Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Famous ruler” (Welsh origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Troy: At the place of the curly-haired people (Old French).

“God is gracious” (English origin)

“Watchful” (Greek origin)

“Peaceful ruler” (German origin)

No meaning available

“Noble promise” (Swahili origin)

“Horn” (English origin, popularized in African American culture)

Scottish origin, meaning “fair hero”

No meaning available

Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

“Witness” (Egyptian origin)

Form of Emery: Industrious ruler (English, from the Old German).

Created name from African-American culture.

Variation of “Cameron”

“Mountain” (modern American origin)

“God is gracious” (modern African American origin)

No meaning available

Form of Ozni: Hearing (OZ-ny—Old Testament—grandson of Jacob; Hebrew).

No meaning available

Form of Brutus: Heavy; dull  (Latin); one of the assassins of Julius Caesar.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

From the new town (French).

Form of Chuslum: Bull (chuh-sluhm—Nez Percé, Native North American).

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

Form of Jameel, Jamil, Jamili, or Jamiil: Physically and morally attractive (jah-MEEL—Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Combination of “Le” and “Marcus”

Meaning unknown (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name—sometimes the name is given to honor the surname of the late great bandleader Count Basie.

An annual grass that was believed to cause intoxication (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).

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

Form of Darrell: Little dear or beloved one (French).

Form of Yoseph or Joseph: He shall add (Arabic, North Africa; Hebrew; Swahili, East Africa).

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.

Meaning and origin unknown.

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

Modern African American name

Sea friend (Old English).

Praise (Hebrew; Old Testament).

“God will judge” (Spanish origin)

No meaning available

Dweller in the valley (Old English); surname or family given for a first or middle name.

Word name—Term used to address a young boy.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Brilliant pledge or hostage (Old French).

Warlike (Old English).

No meaning available

Beloved one (Hebrew; Old Testament—King of Israel).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Youkioma: Almost perfect (Hopi, Native North American).

Victory, triumph (Chinese).

One involved in the wool trade (Dutch; English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Aloysius: Famous warrior (Late Latin).

Blend of “Ja” and “Quarius”

Cold spring; cool, clear spring (Old English).

Lion of the new city; lion from the woodland (Greek).

“Industrious ruler” (German origin)

Comedy (Hebrew).

Blend of “Kenyon” and “-te” suffix

“Land by the road” (English origin)

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

Unique blend of “O” and “Vell”

“Citizen of Rome” (Latin origin)

Badger (English).

First, chief (Old French).

French origin, meaning “brotherly,” popular in African American culture

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

Keeper of the hours; light of the sun (Latin).

He laughs (Old Testament—son of Abraham and Sara; Hebrew).

“City of the moon” (Hebrew origin)

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

No meaning available

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

Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).

No meaning available

“Dyer” (shortened form of Dexter)

Meaning and origin unknown. Possibly derived from the name of botanic gardens in Jackson, Mississippi—the Mynelle Gardens.

From the deer forest (Old Norse).

No meaning available

Combination of “Sha” and “Vonte”

From the high or hedged forest (Old English).

Dark, reddish complexion (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Form of Tsalani: Goodbye, farewell (tsah-LAH-nee—Ngoni, Southern Africa).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Unique blend of “Xavier” and “-ion” suffix

No meaning available

No meaning available

God supports; God heals (jo-SY-ah—Hebrew; Old Testament).

Unique blend, inspired by “Xavier”

Form of Herman: Army man, soldier (Old German); high-ranking person (Latin).

Place name—an estate in southwestern Glasgow (English; Scottish); 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).

English origin, meaning “spear ruler”

Form of Quincy: Dweller at the fifth son’s estate (Old French).

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

No meaning available

Form of Bernhard: Brave as a bear (Old German).