Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Son of James” (English origin)

A blend of two names such as Micah (like unto the Lord—Hebrew; Old Testament prophet) and Elijah (Hebrew; Jehovah is my God—Old Testament).

No meaning available

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

Created name from African-American culture.

Place name—capital city of England and the United Kingdom.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Form of Anthony: Inestimable, priceless one; worthy of praise (French; Latin).

Great fighter; famous warrior; warrior prince (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

Form of Errol: To wander (Latin).

No meaning available

No meaning available

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

Form of Anthony: Inestimable, priceless one; worthy of praise (Latin).

Modern African American name

“Land” (German origin)

No meaning available

Form of Jefferson: Son of Jeffrey (English).

“Success” (West African origin)

No meaning available

Place name—towns in seventeen U.S. states.

Form of Jaron: To sing, to cry out (Hebrew).

Of the mountain (English; French).

Hunter (Greek).

Form of Omari: Flourishing, thriving; long life (Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Halbert: Brilliant hero (Old English).

Prosperous guardian (English).

Arabic origin, meaning “faith”

Form of Lyman: Man of the meadow (Middle English).

Latin origin, meaning “tender, gracious,” used widely

Form of William: Resolute protector (German).

No meaning available

No meaning available

A town on a hill (English).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Shakil: Handsome, well developed (Arabic, North Africa).

“Bearer of the heavens” (Greek origin)

Form of Lloyd: Gray-haired one (Old Welsh).

No meaning available

Italian origin, African American variation of “Dante”

“Strong, noble” (variation of Brian, popularized in African American culture)

Mighty with the spear (Old English).

Eighteenth-century African name of unknown meaning and origin.

“Appointed” (Hebrew origin)

No meaning available

The Lord is God (Hebrew).

Unique blend of “Ka” and “rell” suffix

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

Arrow maker (Middle English).

Form of Golding: Son of the golden one (Old English).

No meaning available

Form of Jojo: Born on Monday (Fante, Ghana).

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

No meaning available

Benevolent; content, happy (nah-EEM—Arabic, North Africa).

Little dark one (Irish Gaelic).

“Gentle” (African American origin)

Form of Romanus: Man from Rome (French; Latin).

“He has heard” (Hebrew origin)

One who dwells near a beech tree (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Son of the dark one (Irish Gaelic).

Merchant; storekeeper (French).

“Of Marcus” (modern American origin)

Shield, rim, edge (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

God will uplift (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Dweller at the elm tree moor (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Meaning and origin unknown.

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

Place name—state in the central United States.

Fierce chief or fierce lord, red-haired; ruddy one (Old Welsh).

No meaning available

Irish form of Miles: Generous (German).

No meaning available

“Supplanter” (variation of Jacob, modern American origin)

No meaning available

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

“God is gracious” (English origin)

“Valley” (Scottish origin)

“Blessed” (Latin origin)

“Maintains possessions well” (Persian origin, popular in African American culture)

No meaning available

Nickname that Billy Diamond gave to Antoine Domino, Jr., in 1946 when Domino played piano in Diamond’s band at the Hideaway Club. At the time, Domino carried 220 pounds on his five-foot, five-inch frame.

Blend of two names such as Marvin (famous friend; sea friend—English; Welsh) and Purvis (to provide food—French).

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

Asked for (from the Aramaic; Latin; New Testament—missionary friend of Paul and Timothy).

Powerful, brave (Old German).

From the triangular or gore-shaped hill; from the marshes (Old English).

“Elf ruler” (English origin)

The god of divination; a tool for removing pulp of green calabash; good luck, gain (ee-FEH, EE-fay—Yoruba, Nigeria).

No meaning available

“Son of Jay” (modern American origin)

Modern name, meaning “glorious defender”

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Cornelius: Like a horn (Latin).

“Counsel power” (variation of Reginald)

Son of Lans (Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

From the stronghold (den-ZEL—English).

Variation of “Emmanuel,” meaning “God is with us”

English form of Griffith: Fierce chief or fierce lord, red-haired; ruddy one (Old Welsh).

Sanskrit origin, meaning “king”