African-American Names
African-American names reflect history, identity, and creativity. While many Black Americans use widely popular U.S. names, distinctive patterns—rooted in enslavement, freedom movements, language innovation, and cultural pride—have shaped a unique naming tradition.
History
During slavery, enslaved Black people were often stripped of names and assigned classical, biblical, or place-based names by slaveholders (e.g., Chloe, Scipio, Venus; London, Boston). Nicknames like Sukey, Betsy, Sam, and Jack were frequently used as given names. Research shows distinctive Black naming existed by the Antebellum period, though many early forms have since faded. In the mid-20th century—especially alongside the civil rights and Black power movements—naming practices changed rapidly as identity and cultural pride became more central.
Influences and Conventions
Innovative names frequently follow English phonological patterns while embracing creative construction. Common strategies include building new names from syllables, adding prefixes like La-, De-, Ra-, Ja- and suffixes like -ique, -isha, -ari, or -aun, plus occasional apostrophes or hyphens. The result is a rich, modern onomastic tradition that signals community identity and individual style.
French Names
French-origin names—long present among Creoles of color—grew in wider popularity during the mid-20th century. Names like Monique, Chantal, André, and Antoine, sometimes respelled (e.g., Antwan, Antwon), became closely associated with Black culture in the U.S., reflecting both historical ties and evolving cultural expression.
Afrocentric and Inventive Names
The rise of Afrocentrism and the popularity of works like Roots fueled interest in African names and African-sounding creations. By the 1970s–1980s, blending morphemes, leveraging La/Le and Da/De prefixes, and creative spellings produced names such as LaKeisha. Apostrophes appear more often than in other American naming styles (e.g., D'Andre). These approaches emphasize heritage, pride, and stylistic innovation.
Muslim Names
Figures such as Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helped popularize Muslim names in Black America. Names like Aisha and Aaliyah spread broadly—sometimes independent of religious affiliation—illustrating how cultural fashion and public figures can normalize and mainstream specific name sets.
Ethnic African Words and Names
Some Black Americans adopt names from African languages and cultures—Yoruba, Zulu, Xhosa, and others—or rename themselves later in life to align with African identity. Examples include names inspired by the Ashanti, Yoruba terms like Olu or Babatunde, and personal reinventions that honor ancestry and pan-African connections.
European and Biblical Names
Alongside created and Afrocentric names, traditional European and biblical names remain common for Black Americans. Daniel, Michael, David, James, Joseph, and Matthew exemplify enduring choices that coexist with newer creative trends.
Workplace Discrimination
Recent large-scale resume studies suggest measurable bias against applicants with traditionally Black names. One multi-university experiment found a portion of employers less likely to call back those applicants, indicating name-based discrimination still affects labor-market outcomes and underscores the social stakes of naming.