Discover Beautiful African American Names

Surname or family name given for a first or middle name: Calf (Irish).

Variation of “Niles,” meaning “son of Neil”

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

Created name from African-American culture.

From the brushwood hill (English).

“Happy, blessed” (Hebrew origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

Variation of “Naeem,” meaning “gracious”

Meaning and origin unknown.

Form of Adolf: Noble wolf; noble hero (Old German).

Form of Colbert: Famous helmeted one; dark-haired one (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

No meaning available

“Immortal” (Greek origin)

“Overseer” (English origin)

No meaning available

Meaning and language unknown (Nigeria).

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

“Strong decision” (French origin)

Form of Alfred: Elf counselor; good counselor; counselor with wisdom and diplomacy (Old English).

Meaning and origin unknown.

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

Form of Stewart: Household administrator (Scottish, from Middle and Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Moses: Mercy; saved from the water (Egyptian; Hebrew; Old Testament—referring to the biblical Moses).

Pulling the branch of a tree; troublemaker (Xhosa, South Africa).

Form of Lewis, a form of Louis: Great fighter; famous warrior; warrior prince (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

Exalted one, imperial, revered (Latin).

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

“King” (Malian origin)

No meaning available

“Wolf counsel” (English origin)

“Bold” (West African origin)

“The river that swallows all rivers” (African origin, widely adapted)

No meaning available

Vain (Latin).

“Roof maker” (English origin)

“From the mountain” (modern American origin)

Variation of “Raul” with “-ston” suffix

From the watch hill (Old English).

“Disciple of St. Columba” (Scottish origin)

“Companion” (modern American origin)

Mortal, man of the red earth; first human created by God (Old Testament; Hebrew).

Son of Jack (a form of John—God is gracious—Hebrew; New Testament); English, Irish, or Scottish surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Son of Jeffrey” (English origin)

Genuine; of excellent quality (English).

Well-born one; young warrior (Old Welsh).

Form of Roscoe: From the deer forest (Old Norse).

Lime-tree wood (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Son of Iver,” popularized in African American culture

No meaning available

Form of Sundara: Beautiful (Sanskrit).

Blue jay (Old French).

Blend of “Trey” and “Vin”

Form of Brian: Strong one (Celtic).

Blend of “Ken” and “-trell” suffix

Unique variation of “Kaiser”

Form of Haswell: From the spring near the hazelnut tree (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

The truly bold; noble; sacred prince; genuine (Anglo-French; German).

Created name from African-American culture.

“Mighty warrior” (Hebrew origin)

Meaning and origin unknown.

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

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

No meaning available

“Fair-haired” (English origin, modern American adaptation)

French form of Dominic: Belonging to God (Latin).

Spanish form of Charles: Strong, manly (Latin; Old German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Hebrew origin, meaning “warrior”

From the bean field (Old English).

No meaning available

Form of Ahmed: Highly praised (Arabic, North Africa).

“Son of Carr” (Scottish origin)

Form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).

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

“Dear friend” (English origin)

“Small” (Welsh origin, often used in African American culture)

Blend of two names such as Kenneth (handsome one—Irish Gaelic; royal oath—Old English) and Rick (powerful ruler—Old German; powerful, brave—Old English).

“Horse keeper” (French origin)

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

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Ron, a form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).

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

Form of Rosso: Red-haired or red-bearded one (Italian); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Warrior (Old German).

Meaning unknown (Gan, Togo).

Servant of God (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Fine, fortunate (English, from the Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

From the friend’s estate or town (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Enduring, lasting, steadfast (Italian). From Dante Alighieri, born Durante Alighieri, thirteenth-century Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy.

The king is ruler; king of kings (RAH-jesh—Sanskrit).

Blend of two names such as Winston (from the friend’s estate or town—Old English) and Bernard (brave as a bear—Old German).

Unique African American name

Form of DaCosta: One who dwells on a slope (Galician; Italian; Jewish [Sephardic]; Portuguese); surname or family name given as a first or middle name.

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

Elf counselor; good counselor; counselor with wisdom and diplomacy (Old English).

Form of Malin: Little war-mighty one (Old English).

“Fortified place” (English origin)

Place name—Two cities in the United States: Boise, Idaho; Boise City, Oklahoma.

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

No meaning available

Soldier armed with a spear; maker of spears (Middle English); surname or family name give for a first or middle name.