Black Girl Names
Black girl names are some of the most creative and expressive in American English. They include classic names, biblical virtues, Swahili, Yoruba and Arabic names, and original creations that later spread to the wider culture. Many carry a hope for the child in their meaning: faith, joy, beauty, strength.
This list has more than 100 names sorted by style, each with its meaning and roots. See the Black names hub for background, or browse Black boy names for brothers and cousins. For something rarer, visit unique Black names.
Popular Black girl names right now
Names that are loved in Black families today. Several of them rank high on national lists too.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Aaliyah | Exalted, sublime | Arabic |
| Nevaeh | “Heaven” spelled backward | Modern American |
| Journee | Journey | Modern American |
| Nyla | Achiever (possibly, from Arabic Naila) | Arabic/Modern American |
| Kehlani | Sea and sky | Hawaiian |
| Aria | Air; a solo song | Italian |
| Londyn | Variant of London | English place name |
| Harmony | Agreement, concord | Greek |
| Skylar | Scholar (from Schuyler) | Dutch |
| Kennedy | Helmeted head (possibly) | Irish |
| Jada | Jade stone | Spanish |
| Mia | Mine (Italian); from Maria | Italian/Scandinavian |
| Paisley | Church (from the Scottish town) | Scottish place name |
| Genesis | Origin, birth | Greek |
| Serenity | Calm, peaceful | English |
| Kiara | Bright, clear (Chiara) | Italian |
African girl names
Names from across the continent that many African American families use to honor their roots. There are more in African girl names and Swahili girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Imani | Faith | Swahili |
| Nia | Purpose | Swahili |
| Zuri | Beautiful | Swahili |
| Amani | Peace | Swahili |
| Ashanti | From the Asante people of Ghana | Akan place/people name |
| Ama | Born on Saturday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Akua | Born on Wednesday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Abena | Born on Tuesday | Akan (Ghana) |
| Amara | Grace | Igbo |
| Adaeze | King’s daughter, princess | Igbo |
| Chiamaka | God is beautiful | Igbo |
| Folami | Respect and honor me | Yoruba |
| Ayomide | My joy has arrived | Yoruba |
| Nandi | Sweet, pleasant (mother of Shaka Zulu) | Zulu |
| Thandiwe | Beloved | Xhosa/Zulu |
| Makeda | Queen of Sheba in Ethiopian tradition | Amharic |
| Eshe | Life | Swahili |
| Kamaria | Like the moon | Swahili |
Arabic and Muslim girl names
These names came into Black American life through Islam and have been widely used since the 1970s. More in Muslim girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aisha | Alive, living | Wife of the Prophet Muhammad |
| Jamila | Beautiful | Feminine of Jamil |
| Khadijah | Early baby | First wife of the Prophet |
| Latifah | Gentle, kind | Queen Latifah |
| Nadira | Rare, precious | Arabic |
| Rasheeda | Rightly guided | Feminine of Rashid |
| Samira | Night companion (evening conversation) | Arabic |
| Yasmin | Jasmine flower | Persian via Arabic |
| Zahra | Radiant, bright | Arabic |
| Malika | Queen | Arabic |
| Amira | Princess, leader | Arabic |
| Sanaa | Brilliance (Arabic); art (Swahili) | Arabic/Swahili |
| Aliyah | To ascend | Hebrew/Arabic |
| Laila | Night | Arabic |
Virtue and word names
English words for qualities and hopes have a long history in Black families. Many were first used in church communities.
| Name | Meaning | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Precious | Of great value | Tender |
| Destiny | Fate | Hopeful |
| Essence | The core of something | Soulful |
| Charity | Love for others | Classic virtue |
| Patience | Enduring calmly | Old-fashioned |
| Heaven | Paradise | Spiritual |
| Trinity | The threefold God | Faith-based |
| Unique | One of a kind | Bold |
| Blessing | Divine favor | Joyful |
| Honesty | Truthfulness | Straightforward |
| Justice | Fairness | Strong |
| Royalty | Regal status | Confident |
| Ebony | Dark, precious wood | Classic |
| Treasure | Something precious | Sweet |
Original African American girl names
These names were built from a range of sounds, often with prefixes like La-, Sha-, Ta- and Ke- and endings like -isha and -ique. Many are now established names across several generations.
