Discover Beautiful African American Names

Precious substance from the tusks and teeth of slaughtered elephants (Latin).

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

Meaning and origin unknown. Name found among free black men during the eighteenth century.

Meaning and origin unknown.

Form of Leon, a form of Leo: Lion (Latin).

No meaning available

Form of Steven, a form of Stephen: Crowned one (Greek).

Blend of “Ba” and “Shaun”

No meaning available

“Fragrant oil” (Greek origin, widely used in African American communities)

Form of Earl: Nobleman, chief (Old English).

“Servant of God” (Arabic origin)

Form of Chapman: Merchant (Middle English; Old English).

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

No meaning available

Dark, reddish complexion (Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

“Speckled” (English origin)

No meaning available

Variation of “Octavius,” meaning “eighth”

“Strong as a bear” (German origin)

Unique African American name

Blend of “Ke” and “-ion” suffix

Son of Fergus: Very choice one; strong man (Irish Gaelic).

Gift of God (Hebrew; New Testament—disciple of Jesus).

Strong (Fulani, West Africa).

From the cottage or country estate; barn for cows (Old English).

Little eagle (French).

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

Form of Javan: Greece (Hebrew; Old Testament). Javan was a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, whose descendants, after the flood, populated what is now Eurasia.

Spanish form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament).

Meaning and origin unknown.

No meaning available

“Wooded valley” (English origin)

Irish form of Miles: Generous (German).

Red-haired person (Welsh); surname or family name given for a first or middle name:

Benevolent; content, happy (nah-EEM—Arabic, North Africa).

Variation of “Naeem,” meaning “gracious”

“God is my strength” (Hebrew origin)

Dutch form of John: God is gracious (Hebrew; New Testament); pronunciation: yahn.

Meaning and origin unknown.

“Arrow maker” (English origin)

Created name from African-American culture, a form of Shawn or Sean: God is good, gracious (Irish).

Modern African American name inspired by “martial”

Unique modern name

Slavic origin, meaning “spring”

The sun; throne (sy-rus—Old Persian).

No meaning available

Divine, god-like; temple (dayv-al—Hindi, India; Sanskrit).

No meaning available

Chalk ridge (Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

No meaning available

Blend of “Ky” and “Ron”

Form of Halsall: Nook of land (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“From Scotland” (Scottish origin)

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.

English origin, meaning “famous ruler”

“Success” (West African origin)

“Noble friend” (English origin)

Dear friend (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

“Hollow” (Irish origin, adapted)

From the island (French).

No meaning available

Form of names beginning with “Ed”: Edward (Prosperous guardian—Old English); Edmund (Prosperous guardian—Old English); Edwin (Prosperous friend; rich in friendship—Old English; Edensaw (Glacier—ed-en-saw—Tlingit, Native North American).

Modern variation of “Tariq”

Flourishing, thriving; trustful; first son; follower of the prophet Muhammad (Arabic, North Africa; Mandinka, West Africa; Muslim; Swahili, East Africa).

“Mill town” (English origin)

Form of Anthony: Inestimable, priceless one; worthy of praise (Latin).

No meaning available

“Linden tree hill” (English origin)

Form of Bartholomew: Son of the furrows; a farmer (New Testament—one of the twelve apostles; Hebrew).

“Hugh’s town” (Scottish origin)

“At the cross” (English origin)

No meaning available

Inspired by Nelson Mandela, meaning “one who speaks in words of wisdom”

No meaning available

From the pear tree (Middle English).

Form of Paris: Character in Greek mythology.

Latin origin, meaning “from Hadria”

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

Form of Steven, a form of Stephen, a form of Stephanos: Crowned one (Greek).

Thin (Irish; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.

Acquired (Hebrew; Old Testament—the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel).

Variation of “Mario,” meaning “warlike”

Modern variation of “Jackson,” meaning “son of Jack”

Created name from African-American culture.

No meaning available

Blend of two names such as Winston (from the friend’s estate or town—Old English) and Bernard (brave as a bear—Old German).

Latin origin, meaning “fifth,” adapted in African American communities

“Battle worthy” (French origin)

“Powerful” (Irish origin)

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

Form of DaCosta: One who dwells on a slope (Galician; Italian; Jewish [Sephardic]; Portuguese); surname or family name given as a first or middle name.

Created name from African-American culture, an adaptation of Makeba, in honor of the late South African singer and activist, Miriam Makeba.

Unique variation of “Israel”

Unique African American name

Noble leader (English).

Variation of “Shawn” with unique “-den” ending

Unique blend of “Va” and “Rion”

Arabic origin, meaning “morning star”