Discover Beautiful African American Names

Arabic origin, meaning “thankful”

No meaning available

Form of Festus: Meaning and origin unknown. In the New Testament, the procurator of Judea through whom Paul made his famous appeal to Caesar.

Variation of “Naeem,” meaning “gracious”

Form of Basil and Bazil: Kingly; magnificent (Latin).

Word name—From khayim: Life (Hebrew); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Third son” (modern African American origin)

Hebrew origin, meaning “devoted to God”

Form of Ezra: Salvation (Hebrew; Old Testament—prophet for whom a book in the Old Testament is named).

From the farm or homestead of Carl (English).

Form of Bem: He is peaceful (behm—Tiv, Nigeria).

“Fair” (Irish origin)

Place name—from Orsay in Seine-et-Orne, France; surname or family name given for a first or middle name (English, from the French).

Spanish origin, meaning “of the sea”

No meaning available

“Fortress” (French origin)

From the black or dark water (Scottish Gaelic).

“Warrior” (African origin)

Chief guardian; noble watchman (Old English).

Famous spearman (Old High German).

“Industrious ruler” (German origin)

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

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

No meaning available

From the stronghold (den-ZEL—English).

Created name from African-American culture.

“Lame” (Latin origin, adapted)

Form of Bert: Shining brightly; glorious one (Old English).

Unique African American name

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

“Old town” (English origin)

From the bent-grass farm (Old English).

Form of Herbert: Bright, excellent ruler (English).

Form of McDonnell (MacDonnell): Son of Donhnall (or Donald)—mighty ruler (Irish Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Variation of “Irvin”

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

Prosperous spearman (Old English).

Created name from African-American culture.

Latin origin, meaning “heaven”

No meaning available

English origin, meaning “claw”

From the cliff land; land near the steep bank (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Famous ruler” (Welsh origin)

No meaning available

Form of Chapman: Merchant (Middle English; Old English).

Form of Clifford: From the cliff ford; one who dwells at the ford near the cliff (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Nathan: Giver (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Unique African American name

Prosperous guardian (Old English).

Italian origin, African American variation meaning “angel”

“Independent” (American origin)

“Land of the spear” (French origin)

Courageous protector (Italian, from the German helmut).

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.

English origin, meaning “woad hill”

No meaning available

No meaning available

From the island (French).

Form of Alexander, Sanders (son of Alexander), Sandor (form of Alexander): Helper and defender of humankind (Greek).

Mighty, brave (Old German).

No meaning available

“Thankful” (modern African American origin)

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

Form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).

No meaning available

“My father is alive” (Igbo origin)

King (English, from the Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Free man (Irish Gaelic).

“Son of the right hand” (shortened form of Benjamin)

No meaning available

“Of Darius” (modern African American origin)

Form of Oliver: Kind, affectionate one (Old Norse; Scandinavian).

English origin, meaning “maker of cords”

Variation of “Roman,” meaning “from Rome”

No meaning available

No meaning available

All wise (Scandinavian).

No meaning available

From the Scandinavian country Denmark (Old Norse).

Unique modern name

From the settlement of freemen (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Jonah: Peace, dove (Hebrew).

Form of Koffi: Born on Friday (Ga [Gao], Ghana).

Form of Lynn: From the lake, pool, or waterfall (Old Welsh); predominantly a female name.

Form of Wesley: From the west meadow (Old English).

A worker in metal (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Modern name with “x” suffix

Unique blend of “Ja” and “Quis”

Shining brightly; glorious one (Old English).

Created name from African-American culture.

From the deer forest (Old Norse).

White one's estate (Old English).

Meaning and origin unknown. Named found among enslaved men in the South during the nineteenth century.

“Guide” (South African origin)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Baron: A title of nobility (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Hubert: Brilliant mind or spirit (Old German).

No meaning available