Discover Beautiful African American Names

“From the sea” (Greek origin, widely used)

Word name—The English word marvelous: Causing wonder (Middle English).

Unique blend of “Ke” and “Various”

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Shakil: Handsome, well developed (Arabic, North Africa).

Form of Jordan: Descender (Hebrew); also a female name.

English origin, meaning “heather-covered hill”

“Golden town” (French origin)

Rich and powerful (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Flattering, winning, and strong (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Arabic origin, meaning “comfort”

Form of Claudius, an old Roman family name: Lame one, suggesting that a handicap may be the stimulus for great achievement, as with the two Roman emperors with the name Claudius (Latin).

Mighty, brave (Old German).

No meaning available

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

Mercy; saved from the water, referring to the biblical Moses (Egyptian; Swahili, East Africa; Wolof, Senegal).

Great spearsman or marksman; spearlike or pointed (Irish Gaelic).

Unique modern name

Fiery or ardent one (Latin).

Handsome one (Irish Gaelic).

Blend of “Ba” and “Shaun”

Place name—a manor house in Echingham, Sussex, England; surname or family name given for a first or middle name (English).

Form of Muhammad: Worthy of praise; the Blessed (after the Prophet); thankful (Arabic, North Africa; Sudan; Swahili, East Africa).

Dweller in the clearing by the temple (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Young warrior” (Welsh origin)

Third-born son (MEN-sah—Ewe, Ghana).

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Meaning and origin unknown.

“Fortified hill” (Spanish origin)

No meaning available

Portuguese origin, meaning “son of Tavares”

Noble, famous (English).

Spanish origin, meaning “courteous”

“Fruitful” (Hebrew origin)

Son (Hebrew).

Greater, greatest (Arabic; Muslim).

Form of Jaron: To sing, to cry out (Hebrew).

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

No meaning available

No meaning available

God with us (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

Blend of two names such as Alfred (elf counselor; good counselor; counselor with wisdom and diplomacy—Old English) and Frederick (peaceful ruler—German).

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

Descendant of the hound of valor (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

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

Dweller on the bank of a river (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

“Son of Japheth” (modern American origin)

Unique African American name

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

Chief; genius (ah-LO-yeh—Yoruba, Nigeria).

Word name—Term used to address a young boy.

“Scribe, bookbinder” (English origin, popularized by Booker T. Washington)

No meaning available

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

Created name from African-American culture, a form of the word honest: Free from fraud or deception (Latin).

Meaning and origin unknown.

Bold counselor (English, from the Old High German).

Unique African American name

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

Government (Amharic, Ethiopia).

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

Form of McConville: Son of the bald hound (Irish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture.

Name that honors Saint George, Roman military tribune, who was martyred in C.E. 303. He is the patron saint of Boy Scouts, England, Germany, Portugal, and soldiers.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

“Freeman” (German origin)

Heavenly object that emits powerful blue light and radio waves (KWAY-zar). It is larger than a star and smaller than a galaxy.

In mythology, a Titan compelled to hold the world on his shoulders (Greek).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Tsalani: Goodbye, farewell (tsah-LAH-nee—Ngoni, Southern Africa).

James spelled backward

Great one (Anglo-French).

Rod or staff bearer (Latin).

Arabic origin, meaning “leopard”

“Will-bright” (German origin)

No meaning available

Form of Darshan: Vision; to see, to perceive (Hindi, India; from the Sanskrit).

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

No meaning available

Form of Jacques, the French form of Jacob: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Stable, tranquil (Latin).

Combined names that reflect John the Baptist (French; Hebrew; New Testament).

No meaning available

Form of Hamadi: Praised (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

“Gravelly homestead” (Scottish origin)

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

No meaning available

No meaning available

No meaning available

No meaning available

Ascending, rising (Sanskrit).

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

Unique African American name

Jonis's settlement (Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.