Malcus♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Malcolm (disciple of St. Columba—Scottish Gaelic) and Marcus (little hammer; little warlike one—Latin).
African American Names for Boys Starting with M
M - Authentic African American Boys Names & Their Meanings
Browse our curated list of African American boys names that start with the letter "M". Each name includes its meaning, cultural significance, and pronunciation help.
100 Names Found•African American boys Names•Starting with "M"
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Michael♡
Meaning: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Mo♡
Meaning: Form of Maurice or Morris: Moorish; dark-complexioned one (Late Latin).
Maurice♡
Meaning: “Dark-skinned” (Latin origin, widely used in African American communities)
Mac♡
Meaning: Prefix (meaning “son of”) of a surname or family name given for a first or middle name (Irish; Scottish).
Mahlon♡
Meaning: Form of Malin: Little war-mighty one (Old English).
Mario♡
Meaning: Martial one (Italian; Latin).
McNeil♡
Meaning: Champion (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Midian♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Mynelle♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown. Possibly derived from the name of botanic gardens in Jackson, Mississippi—the Mynelle Gardens.
McVey♡
Meaning: Son of life; man of religion (Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marquise♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Moten♡
Meaning: Dweller by a fortified stronghold (Dutch); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Mahlik♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Marc♡
Meaning: Form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Magic♡
Meaning: Word name—Charms and spirits that make unnatural things happen (Greek; Latin).
Montea♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Mahdi♡
Meaning: Rightfully guided (Swahili, East Africa).
Murphy♡
Meaning: “Sea warrior” (Irish origin)
Maynard♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Maxwell♡
Meaning: Greatest in excellence; great pool or spring (Irish; Latin; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marvelle♡
Meaning: Variation of “Marvel,” meaning “miracle”
Marion♡
Meaning: Masculine form of Marie, the French form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Maynard♡
Meaning: Powerful, brave (Old German).
Morris♡
Meaning: “Dark-skinned” (Latin origin)
Mosi♡
Meaning: First; first born (male or female—Swahili, East Africa).
Melchor♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Melchior: King city; king of light (Judeo-Christian legend).
Marcus♡
Meaning: “Warlike” (Latin origin)
Merle♡
Meaning: Thrush, blackbird (French, from the Latin).
Marquavious♡
Meaning: Unique blend of “Mar” and “Quavious”
Miles♡
Meaning: “Soldier” (Latin origin)
Mamon♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Manuel♡
Meaning: “God is with us” (Spanish origin)
Marshall♡
Meaning: “Horse keeper” (French origin)
Marvin♡
Meaning: “Great Lord” (Welsh origin, popularized in African American culture)
Marteese♡
Meaning: No meaning available
McDuffie♡
Meaning: Son of the black one of peace (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marqués♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Moneta♡
Meaning: Keeper of the money; money lender (Italian); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marlon♡
Meaning: English origin, meaning “little hawk”
McClinton♡
Meaning: Son of the servant of Saint Fintan, the old white one (Anglo-Irish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marquese♡
Meaning: Unique spelling of “Marquis”
Mike♡
Meaning: Form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Mansa♡
Meaning: “King” (Malian origin)
Maliek♡
Meaning: Variation of “Malik,” meaning “king”
Marquise♡
Meaning: Form of Marquis: Nobleman (mar-KEE—French; MAR-quis).
Molineaux♡
Meaning: Dweller by the mill (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Manu♡
Meaning: Second-born child (man-NOO—Akan, Ghana).
Mertin♡
Meaning: From the town by the sea (English).
Marvis♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Marvin (famous friend; sea friend—English; Welsh) and Purvis (to provide food—French).
Moses♡
Meaning: Mercy; saved from the water (Egyptian; Hebrew; Old Testament—referring to the biblical Moses).
Mpolondo♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Mel♡
Meaning: Form of Meldrick: Powerful (Old English).
Molefi♡
Meaning: The keeper of tradition (Swahili, East Africa).
