African American First Names: Cultural Heritage & Modern Identity

Furnell

Lester

Meaning: Dyer (Middle English).

Tymere

Meaning: Modern African American name

Maury

Reuban

Meaning: Form of Reuben: Behold, a son (Hebrew; Old Testament—eldest son of Jacob and Leah).

Yassin

Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.

Azaire

Meaning: Unique blend, with roots in “Zaire”

Keylon

Banks

Meaning: “Edge of the river” (English origin)

Chiquito

Meaning: Masculine form of Chiquita: Little one (Spanish).

Darvell

Meaning: Variation of “Darrel” with unique spelling

Vernard

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

Abdullah

Meaning: Form of Abduhl: Servant of God (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).

Willard

Meaning: Resolute and brave (Old English).

Haywood

Meaning: From the high or hedged forest (Old English).

Alan

Meaning: Handsome, cheerful, harmonious one (Irish Gaelic).

Louis

Meaning: Great fighter; famous warrior; warrior prince (English, from the Old French and Old High German).

Tamir

Meaning: Arabic origin, meaning “owner of dates”

Weaver

Meaning: Clothmaker (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Kincade

Trent

Meaning: Torrent; rapid stream (Latin).

Gerrick

Meaning: English origin, meaning “spear ruler”

Folami

Meaning: “Honor and respect” (Yoruba origin)

Donnie

Meaning: Form of Donald: Mighty world ruler (Scottish Gaelic).

Garretson

Meaning: Son of Garret or Garrett: A good spear thrower (Old English).

Isreal

Meaning: Unique spelling of “Israel,” meaning “God perseveres”

Taye

Meaning: “Seen” (Yoruba origin)

Martin

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

Benner

Meaning: Form of names beginning with “Ben”: Benedict (blessed one—Latin); Benjamin (son of the right hand—Hebrew; Old Testament); Bennett (little blessed one—Latin-French).

Lamar

Meaning: “Of the sea” (Spanish origin, adapted)

Zach

Meaning: Form of Zachariah: Jehovah has remembered (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Midian

Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.

Lester

Meaning: “From Leicester” (English origin)

Jafaris

Cain

Meaning: “Acquired” (Hebrew origin)

Truett

Meaning: “Little hill” (English origin)

Cecil

Meaning: Dim-sighted one (Latin).

Warren

Meaning: “Watchman” (German origin)

Elric

Meaning: German origin, meaning “wise ruler”

Yariel

Meaning: Modern African American name

Shariff

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

Hudson

Meaning: “Son of Hudd” (English origin)

Keshon

Meaning: Variation of “Shawn” with “Ke” prefix

Sha'quan

Brock

Meaning: Badger (English).

Emlen

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

Briton

Meaning: Form of Brittany: Place name—A peninsula in northwestern France (Latin).

Mamon

Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.

Jaquan

Meaning: Blend of “Ja” and “Quan,” commonly used in African American communities

Gerald

Meaning: Rules by the spear (German).

Montell

Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.

Dre

Meaning: “Manly” (shortened form of Andre, modern American origin)

Wilbert

Meaning: Resolute, brilliant one (Old German).

Breshad

Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.

Carl

Meaning: Freeman, peasant, man (English).

Uzzia

Clévon

Terrill

Meaning: “Thunder ruler” (modern American origin)

Barnett

Meaning: Of honorable birth; nobleman, leader (Old English).

Lee Roy

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

Saul

Meaning: “Prayed for” (Hebrew origin)

Cleavon

Meaning: Of the cliff (African-American; English).

Demondre

Gaffney

Meaning: Surname or family name given for a first or middle name: Calf (Irish).

James

Meaning: English form of Jacob from the Old Spanish Jayme: Supplanter; one who takes the place of; protector (Hebrew; Old Testament).

Level

Meaning: Form of Levell: Beloved ruler (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Orlee

Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.

Whitney

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

Quency

Meaning: Form of Quincy: Dweller at the fifth son’s estate (Old French).

Kaleb

Meaning: “Devotion to God” (variation of Caleb)

Jerrell

Meaning: Combination of “Jer” with “-rell” suffix, unique to African American culture

LeBron

Meaning: “King” (French-inspired modern origin, popularized by LeBron James)

Mindingo

Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.

Denzel

Meaning: From the stronghold (den-ZEL—English).

Ruwa

Meaning: “Beauty” (Swahili origin)

Winston

Meaning: From the friend’s estate or town (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Tavaris

Meaning: “Of the forest” (modern African American origin)

Malvon

Meaning: Unique African American name

Chandler

Meaning: “Candlemaker” (French origin)

Rannier

Lionel

Meaning: Young lion (English; French; Latin); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Jaymore

Lynwood

Meaning: Form of Linwood: Dweller from the pool or waterfall near the forest (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Brandon

Meaning: “Beacon hill” (English origin, popularized in African American culture)

Elrico

Meaning: Modern blend of “El” and “Rico”

Nathan

Meaning: Giver (Hebrew; Old Testament—prophet who rebuked King David).

Langston

Meaning: Named after Langston Hughes, the famous poet (English origin)

Roscoe

Meaning: “Deer wood” (English origin)

Majon

Meaning: Unique blend of “Ma” and “Jon”

Kareem

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

Idris

Meaning: Good, wise man; prophet of Islam (Arabic, North Africa; Islam).

Jontray

Levell

Ario

Wells

Meaning: From the springs (Old English).

KaRon

Milt

Meaning: Form of Milton: Dweller at the mill town (Old English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Damion

Meaning: Form of Damian, a form of Damianos: Tamer; one who makes men gentle (Greek).

Price

Meaning: Son of the ardent one (Old Welsh).

Marquez

Meaning: Spanish origin, meaning “nobleman”