Discover Beautiful African American Names

Created name from African-American culture.

“Independent” (American origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

Dutch origin, meaning “home-ruler,” popularized in African American culture

Small settlement (Anglo-Saxon; Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Vance: Grain thresher; dweller near the grain-winnowing fans or marshlands (Middle English).

From the secure fortress (Old English).

Form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).

No meaning available

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

Pre-eminence (Hebrew; Old Testament—father-in-law of Moses).

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

No meaning available

From the New Testament, John the Baptist (bah-TEEST—French). Commonly used with the combination name, Jean-Baptiste.

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

Spanish origin, meaning “wise power”

Blend of “Darius” and “-ion” suffix, meaning “upholder of good”

No meaning available

My father returns, meaning the child looks like one of his grandfathers; or, the reincarnated grandfather of the grandson who was born soon after the grandfather’s death (bah-bah-TOON-day—Yoruba, Nigeria).

Form of Daniel: God is my judge (Hebrew; Old Testament—major prophet).

Modern blend of “Amir” with “-ion” suffix

The pilgrim (Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Gino, a form of Eugenio (Italian).

Elegance (Swahili, East Africa).

Blend of “De” and “Mone”

Modern name with unique spelling

Created name from African-American culture.

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

From the farm or homestead of Carl (English).

No meaning available

“Famous land” (German origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

“Horn” (English origin, popularized in African American culture)

“Warlike” (Spanish origin, modern American adaptation)

French form of Edward: Prosperous guardian (English).

Bright, intelligent (Scandinavian).

Blend of “Sha” and “Quan”

Form of William: Resolute protector (German).

Poet; a man of learning (Irish Gaelic).

Blend of “Jar” and “Mar”

Born on Sunday (Akan, Ghana; Ewe, Ghana).

Form of Erik: Ever powerful; ever ruler (Old Norse).

No meaning available

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

Brown-haired one (Irish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Noble one; bear-man; brave as a bear (Welsh; English).

Created name from African-American culture.

“Badger” (English origin)

Variation of “Caden,” meaning “fighter”

No meaning available

Brave; bravery is his prize (Muslim—popular in Sudan; Arabic, North Africa).

Tall man’s estate or town (Old English).

Variation of “Devonte” with “-tay” ending

Dweller from the colony by the lake or pool—Lincoln, a city in Lincolnshire, England; surname or family name given for a first or middle name. Surname of the sixteenth president of the United States (Abraham Lincoln).

“Cart driver” (English origin, widely used)

Form of Bandele: Born away from home (Yoruba, Nigeria).

Unique African American name

“Born on a Friday” (Akan origin)

“Famous warrior” (English origin)

Place name—Island of the West Indies archipelago, located off the coast of Florida (Spanish).

Form of author, a book writer (English).

From the great estate or town (French).

Unique African American name

From St. Denis, France (Old French).

“Young warrior” (Welsh origin)

Form of Augustine: Exalted one, imperial, revered (Latin).

No meaning available

No meaning available

“Beauty” (Swahili origin)

“Free man” (German origin)

From the pasture meadow (Old English).

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

Variation of “Devonte,” meaning “protector”

Military officer; keeper of horses (Middle English).

Blend of “Ny” and “Shawn”

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Calvin: Bald one (Late Latin).

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Created name from African-American culture.

Word name—the French word tres (tray): Three.

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

“Tile maker” (English origin)

Shining one from the North (German).

“My messenger” (Hebrew origin, popular in African American culture)

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

A form of Randolf: Shield wolf (Old English). The wolf suggests courage.

English origin, meaning “spear ruler”

Son of Hall: Dweller at the hall or manor house (Old English).

From the marsh farm or estate (Old English).

Form of Arthur: Noble one; bear-man; brave as a bear (Welsh; English).

“Fit, strong” (Irish origin)

Modern name with “x” suffix

Modern African American name

“Fifth” (Latin origin)

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

Form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).