Discover Beautiful African American Names

Blend of “Rod” and “-ion” suffix

Dignity (JAH-hee—Swahili, East Africa).

“Ruler with spear” (German origin)

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

Created name from African-American culture.

“Champion” (Irish origin)

Honored title given to a sovereign (Old French).

“One who builds” (modern American origin)

Descendent of the unlucky one (Irish; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture.

“Firebrand” (French origin)

Praised (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Form of Baron: Son of strength; vigor; potency (Middle English; Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Strong, valorous, healthy (Latin).

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Meaning and origin unknown; surname or family name given for a first or middle name. Name given to honor the late newspaper publisher John Herman Henry Sengstacke.

No meaning available

“The king” (French origin)

No meaning available

Bright, excellent ruler (English).

Dweller on the bank of a river (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Son of Anders, the Scandinavian form of Andrew: Strong, manly (Greek); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

World daring; life adventuring (Gothic).

Unique name blending “De” with “various”

Place name—A river and two countries in Central Africa. Name found among freed black men from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

“Healer” (Greek origin)

No meaning available

Thrush, blackbird (French, from the Latin).

No meaning available

From the title character in Shakespeare’s play.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

From the holly-tree grove (English).

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

Blend of two names such as Vernon (youthful, springlike—Latin) and Bernard (brave as a bear—Old German).

Blend of “Tae” and “Lon”

“To be pampered” (Yoruba origin)

“Fragrant oil” (Greek origin, widely used in African American communities)

No meaning available

Modern variation of “Jackson,” meaning “son of Jack”

From the white-haired one’s island (Old English).

No meaning available

Form of Gerald: Rules by the spear (German).

Smooth, polished one; tender (Latin).

“Valley” (French origin)

Possessor of dates; date merchant; date trader (Arabic).

Merchant; storekeeper (French).

Dweller at the rocky meadow (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Good friend; friend of God (Old English).

White or blond one (Dutch).

Form of Demeter: Fertility (Greek); the goddess of fertility and agriculture in Greek mythology.

No meaning available

No meaning available

Unique blend with “-vion” suffix

“Son of Edward” (English origin)

Old, primitive (Latin; New Testament).

Son of Roy (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Hugh’s town” (Scottish origin)

Form of Otis: Acute hearing (Greek).

“Of the sea” (Spanish origin, adapted)

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown; surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Darling, beloved” (English origin, adapted)

Form of Robin, a form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Small settlement (Anglo-Saxon; Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

From the bean field (Old English).

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

“Sea protector” (Welsh origin)

“God increases” (Arabic origin)

Battle chieftain (Old English).

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

Blend of “Ja” and “Vion”

He came in a joyful time (ah-DEH-bah-yo—West Africa; Yoruba, Nigeria).

Ford over the stream (English).

Modern African American name

No meaning available

Form of Hamadi: Praised (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

“Friendly village” (English origin

African American adaptation of “Marcel”

“Power of God” (Igbo origin)

No meaning available

Spanish form of Ferdinand: World daring; life adventuring (Gothic).

No meaning available

Form of Harland: gray, rocky land (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

King, kingly; one who is wealthy (dah-RI-us—Hebrew).

Blond; one with yellow hair (Irish Gaelic; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Prince” (Arabic origin, popular in African American culture)

Form of Virgil: Rod or staff bearer (Latin).

Variation of “Marco” with “De” prefix

Third-born son (MEN-sah—Ewe, Ghana).

No meaning available

Place name—places in England and France: Ancient power; surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Dear friend” (English origin)

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

No meaning available

Form of Alex or Alexander: Helper and defender of humankind (Greek).

No meaning available

Soldier armed with a spear; maker of spears (Middle English); surname or family name give for a first or middle name.