Mal♡
Meaning: Form of name beginning with “Mal,” such as Malachi (messenger of God—Hebrew; Old Testament), Malcolm (disciple of St. Columba—Scottish Gaelic), and Malcus or Malvin (polished chief—Irish Gaelic; council friend—Old English).
Mode♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown. Name found among free black men who lived and worked in late eighteenth-century New England.
Miles♡
Meaning: Soldier, warrior (Late Latin).
Matt♡
Meaning: Form of Matthew: Gift of God (Hebrew; New Testament).
Montrice♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Mohamed♡
Meaning: Form of Muhammad: Worthy of praise; the Blessed (after the Prophet); thankful (Arabic, North Africa; Sudan; Swahili, East Africa).
Morgan♡
Meaning: “Sea protector” (Welsh origin)
Montrell♡
Meaning: “Mountain” (modern American origin)
Maddox♡
Meaning: “Son of Madoc” (Welsh origin)
Majon♡
Meaning: Unique blend of “Ma” and “Jon”
Montague♡
Meaning: Dweller at the pointed hill (English, from the French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Mitchell♡
Meaning: “Who is like God” (Hebrew origin)
Mustafa♡
Meaning: The chosen one (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).
Mychael♡
Meaning: Variation of “Michael,” meaning “who is like God”
Mohammed♡
Meaning: Form of Muhammad: Worthy of praise; the Blessed (after the Prophet); thankful (Arabic, North Africa; Sudan; Swahili, East Africa).
Mose♡
Meaning: Form of Moses: Mercy; saved from the water (Egyptian; Hebrew; Old Testament—referring to the biblical Moses).
Mumtaz♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Mordecai♡
Meaning: Hebrew origin, meaning “warrior”
Mingo♡
Meaning: Form of Domingo: Of the Lord (Italian; Spanish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Monsi♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Marcus♡
Meaning: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Mervyn♡
Meaning: Famous friend (Old English).
Miller♡
Meaning: Grain grinder (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Mayce♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Maurice♡
Meaning: Moorish; dark-complexioned one (Late Latin). Rooted in the legendary Christian soldier from the island of Mauritius off the east coast of Africa, who served as captain of the Roman army’s Theban Legion; the patron saint of armies.
Mensah♡
Meaning: Third-born son (MEN-sah—Ewe, Ghana).
Maxi♡
Meaning: Form of Maxwell: Greatest in excellence; great pool or spring (Irish; Latin; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Mansa♡
Meaning: Sultan (MAHN-sah—Mande, Mali).
Mikell♡
Meaning: Unique spelling variation of “Michael”
Micajah♡
Meaning: A blend of two names such as Micah (like unto the Lord—Hebrew; Old Testament prophet) and Elijah (Hebrew; Jehovah is my God—Old Testament).
Mandela♡
Meaning: Inspired by Nelson Mandela, meaning “one who speaks in words of wisdom”
Malcolm♡
Meaning: “Disciple of St. Columba” (Scottish origin)
Mukamba♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
McLean♡
Meaning: Son of the follower of St. John (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marek♡
Meaning: “Warlike” (Polish origin)
Malyk♡
Meaning: Unique spelling of “Malik,” meaning “king”
Major♡
Meaning: Greater (Latin); surname, family name, or military rank given for a first or middle name.
Manuel♡
Meaning: Spanish form of Emmanuel: God is with us (Hebrew).
Marvelous♡
Meaning: Word name—The English word marvelous: Causing wonder (Middle English).
Muhammad♡
Meaning: Worthy of praise (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).
Mutombo♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Monte♡
Meaning: Shortened form of “Montel” or “Montez”
Monroe♡
Meaning: Dweller near the red swamp (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Maxwell♡
Meaning: “Mack’s stream” (Scottish origin)
Mark♡
Meaning: Form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Mostofa♡
Meaning: Form of Mustafa: The chosen one (Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).