African American names
African American naming spans biblical classics passed down for generations, inventive contemporary names built from sound and rhythm, and Afrocentric choices like Imani or Malik embraced since the 1960s as a reclamation of heritage. Many families blend prefixes and sounds into names entirely their own, making this one of the most inventive, personal naming traditions in America.
Aaliyah "high, lofty, sublime," feminine form of Aali (Arabic root ʿalā, "to be high"); famously borne by singer Aaliyah, whose name surged in the late 1990s as a beloved modern classic in Black American families
Aisha alive, thriving; a beloved classic honoring the Prophet Muhammad's wife, popular since the 1970s
Amani peace; part of the Swahili virtue-name tradition embraced in Black American families since the 1970s
Amara traditionally 'grace' in Igbo, also linked to 'eternal' in several African languages; a graceful modern favorite
Amare traditionally Italian 'to love'; embraced as a distinctive, rhythmic favorite in Black American families
Amir prince, commander; a beloved royal-flavored classic
Amirah princess (feminine form of Amir)
Andre manly, brave (French form of Andrew); a beloved classic and the root of the popular '-andre' naming pattern in Black American families
Aniyah modern coinage in the '-iyah' family of names echoing Aaliyah; a beloved modern favorite
Aretha traditionally 'virtuous'; forever tied to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin
Ashanti named for the Ashanti people of Ghana; embraced as a proud African heritage name, also familiar via singer Ashanti
Ayana modern coinage, a graceful favorite since the 1990s
Booker surname-turned-first-name, forever tied to educator and leader Booker T. Washington
Camille ceremonial attendant; a graceful classic used across generations
Coretta modern coinage; famously borne by civil rights leader Coretta Scott King
Cornell surname-style name, forever tied to scholar and activist Cornel West
DeAndre modern coinage combining the honorific 'De-' with Andre
DeShawn modern coinage combining the honorific prefix 'De-' with Shawn; part of a distinctive and beloved Black American naming tradition
Deion modern coinage, a variant of Dion popularized in part by athlete Deion Sanders
Deja traditionally French for 'already'; embraced and reshaped as a stylish Black American favorite since the 1990s
Denim modern coinage from the sturdy blue fabric; part of a wave of inventive, word-based Black American names
Destiny one's fate; a beloved virtue name that soared in the 1990s-2000s
Ebony the dark, richly colored wood; embraced as a proud name celebrating Black beauty since the 1970s
Elijah my God is Yahweh; one of the most beloved names across generations of Black American families
Emmett from a surname derived from a medieval diminutive of Emma; forever tied to Emmett Till, a name of deep historical resonance
Essence virtue and word-name, its warmth echoing the pride of Essence magazine
Ezekiel God strengthens; a favorite biblical name deeply rooted in Black church naming tradition
Fannie diminutive of Frances; honoring civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, carried with pride
Frederick peaceful ruler; honoring Frederick Douglass, carried with pride
Genesis origin, beginning; a beloved biblical name embraced widely in Black American families
Harriet home ruler; honoring Harriet Tubman, a name of deep historical resonance
Heaven the celestial paradise; a tender celestial name
Iman faith; borne with distinction by supermodel and activist Iman
Imani faith; a beloved name in African American families, part of the Swahili virtue-name tradition embraced since the 1970s
Isaiah God is salvation; one of the most beloved names in Black American families for generations
Jabari brave, fearless; part of the Swahili virtue-name tradition
Jada modern coinage related to Jade; famously borne by actress Jada Pinkett Smith, a beloved favorite
Jalen modern coinage popularized in the 1990s; a favorite especially associated with basketball culture in Black American families
Jamal beauty; a widely loved classic since the 1970s Black pride era
Jamarcus modern coinage blending 'Ja-' with Marcus; part of the inventive naming tradition especially embraced in the American South
Jaquan modern coinage blending 'Ja-' with 'Quan'
Jaylen modern coinage blending 'Jay-' with '-len'; a favorite alongside Jalen since the 1990s
Jaylin modern coinage alongside Jaylen and Jalen
Jelani mighty; a distinctive, virtue-rich favorite
Journey one's path through life; a modern virtue and nature name rising quickly
Kamiyah modern coinage in the '-iyah' family of names echoing Aaliyah
Kareem generous, noble; famously borne by basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kenya named for the East African nation; a proud heritage place-name embraced since the 1970s
Kenyatta honoring Kenyan founding president Jomo Kenyatta; a name of the Black-pride era
