Discover Beautiful African American Names

No meaning available

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

Scottish origin, meaning “fair hero”

“Ridge” (English origin)

French form of Peter: Rock or stone (Latin; New Testament).

God is my judge (Hebrew; Old Testament—major prophet).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Vachel: Little cow (Old French).

Little Tom, named for his father Thomas: Twin (Aramaic; Greek; New Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Ratcliff: Red cliff or riverbank (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Meaning and origin unknown. Name found among free black men during the eighteenth century.

No meaning available

Modern African American name with a unique sound

“Gravelly homestead” (Scottish origin)

“Valiant” (Swahili origin, widely used in African American communities)

The sacred text comes into the home (Yoruba, Nigeria).

“Dark warrior” (Irish origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Military officer; keeper of horses (Middle English).

Dweller at the willow ford. (Old English).

English origin, meaning “noble’s son”

Meaning unknown (The Gambia); surname of the character Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley’s book Roots, given for a first or middle name.

Form of William: Resolute protector (Old German).

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

Hebrew origin, meaning “oracle”

Dweller at the thorny estate (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

“Guide” (South African origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Vaughn: Small one (Old Welsh).

“Of Mars, warlike” (modern African American origin)

“Ridge farm” (English origin)

“Strong, noble” (variation of Brian, popularized in African American culture)

“Love me” or “loved by God” (Yoruba origin)

“God is my strength” (Hebrew origin)

Form of Abram: 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.

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

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

Form of Anthony: Inestimable, priceless one; worthy of praise (Latin).

“Praise” (Igbo origin)

Sanskrit origin, meaning “king”

Form of Wilton: From the spring farm (Old English).

Place name—several places in England: Child's dwelling (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Ewan: Born of the yew tree (Scottish, from the Gaelic).

Homestead near a river (English).

No meaning available

Prefix (meaning “son of”) of a surname or family name given for a first or middle name (Irish; Scottish).

One who lives by a stream; one who lives in the county of Cumberland; surname or family name given for a first or middle name (Scottish).

Prince (West Africa).

“Priceless” (variation of Antoine)

Unique African American name

Form of Jennifer: White-cheeked; white wave; white phantom; yielding (Old Welsh); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Keto: Depth (Swahili, East Africa).

From the battle place (Irish Gaelic).

Form of Curtis: Courteous one; court-bred (Old French).

Beloved, famous, and resolute (German).

Place name—town in Niger, a country in West Africa.

Form of Reuben: Behold, a son (Hebrew; Old Testament—eldest son of Jacob and Leah).

Variation of “Xavier,” meaning “new house”

No meaning available

English origin, meaning “safe place”

Japanese origin, meaning “thunder and lightning”

Form of Dupré: Dweller of the meadow (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Son of Jordan” (English origin)

Form of Arnold: Strong as an eagle (Old German).

Meaning and origin unknown.

“River crossing” (English origin)

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

Meaning and origin unknown.

Hebrew origin, meaning “field of God”

Form of Dick, a form of Richard: Powerful ruler (Old German).

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

No meaning available

Great king of the Zulus who, in 1818, united the people of South Africa against colonial control; also called Shaka (Zulu, South Africa).

“Brave, powerful” (English origin)

“Little hills” (variation of Terence)

Unique blend of “O” and “Vell”

“Gracious defender” (Irish origin)

Brilliant pledge or hostage (Old French).

Portuguese and Spanish form of Peter: Rock or stone (Latin; New Testament).

Form of Stephanos: Crowned one (Greek).

To provide food (French).

Hebrew origin, meaning “pine tree”

No meaning available

Judge from the hill (English; Hebrew; Old Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Strong man; ferocious warrior (Americanized form of the Italian family name Taliaferro; English form of Telfer from the Old French taille(r); Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

“God is gracious” (Russian origin)

Blend of two names such as Dennis, the English form of Denis, the French form of Dionysos (Greek mythological god of wine and revelry) and Renardo (mighty, brave—Old German).

No meaning available

Son of Roy (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Italian origin, meaning “brave”

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

“My father is alive” (Igbo origin)

Irish origin, meaning “courageous”

Born in pain (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Form of Terence: Smooth, polished one; tender (Latin).