Black Boy Names
Black boy names cover a lot of ground: biblical names passed down through church families, Arabic names adopted over the last sixty years, names from West and East Africa, and original creations that are now firmly American. What they share is a strong sound and, very often, a story behind the choice.
Below are more than 100 names grouped by style, with the meaning and language of each one. For the wider picture, start at our Black names hub. You can also compare with Black girl names, or look further back to the continent with African boy names.
Popular Black boy names today
These names are used widely in Black families right now, and many rank high on national charts as well.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Zion | Highest point; the hill of Jerusalem | Hebrew |
| Amir | Prince, commander | Arabic |
| Kairo | From Cairo, “the victorious” | Arabic place name |
| Malachi | My messenger | Hebrew |
| Josiah | God supports | Hebrew |
| Jayce | Healer (from Jason) | Greek |
| Messiah | Anointed one | Hebrew |
| Legend | A famous story | English word name |
| Kingston | King’s town | English |
| Jaxon | Son of Jack | English |
| Carter | Cart driver | English |
| Bryson | Son of Brice | English |
| Karter | Variant of Carter | English |
| Jeremiah | God will exalt | Hebrew |
| Ezekiel | God strengthens | Hebrew |
| Ahmad | Most praised | Arabic |
Classic African American boy names
These names have been steady choices in Black families for generations. Many are carried by fathers, grandfathers and legends of music and sports.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Darnell | Hidden nook (possibly) | English |
| Reginald | Counsel power | Germanic |
| Cedric | Kindly, loved (possibly) | Welsh/English |
| Maurice | Dark-skinned, Moorish | Latin |
| Cornelius | Horn | Latin |
| Clarence | From Clare | Latin/English |
| Otis | Wealth, fortune | Germanic |
| Marvin | Sea friend (possibly) | Welsh |
| Lamar | The sea (French); famous land (Germanic) | French/Germanic |
| Terrence | From the Roman clan name Terentius | Latin |
| Desmond | Man from South Munster | Irish |
| Curtis | Courteous | French |
| Roderick | Famous ruler | Germanic |
| Byron | At the cow sheds | English |
| Marcel | Little warrior (from Mars) | French |
| Everett | Brave as a wild boar | Germanic |
African boy names
Names from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa that are now used across the African diaspora. More in Nigerian boy names and Swahili boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Kofi | Born on Friday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Kwame | Born on Saturday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Kwabena | Born on Tuesday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Kojo | Born on Monday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Jabari | Brave, fearless | Swahili |
| Omari | Highest, eloquent (from Omar) | Swahili |
| Baraka | Blessing | Swahili |
| Jelani | Mighty | Swahili |
| Tendai | Be thankful | Shona (Zimbabwe) |
| Chidi | God exists | Igbo |
| Chinedu | God leads | Igbo |
| Emeka | God has done great things | Igbo |
| Ayo | Joy | Yoruba |
| Olumide | God has come | Yoruba |
| Tunde | Returned (as in a reborn ancestor) | Yoruba |
| Sipho | Gift | Zulu |
| Themba | Hope, trust | Zulu/Xhosa |
| Ekon | Strong | Efik (Nigeria) |
Arabic boy names
Arabic names entered African American naming through the Nation of Islam and Sunni Muslim communities. Many are now used by families of any faith. Our Muslim boy names list has more.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Khalil | Friend | Also Kahlil (Gibran) |
| Rashad | Right guidance | Popular since the 1970s |
| Jamal | Beauty | A long-time favorite |
| Hakeem | Wise | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| Kareem | Generous, noble | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| Tariq | Morning star; he who knocks | From Quran 86 |
| Hassan | Handsome, good | Common across the Muslim world |
| Idris | Studious (possibly); a prophet in the Quran | Idris Elba |
| Jamir | Handsome (possibly) | Modern American usage |
| Rahim | Merciful | From ar-Rahim |
| Ali | High, exalted | Muhammad Ali |
| Yusuf | God will increase (Joseph) | Arabic form of Joseph |
| Nasir | Helper, victorious | Nasir Jones (Nas) |
| Sadiq | Truthful, loyal | Arabic |
Biblical boy names from Black church tradition
Scripture has always been a source of names in Black churches, from Old Testament prophets to the apostles. Browse biblical boy names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah | God is salvation | Book of Isaiah |
| Elijah | My God is Yahweh | 1 Kings 17 |
| Nehemiah | Comforted by God | Book of Nehemiah |
| Micah | Who is like God? | Book of Micah |
| Gideon | Hewer, feller | Judges 6 |
| Solomon | Peace | 1 Kings |
| Ezra | Help | Book of Ezra |
| Samuel | God has heard | 1 Samuel 1 |
| Moses | Drawn out (of the water) | Exodus 2 |
| Caleb | Faithful, whole-hearted | Numbers 13 |
| Elisha | God is salvation | 2 Kings 2 |
| Joshua | God is salvation | Book of Joshua |
| Nathaniel | Gift of God | John 1 |
| Amos | Carried by God | Book of Amos |
Original African American boy names
From the 1970s on, Black parents created new names with prefixes such as De-, Da-, Ja-, Ke- and Tre-. Many of these are now familiar names that span generations.