| Name | Built from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| LaToya | La- + Toya | 1970s–80s classic |
| Shaniqua | Sha- + -niqua | 1970s–80s |
| Keisha | Possibly from Keziah, “cassia” | 1970s favorite |
| Tanisha | Ta- + Nisha | 1970s |
| Lakeisha | La- + Keisha | 1970s–80s |
| Tamika | Possibly Japanese Tamiko | 1970s |
| Shanice | Sha- + Janice | 1980s |
| Ebonee | Variant of Ebony | 1980s |
| Kiana | Modern blend; Hawaiian form of Diana | 1990s |
| Taniyah | Ta- + -niyah | 2000s |
| Jazmine | Jasmine flower | Popular in the 1990s |
| Monique | Possibly “advisor” | French, adopted widely |
| Aniyah | Modern creation | 2000s |
| Deja | Already (from déjà vu) | French word |
Soulful classic names
Timeless names that belonged to singers, grandmothers and church mothers, and are ready to come back.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Etta | Home ruler (from Henrietta) | Germanic |
| Nina | Little girl (Spanish); grace (Anna) | Spanish/Hebrew |
| Aretha | Virtue, excellence | Greek (Arete) |
| Josephine | God will increase | French, from Hebrew |
| Loretta | Laurel (possibly) | Italian/English |
| Odessa | Long journey (from Odyssey); a Ukrainian city | Greek/place name |
| Pearl | The gemstone | English |
| Mavis | Song thrush | English |
| Dinah | Judged, vindicated | Hebrew |
| Ophelia | Help | Greek |
| Billie | Resolute protector | English |
| Ruby | Deep red gemstone | English |
| Lena | Light (from Helena) | Greek |
| Hattie | Home ruler | English |
Names honoring Black women in history
Give your daughter the name of a woman who changed things.
| Name | Honors | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Harriet | Harriet Tubman | Home ruler |
| Sojourner | Sojourner Truth | Traveler |
| Coretta | Coretta Scott King | Maiden |
| Maya | Maya Angelou | Illusion (Sanskrit); water (Hebrew) |
| Zora | Zora Neale Hurston | Dawn |
| Rosa | Rosa Parks | Rose |
| Ida | Ida B. Wells | Industrious, hardworking |
| Shirley | Shirley Chisholm | Bright meadow |
| Toni | Toni Morrison | Priceless |
| Bessie | Bessie Coleman | God is my oath (from Elizabeth) |
| Mae | Mae Jemison | Pearl (from Margaret); May |
| Fannie | Fannie Lou Hamer | Free (from Frances) |
How to choose a Black girl name
- Choose the meaning first. Many families start with the hope they have for their daughter (faith, joy, peace) and then find a name with that meaning, like Imani, Ayomide or Amani. See names that mean beautiful for more.
- Honor a grandmother. A classic like Etta, Pearl or Mae works well as a middle name that ties generations together.
- Get the pronunciation right. For Yoruba, Igbo or Akan names, ask a native speaker or listen to a recording so you can say it correctly from day one.
- Balance creativity and readability. Original names are part of the tradition. Choose a spelling that most people will read correctly on the first try.
- Think about nicknames. Longer names such as Thandiwe (Thandie) or Josephine (Josie) give your daughter options as she grows.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular Black girl names?
Aaliyah, Nevaeh, Journee, Nyla, Kehlani, Londyn and Serenity are very popular in Black families today. Swahili names like Imani, Zuri and Nia also stay favorites.
What are pretty African girl names?
Zuri (beautiful), Amara (grace), Nandi (sweet), Thandiwe (beloved) and Ayomide (my joy has arrived) are popular for both their sound and their meaning.
What does the name Imani mean?
Imani is Swahili for “faith.” It is also one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which is part of why it became popular in African American families.
Why are virtue names like Precious and Destiny common?
Virtue and word names reflect the importance of faith and hope in many Black families. They have been used since the 19th century and grew popular again in the 1980s and ’90s.
What are some old-fashioned Black girl names?
Etta, Hattie, Mavis, Odessa, Loretta, Pearl and Dinah were common among earlier generations and are making a comeback as vintage picks.