Discover Beautiful African American Names

“Great hill” (Scottish origin)

Variation of “Sean” with unique spelling

No meaning available

Meaning and origin unknown.

“Thin, lean” (Scottish origin)

Form of Raymond: Mighty or wise protector (Old German).

No meaning available

No meaning available

Brilliant raven; he shall be famous (English; German).

Created name from African-American culture.

“Of the night” (French origin)

Form of Marquis: Nobleman (mar-KEE—French; MAR-quis).

Blend of “Trey” and “Vin”

Elegance (Swahili, East Africa).

“Home ruler” (short form of Henry)

“Lover of the earth” (Greek origin, adapted)

No meaning available

Fulfillment (Muslim).

No meaning available

Form of Terence: Smooth, polished one; tender (Latin).

Form of Emlyn: Common Welsh name of unknown meaning (EM-lin).

Famous one’s island (Old English).

“Fair-haired” (English origin, modern American adaptation)

“Bearer of the heavens” (Greek origin)

Variation of “Naeem,” meaning “gracious”

“Breath” (Hebrew origin)

Dweller of the province of Lorraine (Scottish, from the French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Form of Hammond: Home; high protection (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name. Name found among free black men who lived and worked in early nineteenth-century New England.

Reddish-brown-haired and powerful (Old English).

“Priceless” (variation of Antoine)

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

Blend of “Ke” and “Monte”

Irish origin, meaning “white”

Blend of “Ty” and “Quan”

Meaning and origin unknown.

“Hugh’s town” (Scottish origin)

Place name—city in New Hampshire. Name given to enslaved men in eighteenth-century New Hampshire.

“Youthful” (Latin origin)

No meaning available

Warrior (Old German).

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

Dweller from the southern settlement (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

“Brave counsel” (German origin)

Wrathful; hater (Latin form of the Greek hero Odysseus).

“A Breton” (French origin)

Meaning unknown (Sierra Leone).

Form of Stephanos: Crowned one (Greek).

Form of Frederick: Peaceful ruler (Old German).

Ruler of the people (Old German).

Grain grinder (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Dweller at the west estate or west-facing farm (Old English).

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

Form of the word veritas: Truth (Latin).

Form of Dewi, Welsh form of David: Beloved one (Hebrew; Old Testament—King of Israel).

“Little hill” (English origin)

“Freeman” (German origin)

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

“Immortal” (Greek origin)

Arabic origin, meaning “generous,” popular in African American culture

Well-born one; young warrior (Old Welsh).

Form of Juan, the Spanish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

“Handsome” (Swahili origin)

Form of Leroy: King; person given the title of king for his royal bearing or for the part played in a religious pageant (French).

Praise (Hebrew; Old Testament).

No meaning available

Curly-haired one (Latin; New Testament).

Kingly (Swahili, East Africa).

Champion (Irish Gaelic).

Famous bearer (Italian).

Unique blend of “O” and “Vell”

From the great estate or town (French).

“Ash tree town” (English origin)

Arabic origin, meaning “kind, gentle”

Exalted father (Hebrew; Old Testament—Abraham’s name before God changed it). Name found among enslaved men in the South during the mid-nineteenth century.

Created name from African-American culture.

Second-born child (man-NOO—Akan, Ghana).

Man of the North (English; French).

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

Form of Heinrich: Ruler of a home or private property (Old German).

Blend of two names such as Cain (smith, craftsman—Hebrew; Old Testament, first-born son of Adam and Eve) and Abel (breath—Hebrew; Old Testament, second-born son of Adam and Eve).

No meaning available

Mighty power (Old Norse).

Born away from home (Yoruba, Nigeria).

Leathermaker (English; German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Ascending, rising (Sanskrit).

“Church” (Scottish origin)

Form of Nogomo: He will prosper (n-GO-mo—Central Africa).

Little dear or beloved one (French).

To destroy (English, from the Greek Perseus); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Arabic origin, meaning “friend,” used widely

Form of Hubert: Brilliant mind or spirit (Old German).

Form of Arthur: Noble one; bear-man; brave as a bear (Welsh; English).

Form of Haile: Meaning and origin unknown (HY-lee).

Form of the Middle English Jenyn, a form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Elf ruler (English).

“God is salvation” (Hebrew origin)

Form of Quinton: Fifth child (Latin).