Khalil friend; honoring poet Khalil Gibran, a warm classic
Kiara clear, bright; embraced widely in Black American families, part of the beloved 'Ki-' family of names
Kofi traditionally an Akan (Ghanaian) day-name for a boy born on Friday; a proud West African heritage name
Kwame traditionally an Akan (Ghanaian) day-name for a boy born on Saturday; embraced in Black American families as a proud link to West African heritage
Kyra variant of Kira (the Ciara family), sometimes considered a feminine form of Cyrus; a modern crossover favorite
Langston surname-style name honoring Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes
Laquan modern coinage using the 'La-' prefix pattern with 'Quan'
Latoya modern coinage using the 'La-' prefix pattern, popularized in part by singer La Toya Jackson
Makayla modern spelling of Michaela, feminine of Michael, who is like God, its rise boosted by the popularity of Kayla; hugely popular since the 1990s
Malcolm disciple of St. Columba; forever tied to Malcolm X, a name of strength and pride
Malik king; a widely loved classic across Black American generations
Marcus of Mars, warlike; a steady favorite, associated with leaders like Marcus Garvey
Miles soldier, or a place name; forever tied to jazz legend Miles Davis
Nailah one who succeeds, one who acquires
Nakia modern coinage in the '-akia/-ia' family that rose in the 1970s-80s
Nasir helper, protector; a beloved classic since the 1990s
Nehemiah comforted by God; a beloved biblical name rising fast in Black American families
Nia purpose, aim (Swahili, from Arabic nīya); one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, a beloved short virtue name
Nina short form of names ending in -nina, brought into wider Western use from Russia and Italy; forever tied to singer and activist Nina Simone, and not derived from Spanish niña
Nyla modern coinage, phonetic and easy to say; a favorite since the 2000s
Omari flourishing, wealthy; a beloved name in the Swahili naming tradition
Percy diminutive of Percival; a warm early-to-mid-century classic
Precious of great value; a warm virtue name embraced across Black American families
Rashad wise, rightly guided; a beloved classic since the 1970s
Rasheed rightly guided; a classic since the 1970s Black pride era
Raven the black bird; a striking nature name boosted by actress Raven-Symone
Rosa rose; famously borne by civil rights icon Rosa Parks, forever carried in American memory
Roscoe deer forest (surname-style); an old-fashioned name enjoying a quiet revival
Sade a shortened form used as a given name; famously borne by singer Sade Adu, embraced in Black American families since the 1980s
Sekou honoring Guinean independence leader Sekou Toure; a proud heritage name
Semaj modern coinage: 'James' spelled backward, part of a playful and inventive Black American naming tradition
Shanice modern coinage blending the 'Sha-' prefix with a lyrical ending, popularized by 1990s R&B
Shaniqua modern coinage using the 'Sha-' prefix pattern; a widely recognized 1990s-2000s naming style
Shirley bright meadow; honoring congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm, carried with pride
Sidney wide meadow; forever tied to trailblazing actor Sidney Poitier
Sincere virtue word-name; a distinctive favorite in Black American naming since the 2000s
Tanisha modern coinage using the beloved '-isha' pattern common in Black American naming since the 1970s
Terrell surname-style name popular since the 1970s-80s
Thurgood surname-style name honoring Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
Tremaine from a Cornish surname; a distinctive surname-style favorite since the 1980s
Trey nickname-style name meaning 'third,' warmly used to honor namesakes (Jr., III) across generations
Tyree from a Scottish surname tied to the Isle of Tiree; well used in Black American families since the 1970s alongside Tyrone and Tyrell
Tyrone from County Tyrone, Irish Tir Eoghain, land of Owen; famously borne by actor Tyrone Power, a steady mid-century classic
Winnie diminutive of Winifred; honoring activist Winnie Mandela, carried with pride by many
Xavier traditionally 'new house' or 'bright'; a hugely popular favorite in Black American families since the 1990s
Zaid growth, abundance; a rising classic
Zaire traditionally the Kikongo name for the Congo River and former name of the nation; embraced as a proud African place-name in Black American families
Zaria modern coinage, possibly linked to the Nigerian city of Zaria; a stylish modern favorite
Zawadi gift; a lightly used but meaningful Swahili virtue name in African heritage-conscious Black American families
Zion a sacred hill in Jerusalem, symbol of a promised homeland; a name rich with spiritual meaning
Zola tranquil, calm
Zora dawn, from the Slavic word zora; forever tied to author Zora Neale Hurston, a literary favorite
Zuri beautiful; a beloved modern Swahili virtue name
Which of these fits YOUR family? →