African American First Names: Cultural Heritage & Modern Identity

Explore our comprehensive collection of 100 authentic African American first names, each representing a unique blend of cultural heritage, personal identity, and historical significance. These names showcase the rich tapestry of Black American naming traditions that have evolved over generations.

The Evolution of African American Naming Traditions

African American naming practices experienced a significant transformation during the mid-20th century. The 1950s and 1960s marked a pivotal period when Black families began embracing names that reflected their cultural pride and heritage, moving away from the previous era of assimilation-focused naming conventions.

Prior to this cultural renaissance, many African American families adopted European-influenced names as a means of integration into mainstream American society. This practice gradually shifted as the Civil Rights Movement empowered communities to celebrate their distinct cultural identity through meaningful name choices.

Today's African American names draw inspiration from diverse global traditions, incorporating elements from French linguistics, Arabic heritage, Islamic culture, Biblical references, and innovative modern creations. This beautiful fusion represents both historical connection and contemporary creativity.

🌍 Cultural Diversity

Names spanning from ancient African kingdoms to modern American innovations, reflecting the vast cultural landscape of Black communities.

📚 Meaningful Origins

Each name carries deep significance, often honoring ancestral traditions while embracing contemporary American identity.

Whether you're seeking a name that honors African heritage, celebrates American innovation, or bridges traditional and modern elements, our curated list offers authentic choices with detailed meanings and cultural context to help you make an informed decision.

Want to discover more names or create custom combinations? Use our interactive name generator to find the perfect African American name for your child.

