Discover Beautiful African American Names

No meaning available

Form of Dion or Dennis, from Dionysos: God of wine and revelry (Greek).

Form of Sam: To hear (Hebrew).

Red-haired or ruddy-complexioned one (English, from the French).

“Great” (English origin)

Arabic origin, meaning “kind, gentle”

Place name—a manor house in Echingham, Sussex, England; surname or family name given for a first or middle name (English).

One who knocks at the door (TAH-reek—Arabic, North Africa).

Variation of “Tyron,” meaning “king”

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

“Gatekeeper” (English origin)

Meaning and origin unknown.

“God is salvation” (Hebrew origin, widely used)

The pilgrim (Swahili, East Africa).

Dweller at the hall or manor house (Old English).

Unique blend of “Mar” and “Tavious”

“Strong” (Swahili origin)

Created name from African-American culture.

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

Son of the black one of peace (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Chief, ruler (Old English).

Son of Thurgod, an ancient font name (Anglo-Saxon). Surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Power of God” (Igbo origin)

Form of Dupré: Dweller of the meadow (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Stephanos: Crowned one (Greek).

Place name—from Orsay in Seine-et-Orne, France; surname or family name given for a first or middle name (English, from the French).

Form of Alphonso: Noble and ready; eager for battle (Old German).

Hebrew origin, meaning “strength of God”

Black-eyed one (Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

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

Blend of “Von” and “-tez” suffix

Well born; noble (Greek).

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Enslow: A place name in Oxfordshire, England; surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Albert: Noble and brilliant or illustrious (Old English).

Modern name with unique spelling

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

Modern African American name

Form of Paul: Little; small in stature but big in love and constancy (Amharic, Ethiopia; Latin; New Testament).

Spanish form of Charles: Strong, manly (German; Latin).

Form of Rosso: Red-haired or red-bearded one (Italian); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Blend of two names such as Alfred (elf counselor; good counselor; counselor with wisdom and diplomacy—Old English) and Frederick (peaceful ruler—German).

Form of Kendrick: Son of Henry (Irish Gaelic).

No meaning available

Enduring, lasting, steadfast (Italian). From Dante Alighieri, born Durante Alighieri, thirteenth-century Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy.

Form of Jefferson: Son of Jeffrey (English).

Form of Jacob: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).

From the springs (Old English).

“Wise” (Latin origin)

“Hollow” (Irish origin, adapted)

Town or village; homestead settlement; enclosure by the water meadow (Anglo-Saxon; English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture.

Variation of “Shawn” with unique “-den” ending

Form of Keto: Depth (Swahili, East Africa).

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

Form of the Latin personal name Paschalis: Peaceful one (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).

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

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

No meaning available

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Taurus: Bull (Latin); the second sign of the Zodiac.

Born on Wednesday (Akan, Ghana).

“Hopeful” (Arabic origin)

Wry or crooked nose (Scottish Gaelic); also a Scottish clan name.

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

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

Form of Othello: From the title character in Shakespeare’s play.

No meaning available

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

“Desiring peace” (German origin)

Form of Sharif (sha-REEF): Honorable, eminent (Arabic, North Africa).

From jaya: victory (Hindi, India; Sanskrit).

Form of Pompey: Tendril; young shoot (Latin). Name found among free black men who lived and worked in early eighteenth-century New England.

Helper and defender of humankind (English).

“Supplanter” (modern African American origin)

From the north estate (Old Anglo-French).

Dweller near the field overgrown with roses (Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Rich and powerful (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Edge of the river” (English origin)

Ascending, rising (Sanskrit).

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

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.

No meaning available

“Laughter” (Hebrew origin)

Little ancient one (Irish Gaelic).

Place name—a town in Germany (Slavic).

Unique modern name

Form of Roger: Famous spearman (Old High German).

Form of Warren: Watchman, defender, true man (Old German).

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

“Holy” (Arabic origin)

Blond one (Old Flemish).

Northerner (Old French).

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

“Ellis’s town” (English origin)

Meaning and origin unknown.

Form of Darwin: Dear friend (English).