| Name | Built from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| DeAndre | De- + Andre, “manly” | DeAndre Jordan |
| Dashawn | Da- + Shawn, “God is gracious” | Peaked in the 1990s |
| Jamarcus | Ja- + Marcus | Popular in the 1990s |
| Keshawn | Ke- + Shawn | 1990s–2000s |
| Tremaine | Stone town (Cornish) | Also a Cornish surname |
| Javon | Ja- + Von | 1990s |
| Trevon | Tre- + Von | Also Trayvon |
| Demetrius | Follower of Demeter | Greek, popular in Black families |
| Deonte | De- + Dante | 1990s |
| Kendrick | Royal ruler (English); son of Henry (Welsh) | Kendrick Lamar |
| Jalen | Modern creation | Jalen Hurts, Jalen Rose |
| Tyshawn | Ty- + Shawn | 1990s |
| Ja’Marr | Ja- + Marr (Jamar variant) | Ja’Marr Chase |
| Dontae | Variant of Dante | Modern American |
Names honoring Black heroes
A name can carry a story. These honor writers, activists, musicians and athletes whose legacy lives on.
| Name | Honors | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Langston | Langston Hughes | Long stone town |
| Thurgood | Thurgood Marshall | From Old Norse Thorgautr |
| Malcolm | Malcolm X | Devotee of St. Columba |
| Medgar | Medgar Evers | Uncertain, possibly Germanic |
| Jackie | Jackie Robinson | God is gracious (from John) |
| Booker | Booker T. Washington | Bookbinder, scribe |
| Garrett | Garrett Morgan | Spear rule |
| Miles | Miles Davis | Soldier (possibly) or merciful |
| Duke | Duke Ellington | Leader |
| Satchel | Satchel Paige | A small bag |
| Jesse | Jesse Owens | Gift |
| Denzel | Denzel Washington | From Denzell, a place in Cornwall |
How to choose a Black boy name
- Honor the family line. Juniors and “III” names have deep roots in Black families. Using a father’s or grandfather’s name as a middle name is a gentle alternative.
- Learn the meaning. Names such as Jabari (brave) or Jelani (mighty) carry a message your son will grow into. Check that the meaning and pronunciation are right before you commit.
- Think about the day he’s born. Akan day names (Kofi, Kwame, Kojo) make a lovely middle name for a boy born on that day.
- Say it with the full name. Rhythm matters. A two-syllable first name often flows well with a one-syllable surname. See boy middle names for combinations.
- Check the spelling. Creative names are part of the tradition, but a spelling that’s easy to read on a first try saves a lifetime of corrections.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular Black boy names?
Names like Zion, Amir, Kairo, Malachi, Josiah, Messiah and Jeremiah are very popular in Black families today. Classics like Isaiah, Elijah and Marcus stay favorites too.
What is a strong African name for a boy?
Jabari (brave), Jelani (mighty), Ekon (strong) and Kwame (born on Saturday) are popular choices with powerful meanings.
Why do many African American boys have Arabic names?
Arabic names spread through the Nation of Islam and Sunni Islam in the mid-20th century and were made famous by figures like Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Many families now choose them for their sound and meaning.
What does “De” mean in names like DeAndre?
The De- prefix comes from French and Italian surnames (“of” or “from”). In African American names it’s a stylish prefix added to a familiar name, as in DeAndre, DeShawn and Deonte.
Are biblical names common in Black families?
Yes. Church life has shaped Black American culture for centuries, and names like Isaiah, Elijah, Josiah, Caleb and Nehemiah remain especially popular.