African American Name Generator

Manuel
Meaning: Spanish form of Emmanuel: God is with us (Hebrew).
Ethelbert
Meaning: Noble and brilliant or illustrious (Old English).
Jaquon
O’Shea
Meaning: Irish origin, meaning “descendant of Shea”
Hamilton
Meaning: Home lover’s estate; blunt hill (Old English).
Postell
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Zavien
Meaning: Modern variation of “Xavier”
Cuba
Meaning: Place name—Island of the West Indies archipelago, located off the coast of Florida (Spanish).
Laird
Meaning: “Lord” (Scottish origin)
Jourdan
Meaning: Form of Jordan: Descender (Hebrew); also a female name.
Harlan
Meaning: “Rocky land” (German origin)
Witherspoon
Meaning: Dweller from a narrow strip of land (English; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Saul
Meaning: “Prayed for” (Hebrew origin)
Keandre
Meaning: Combination of “Ke” and “Andre,” meaning “manly”
Rakim
Meaning: Form of Rachiim: Seed of rulership (Arabic, North Africa; Persian [Farsi], Iran).
Awadagin
Meaning: Meaning unknown (Sierra Leone).
Tarzan
Meaning: Endowed with great physical strength and skill, a definition based on the title character of Edgar Rice Burroughs' book Tarzan of the Apes.
Hulan
Meaning: Form of Hula: Eagle (Osage, Native North American).
Malice
Meaning: Act of ill will (Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Bam
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Cardell
Meaning: Blend of “Car” and “Dell”
Adams
Meaning: Form of Adam: Mortal, man of the red earth; first human created by God (Old Testament; Hebrew).
Gabriel
Meaning: Hero of God; God gives him strength (GAY-bree-el—Old Testament; Hebrew).
Lam
Meaning: Form of Lamar: Famous for land (Old German).
Daniel
Meaning: God is my judge (Hebrew; Old Testament—major prophet).
Devlin
Meaning: Descendent of the unlucky one (Irish; Scottish); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Dailyn
Abel
Meaning: “Breath” (Hebrew origin)
Somondre
Essex
Meaning: Place name—county in England and sixteen places in the United States.
Jamell
Meaning: Form of Jameel, Jamil, Jamili, or Jamiil: Physically and morally attractive (jah-MEEL—Arabic, North Africa; Swahili, East Africa).
Dante
Meaning: Enduring, lasting, steadfast (Italian). From Dante Alighieri, born Durante Alighieri, thirteenth-century Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy.
Jamal
Meaning: He is beauty; handsome one (Arabic, North Africa).
Botham
Meaning: Residence in a valley; from the lowest part of the valley (Anglo-Saxon; Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Asa
Meaning: Healer, physician (AY-suh—Old Testament; Hebrew).
Quantrell
Meaning: Combination of “Quan” and “-trell”
Roger
Meaning: “Famous spear” (German origin)
Crandell
Meaning: Form of Crandall: Son of Randal, Reginald, or Ronald (Gaelic; Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Solomon
Meaning: Peaceful (Hebrew; Old Testament—son and successor of King David).
Abijah
Meaning: Yahweh is Father (Old Testament; Hebrew).
Keion
Meaning: Blend of “Ke” and “-ion” suffix
Oashti
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Zaylen
Meaning: Combination of “Zay” and “-len”
Bobo
Meaning: Form of the French surname Bobeaux. Surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Darrell
Meaning: Little dear or beloved one (French).
Cain
Carter
Meaning: Cart driver (Old English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Romaine
Meaning: Variation of “Roman,” meaning “from Rome”
Izaiah
Meaning: Unique spelling of “Isaiah,” meaning “God is salvation”
Rob
Meaning: Form of Robert: Bright or shining with fame (Old English).
Quintrell
Meaning: Variation of “Quinton,” meaning “fifth”
Darwin
Meaning: Dear friend (English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Craig
Meaning: Dweller at the crag or rock (Scottish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Sharpo
Meaning: Form of Sharp: Keen, active, quick (English; Irish; Middle English); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Spearman
Meaning: Soldier armed with a spear; maker of spears (Middle English); surname or family name give for a first or middle name.
Zaire
Meaning: Place name—Short form of the former Republic of Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Moziah
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Moses (mercy; saved from the water—Egyptian; Hebrew; Old Testament—referring to the biblical Moses) and Keziah, a form of Ketziah: (a type of cinnamon—(Hebrew; Old Testament—second daughter of Job, born to him after his great affliction).
Shannon
Meaning: Old, wise (Irish).
Silas
Meaning: “Wood or forest” (Latin origin)
Darren
Meaning: “Great” (English origin, adapted in African American culture)
Dimetrice
Jyreese
Kenneth
Meaning: Handsome one (Irish Gaelic).
Arnold
Meaning: Strong as an eagle (Old German).
Oscar
Meaning: Divine spear; divine man of the spear (Old English; Scottish).
SayVon
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Sayyid (master, lord—Arabic, North Africa) and Vaughn (small one—Old Welsh).
Daquarius
Meaning: Unique modern name
Treyvon
Meaning: “Third son” (modern African American origin)
Ronald
Meaning: Mighty power (Old Norse).
Elvan
Kevarious
Meaning: Unique blend of “Ke” and “Various”
Lyman
Meaning: Man of the meadow (Middle English).
Ebenezer
Meaning: Stone of help (Hebrew: Old Testament).
Garwood
Meaning: From the fir forest (Old English).
Vennie
Brandon
Meaning: “Beacon hill” (English origin, popularized in African American culture)
Raji
Meaning: “Hopeful” (Arabic origin)
Firnist
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Dillon
Meaning: Little blind one (Irish Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Alden
Meaning: “Old, wise friend” (English origin)
Jabez
Meaning: Born in pain (Hebrew; Old Testament).
Mordecai
Meaning: Hebrew origin, meaning “warrior”
Gough
Meaning: Red-haired person (Welsh); surname or family name given for a first or middle name:
Jaelani
Meaning: Modern blend, inspired by “Jalen” and “Jelani”
Thelonious
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Assiakoley
Meaning: Meaning unknown (Gan, Togo).
Eyton
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Norman
Meaning: Man of the North (English; French).
Depayne
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Burke
Meaning: Dweller at the fortress or stronghold (Old English; Old French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Darious
Meaning: Blend of “Dar” and “Darius”
Greg
Meaning: Form of Gregory: Vigilant; watchful one (Greek; Latin).
Jaegar
Meaning: Variation of “Jager,” meaning “hunter”
Mark
Meaning: Form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Art
Meaning: Form of Arthur: Noble one; bear-man; brave as a bear (Welsh; English).
Corey
Meaning: Dweller near a hollow (Gaelic); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Sharquay
Quarion
Meaning: Blend of “Qu” and “Arion”
Nasir
Meaning: Arabic origin, meaning “helper”
Branford
Meaning: Form of Bran: Raven—a symbol of continued life or rebirth (Old Celtic).