Discover Beautiful African American Names

“River crossing” (English origin)

Modern name with unique spelling

Noble (Swahili, East Africa).

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

No meaning available

Form of Willard: Resolute and brave (Old English).

Form of Montague: Dweller at the pointed hill (English, from the French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Ellis's town (English). Surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Form of Christian: Follower of Christ, a Christian (Ecclesiastic Greek; Late Latin).

Blend of “Omar” and “-ion” suffix

“Beautiful” (Arabic origin, widely used in African American communities)

Dweller at the gates (Middle English).

“Land by the road” (English origin)

“Mountain” (modern American origin)

Blend of “Xay” and “Vion”

Greatest in excellence; great pool or spring (Irish; Latin; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Battle chieftain (Old English).

“Well-born” (Greek origin)

Form of Stephanos: Crowned one (Greek).

Form of names beginning with “Vin,” such as Vincent (conquering one—Latin) and Vinton (from the wine town—English).

Spanish form of Joseph: God will add or increase (Hebrew).

No meaning available

“Carter” (English origin)

“From Leicester” (English origin)

Blue jay (Old French).

Unique African American name

“Rock” (Scottish origin)

Blend of “Car” and “Dell”

No meaning available

Name of a Cadillac automobile model.

Unique modern name

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

“Wise, intelligent” (Arabic origin)

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

Place name—Island of the West Indies archipelago, located off the coast of Florida (Spanish).

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

“Wise protector” (German origin)

Unique blend of “La” and “Quan”

His name is of God (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

Modern African American name

Place name—country in Scandinavia.

Word name—the French word tres (tray): Three.

Peaceful (sah-LEEM—Swahili, East Africa).

Homestead near a river (English).

The earl’s shelter (English). Name found among descendants of slaves in Maryland during the late nineteenth century.

Blend of “Bri” and “Son”

“Devotion to God” (variation of Caleb)

Firm, strong, steadfast, reliable (Hebrew).

“God will judge” (Spanish origin)

“City of the moon” (Hebrew origin)

“Crowned” (modern American origin)

Famous warrior (German).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Jalal: Greatness (jah-LAL—Arabic, North Africa).

“Powerful, respected” (Arabic origin)

Beloved ruler (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Son of the dark one (Irish Gaelic).

Famous one’s island (Old English).

“Son of the steward” (English origin)

Son of Donald: Mighty world ruler (Scottish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Spanish form of Emmanuel: God is with us (Hebrew).

Form of Pernell: Little Peter (French).

“Dove” (Hebrew origin)

Form of Lamont: Law man (Scottish, from the Old Norse); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Weaver (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Honorius: Man of honor (Latin).

“Young warrior” (English origin)

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

Variation of “Aaron” with “N”

“Prince” (Irish origin)

No meaning available

“God is gracious” (English origin)

“Powerful” (Swahili origin)

Unique African American name

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

“Son of Adam” (English origin)

Form of Darren: Little great one (Irish Gaelic).

Form of Jerrold, a form of Gerald: Rules by the spear (German).

Modern African American name

Blend of “Ry” and “-lon”

English form of the Latin Martinus: Warlike one. Rooted in the mythological god of war, Mars.

Created name from African-American culture.

“Sword” (German origin)

Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.

“Fruitful” (Hebrew origin)

“Elf ruler” (English origin)

Form of McKoy: Son of Fire, the name of a Celtic pagan god (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Elevated, greatest, noble, exalted (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Blend of “Ja” and “Quell”

From the New Testament, John the Baptist (bah-TEEST—French). Commonly used with the combination name, Jean-Baptiste.

Spanish form of Reginald: Mighty and powerful; judicious; wise counselor (Latin; Old English; Old German).

Place name—a river in Scotland.

Form of Elazar or Eleazar: God has helped (Old Testament—son of Aaron; Hebrew).

Elf ruler (English).

“Breath” (Hebrew origin)

“Famous ruler” (Welsh origin)

He has flowered, flourished, grown (ah-BUH-buh—Amharic, Ethiopia).

Ethiopian form of the biblical David: Beloved one (Hebrew; Old Testament—King of Israel).