African American baby names

Handpicked for families who want names with roots: the beloved classics, what parents in the culture choose today, and the cool discoveries most US name sites never surface.

Aaliyah exalted, noble; surged in the late 1990s honoring singer Aaliyah, 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; forever associated with 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 industrious, hardworking; a name of deep historical resonance, forever tied to Emmett Till

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; carried with pride honoring civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer

Frederick peaceful ruler; carried with pride honoring Frederick Douglass

Genesis origin, beginning; a beloved biblical name embraced widely in Black American families

Harriet home ruler; a name of deep historical resonance honoring Harriet Tubman

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; popularized 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; popularized in part 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; a warm classic, sometimes honoring poet Khalil Gibran

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 lord, ruler (feminine form); 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 coinage blending the 'Mc-/Ma-' sound with 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; one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, a beloved short virtue name

Nina traditionally 'little girl,' also a pet form of Ann; forever tied to singer and activist Nina Simone

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; carried into American memory forever by civil rights icon Rosa Parks

Roscoe deer forest (surname-style); an old-fashioned name enjoying a quiet revival

Sade a shortened form used as a given name; embraced in Black American families since the 1980s via singer Sade Adu

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; carried with pride honoring congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm

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 surname-style modern coinage

Tyrone sovereign; a steady mid-century classic

Winnie diminutive of Winifred; carried with pride by many honoring activist Winnie Mandela

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 modern coinage; forever tied to author Zora Neale Hurston, a literary favorite

Zuri beautiful; a beloved modern Swahili virtue name

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