Discover Beautiful African American Names

Form of Crandall: Son of Randal, Reginald, or Ronald (Gaelic; Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Slavic origin, meaning “declaration of peace”

Form of Frederick: Peaceful ruler (Old German).

“Brave as a wild boar” (English origin)

Eighteenth-century African name of unknown meaning and origin.

Place name—a town in Germany (Slavic).

Dweller at the crossroads; toll collector (Middle English; Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Modern African American name

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).

Modern variation of “Omar”

Burdened, troubled; borne by God (Old Testament; Hebrew).

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

Form of Woodrow: Dweller at the hedge by the forest (Old English).

Word name—form of Boyce—English, Irish, and Scottish forms of bois: Wood, dweller by the wood (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Lamar: Famous for land (Old German).

Form of Isaiah: Salvation of God (Old Testament—prophet; Hebrew).

No meaning available

Form of Heinrich: Ruler of a home or private property (Old German).

Blend of two words or names such as the month of June and Julius (youthful; downy-bearded one—Latin).

Modern name with unique spelling

Mild, gentle, merciful (Latin).

A military man (Latin).

Wise ruler (Old English).

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

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Lamar: Famous for land (Old German).

“Youthful” (Latin origin)

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

Form of Roger: Famous spearman (Old High German).

Modern African American name, often with “De” prefix

Russian form of John: God is gracious (New Testament; Hebrew).

“Peace” (Zulu origin)

Unique variation of “Amari”

“Hunter” (English origin)

No meaning available

Of unique birth or origin (origin unknown).

“Sun child” (Hebrew origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Kalil: Crown, wreath, garland (KAY-lil—Hebrew).

Form of Derek: Ruler of the people (Old German).

“Brown’s son” (English origin)

One who makes and repairs barrels (English, from the Middle Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

First (Latin).

“Strong ruler” (variation of Richard)

Unique African American name

Dweller near the wide riverside meadow or from the wide island in the river (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Watchman, guard (Old English).

Healer (Greek). In Greek mythology, Jason was a prince who led the Argonauts on a quest to find the Golden Fleece.

Meaning and origin unknown. Name found among free black men who lived and worked in late eighteenth-century New England.

No meaning available

“Great Lord” (Welsh origin, popularized in African American culture)

Modern name, meaning “thankful”

Word name—the street (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture, an adaptation of Makeba, in honor of the late South African singer and activist, Miriam Makeba.

“Ruler of the world” (Irish origin, popular in African American communities)

Fearless person, brave one; comforter, bringer of consolation (Muslim; Swahili, East Africa).

Blend of “Ke” and “Monte”

“Courteous” (French origin)

Chief guardian; noble watchman (Old English).

Beloved, famous, and resolute (German).

Blend of “Ken” and “Ard”

No meaning available

No meaning available

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.

“Wise protector” (German origin)

No meaning available

“Wise, intelligent” (Arabic origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

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

Combined name: Yves (yew, the type of wood for bow making—French; Germanic origin) and Emmanuel (God with us—Hebrew; Old Testament).

Of the mountain (English; French).

Spanish form of Melchior: King city; king of light (Judeo-Christian legend).

Hebrew origin, meaning “field of God”

Conquering one (Latin).

Modern blend of “Ky” and “-len”

No meaning available

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

Form of Obadiah: Servant of God (Old Testament; Hebrew).

Sacred or holy name (Greek; Latin).

Form of Bartholomew: Son of the furrows; a farmer (New Testament—one of the twelve apostles; Hebrew).

Handful; open hand (Swahili, East Africa).

No meaning available

“Noble friend” (English origin)

Modern African American name, “smooth, calm”

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

From Roman mythology; the twin of Romulus, founder of Rome.

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

Form of William: Resolute protector (Old German).

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

No meaning available

Form of Budd: One whose body is thick (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

German origin, meaning “wolf power”

Created name from African-American culture.

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

Of God’s peace (English).

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.

Form of Eugene: Well born, noble (Greek).