller by the wood—Old French—surname or family name given for a first or middle name) and Reid (one who has red hair—Scottish; surname or family name given for a first or middle name).

Form of Desmond: Gracious protector (English).

“Lion” (Greek origin, popularized)

Victory, triumph (Chinese).

Son of the champion; son of Neal (English).

“Hopeful” (Arabic origin)

Variation on “Trevon,” meaning “fair town”

Commander, leader, ruler; prince (ah-MEER-ee—Swahili, East Africa).

Meaning unknown (South Africa).

“Land of the spear” (French origin)

Unique variation of “Lamont”

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

“Free man” (Latin origin)

No meaning available

Blend of two names such as Simeon or Simon (heard by God; hearing; one who hears—Hebrew; New Testament) and Samuel (his name is of God—Hebrew; Old Testament).

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

Possessor of dates; date merchant; date trader (Arabic).

Form of Linwood: Dweller from the pool or waterfall near the forest (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Little bald one” (Latin origin, popular in African American culture)

Form of Jojo: Born on Monday (Fante, Ghana).

“Wolf counsel” (English origin)

Form of Germain: Brother (French, from the Late Latin).

Noble leader (English).

From the town near the clearing in the woods (Scottish).

Lively, aggressive; strife (Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Form of Durant: The enduring one (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

One who dwells near a beech tree (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

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.

“Wide island” (French origin)

Form of Nogomo: He will prosper (n-GO-mo—Central Africa).

Blend of “Ta” and “Jon”

Form of Isaac: He laughs (Old Testament; Hebrew).

“Royal power” (Scottish origin, commonly used in African American culture)

Form of Akello: I have brought, bring forth (ah-KEHL-oh—Alur, Uganda).

Combination of “Leon” and “Andre”

Created name from African-American culture.

To destroy (English, from the Greek Perseus); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Island meadow” (English origin)

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

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

Dweller at the castles (Old Welsh); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture.

Keeper of the enclosed hedge (Old English).

From Ella’s hill or foreign hill (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Form of Barak: Lightning, a flash of light (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Form of Corey: Dweller near a hollow (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Hero” (English origin)

Unique spelling of “Justin”

“God is gracious” (English origin)

Form of Demeter: Fertility (Greek); the goddess of fertility and agriculture in Greek mythology.

“Arrow maker” (English origin)

Arabic origin, meaning “morning star”

Hebrew origin, meaning “field of God”

Variation of “Shawn” with unique “-den” ending

Modern blend, inspired by “Jalen” and “Jelani”

Broad clearing (Old English).

One wearing a curly hairstyle (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Army ruler” (English origin)

Place name—a river in Scotland.

“Badger” (English origin)

Modern variation of “Omar”

“Spring” (English origin)

From a field near the town (English).

Unique blend of “Mar” and “Quavious”

“Nature’s son” (modern African American origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Jarvis: Conqueror (English).

“Strong, brave bear” (variation of Bernard)

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

Created name from African-American culture.

“Born on a Friday” (Akan origin)

One from the field of hawthorns (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Jabari: Fearless person, brave one; comforter, bringer of consolation (Muslim; Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Hugh: Intelligence; spirit (Old English).

No meaning available

Law man (Scottish, from the Old Norse); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Milton: Dweller at the mill town (Old English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Modern African American name

No meaning available

No meaning available

Curly-haired one (Latin; New Testament).

No meaning available

“Ash tree town” (English origin)

Keeper of the forest (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Youthful” (Latin origin)

No meaning available

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

No meaning available

Divine spear; divine man of the spear (Old English; Scottish).

Name created by writer Oscar Wilde for his title character in The Portrait of Dorian Gray—thought to be influenced by inhabitants of Doris (Dorians), a mountainous region of Greece (English).

Meaning and origin unknown. Name used among free black men since the 18th century.

“Follower of Christ” (Greek origin)

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

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

Hunter (Greek).

No meaning available