Rossini♡
Meaning: Form of Rosso: Red-haired or red-bearded one (Italian); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
African American Names for Boys Starting with R
R - Authentic African American Boys Names & Their Meanings
Browse our curated list of African American boys names that start with the letter "R". Each name includes its meaning, cultural significance, and pronunciation help.
100 Names Found•African American boys Names•Starting with "R"
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Rube♡
Meaning: Form of Reuben: Behold, a son (Hebrew; Old Testament—eldest son of Jacob and Leah).
Roberto♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).
Rowan♡
Meaning: “Little redhead” (Irish origin)
Royce♡
Meaning: Son of Roy (English; French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Robison♡
Meaning: 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.
Readale♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Robin♡
Meaning: Form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).
Raschon♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Shawn or Sean, the Irish form of John: God is gracious (rah-SHON—Hebrew; New Testament).
Rodrion♡
Meaning: Blend of “Rod” and “-ion” suffix
Ruggierio♡
Meaning: Form of Ruggero, the Italian form of Roger: Famous spearman (Old German).
Rikardo♡
Meaning: Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Rayshard♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Raden♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Rickey♡
Meaning: Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Rashid♡
Meaning: Rightly guided (Arabic, North Africa).
Romello♡
Meaning: Variation of “Romeo” with an “l” added
Reuben♡
Meaning: “Behold, a son” (Hebrew origin)
Roger♡
Meaning: Famous spearman (Old High German).
Randy♡
Meaning: A form of Randolf: Shield wolf (Old English). The wolf suggests courage.
Rayshawn♡
Meaning: “God is gracious” (modern African American origin)
Rashawn♡
Meaning: “God is gracious” (modern African American name)
Raphael♡
Meaning: Form of Rephael: Healed by God (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Rahsaan♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Roger♡
Meaning: “Famous spear” (German origin)
Ronnie♡
Meaning: Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).
Rutter♡
Meaning: Player of the rote—an early medieval stringed instrument (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Renzo♡
Meaning: Italian origin, short for “Lorenzo”
Rajesh♡
Meaning: The king is ruler; king of kings (RAH-jesh—Sanskrit).
Ragan♡
Meaning: Form of Regin: Judgment (reeg-un—Old Norse).
Richmond♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Rafael♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Raphael: Healed by God (Hebrew).
Roscoe♡
Meaning: From the deer forest (Old Norse).
Rex♡
Meaning: King (Latin).
Ricardo♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Rap♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Rosco♡
Meaning: Form of Roscoe: From the deer forest (Old Norse).
Roosevelt♡
Meaning: Dweller near the field overgrown with roses (Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Rigby♡
Meaning: “Ridge farm” (English origin)
Raiden♡
Meaning: Japanese origin, meaning “thunder and lightning”
Roebuck♡
Meaning: Form of Roe: Roe-deer; small, agile European deer (Middle English).
Rasheed♡
Meaning: Form of Rashid: Rightly guided (Arabic, North Africa).
Reuben♡
Meaning: Behold, a son (Hebrew; Old Testament—eldest son of Jacob and Leah).
Reshard♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Radcliffe♡
Meaning: Form of Ratcliff: Red cliff or riverbank (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Ron♡
Meaning: Song, joy (male or female name—Hebrew).
Romeo♡
Meaning: “Pilgrim to Rome” (Italian origin, widely used in African American culture)
Russell♡
Meaning: Red-haired or ruddy-complexioned one (English, from the French).
Rain♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Rodolphe♡
Meaning: Form of Rudolph, a form of Rudolf: Famous wolf (Old German).
Rashard♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ra” and “Shawn”
Rhodes♡
Meaning: Place of the roses (Greek).
Ralph♡
Meaning: Wolf counsel (Old English).
Rondell♡
Meaning: Modern African American name with unique spelling
Réquan♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Resherd♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Rasheed or Rashid: Rightly guided (Arabic, North Africa).
Ramakrishna♡
Meaning: Pleasing to Krishna, the name of a popular Hindu deity (Sanskrit).
Romaine♡
Meaning: Variation of “Roman,” meaning “from Rome”
Ronald♡
Meaning: Mighty power (Old Norse).
Riddick♡
Meaning: Form of Riddock: From the smooth field (Irish Gaelic).
Remy♡
Meaning: “Oarsman” (French origin)
Rob♡
Meaning: Form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).
Rahil♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Randolph♡
Meaning: “Shield wolf” (English origin)
Rylan♡
Meaning: “Island meadow” (English origin)
Rudolph♡
Meaning: Form of Rudolf: Famous wolf (Old High German).
Ricardo♡
Meaning: “Strong ruler” (variation of Richard)
Rohan♡
Meaning: Ascending, rising (Sanskrit).
Rowland♡
Meaning: Form of Roland: From the famous land (French; Old High German).
Roque♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Rhad♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Ransom♡
Meaning: Son of shield (Old English).
Ronnell♡
Meaning: Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).
Ronald♡
Meaning: “Ruler’s counselor” (Scottish origin)
Reggie♡
Meaning: Form of Reginald: Mighty and powerful; judicious; wise counselor (Latin; Old English; Old German).
Revere♡
Meaning: Dweller on the bank of a river (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Richmond♡
Meaning: Powerful protector (German); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Rogers♡
Meaning: Form of Roger: Famous spearman (Old High German).
Reese♡
Meaning: “Fiery” (Welsh origin)
Raekwon♡
Meaning: Blend of “Rae” and “Kwon”
Ronn♡
Meaning: Form of Ronald: Mighty power (Old Norse).
Raylan♡
Meaning: Modern African American name
Rich♡
Meaning: Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Raymonn♡
Meaning: Form of Raymond: Mighty or wise protector (Old German).
Rick♡
Meaning: Form of Richard: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Reed♡
Meaning: Form of Read: Red-haired or red-complexioned (Old English).
Robert♡
Meaning: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).
Rashed♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Roscoe♡
Meaning: “Deer wood” (English origin)
Richard♡
Meaning: Powerful ruler (English, from the Old French and Old High German).
Rashaan♡
Meaning: Blend of “Ra” and “Shawn”
Rashaad♡
Meaning: Modern African American name, meaning “good judgment”
Rafer♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Raphael: Healed by God (Hebrew).
Reuban♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Rodney♡
Meaning: Famous one’s island (Old English).
Russ♡
Meaning: “Red-haired” (English origin)
Rodney♡
Meaning: English origin, meaning “island near the clearing”
Ramel♡
Meaning: Modern African American name with a unique sound
Roosevelt♡
Meaning: “Field of roses” (Dutch origin)
Rion♡
Meaning: No meaning available