Discover Beautiful African American Names

“God is gracious” (English origin)

Form of Brad, a form of Bradford: From the broad river crossing (English).

Merciful; most gracious (Arabic, North Africa). al-Rahman is one of the ninety-nine names of Allah.

Messenger of God (MAL-ah-KY—Hebrew; Old Testament).

Son (Hebrew).

No meaning available

“Peace” (Igbo origin)

No meaning available

Son of shield (Old English).

Form of Scott: Dwells in Scotland (English).

“Youthful” (Latin origin)

Reddish-brown-haired and powerful (Old English).

Greater, greatest (Arabic; Muslim).

Variation of “Rod” with “-ell” suffix

Hebrew origin, meaning “the Lord is my God”

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

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).

Form of Ahmadou, a West African form of Ahmed: More commendable, praiseworthy (Arabic, North Africa).

No meaning available

Irish origin, meaning “white”

Form for a name that begins with “Red,” such as Redford, a form of Radford, a place name in England.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown.

“The inspirer” (African origin)

“Church land” (English origin)

Form of Devin: Poet; a man of learning (Irish Gaelic).

No meaning available

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

Meaning unknown (South Africa).

No meaning available

Dweller at the church (Old Norse; Scottish).

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

Arabic origin, meaning “leopard”

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

Blend of two names such as John (God is gracious—Hebrew; New Testament) and Karen (pure—Greek).

English origin, meaning “noble’s son”

Gentle, lovable (Irish Gaelic).

Form of Garret: A good spear thrower (Old English).

No meaning available

Son of the divine (German).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Form of Ephraim: Very fruitful (Hebrew; Old Testament—second son of Joseph and Asenath).

Variation of “Isaac,” meaning “laughter”

Modern name, meaning “glorious defender”

One of three men thrown into a fiery furnace (Old Testament).

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

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

Honored title given to a sovereign (Old French).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Adonis: Handsome lord (Greek).

Created name from African-American culture.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Cloth finisher; sheepshearer (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Christ-bearer; one who carries Christ in his heart (Greek).

“Wise river” (Irish origin)

Form of Coolidge or Coleridge: Dweller from the ridge where charcoal was made (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Donald: Mighty world ruler (Scottish Gaelic).

Blend of “Sha” and “Von”

Variation of “Michael,” meaning “who is like God”

Form of Francis: Free man, or Frenchman (Latin).

Variation of “Marvel,” meaning “miracle”

Form of Durant: The enduring one (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Son of Gray (Irish; Scottish).

“Blessed” (Latin origin)

“Of Darius” (modern African American origin)

Form of Terrell: Ruler of thunder (Old English); rooted in Thor, the mystical Norse god of thunder.

All wise (Scandinavian).

Well-born one; young warrior (EV-an—Irish Gaelic; Old Welsh).

Form of Oved: Servant, serving (Hebrew).

Dweller at the fortified army camp (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Darius: King, kingly; one who is wealthy (Hebrew).

Spanish form of Raphael: Healed by God (Hebrew).

Mercy; saved from the water, referring to the biblical Moses (Egyptian; Swahili, East Africa; Wolof, Senegal).

Son of the right hand (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

Form of Emmett: Industrious, strong (Old German).

Created name from African-American culture.

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

Boundary marked by clovers; brook near a clay bed (French; German; Old English).

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

“Beautiful” (Arabic origin, inspired by sprinter Usain Bolt)

Form of Archibald: The truly bold; noble; sacred prince; genuine (Anglo-French; German).

Form of Regin: Judgment (reeg-un—Old Norse).

Rest; comfort (Hebrew; Old Testament).

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

From the hedged place; hay enclosure (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Dyer” (Latin origin, popular in African American culture)

No meaning available

No meaning available

Blend of “Terry” and “-ion” suffix

Blend of two names such as Clovis (great fighter; famous warrior—French; Old German; Teutonic) and Louis (great fighter; famous warrior; warrior prince—French; Old German).

Meaning and origin unknown.

“White-haired man” (English origin)

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

Light; to illuminate (Arabic, North Africa; Islam—one of the ninety-nine names of Allah).