Baby NamesBoy Names
Written By Alice
If you’re searching for the best black boy names, you’ve come to the right place! Deciding on the perfect name for your little one is no easy task, which is why we create posts like this one to help you.
Many black or African American boy names are distinctive and diverse, with different origins from around the world. In this post, you’ll find a list of common and unique names for a black baby boy.
We compiled our list by using data from websites like NYC OpenData where you can search popular names by ethnicity. Not sure if you’re having a boy or girl? Check out our list of black baby girl names!
Names For A Black Baby Boy
(Including origins and meanings)
The origins and meanings of the names on this list were researched using websites like BabyCenter. Keep in mind certain names can have different meanings in other languages.
Here are over 140 of the best black baby names for a boy:
A
Aaron
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “high mountain; exalted; enlightened”
Recommended: Aaron is also on our list of two syllable boy names
Aiyden
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “little fire”
Alphonse
Origin: German, French
Meaning: “noble; ready for battle”
Amani
Origin: Swahili, Arabic
Meaning: “peace; wishes”
Amari
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “eternal”
Recommended: Amari is also on our list of time names for boys
Amir
Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
Meaning: “prince; ruler; treetop”
Recommended: Amir is also on our list of four letter boy names
Andre
Origin: French, Portuguese
Meaning: “strong and manly”
Recommended: Andre is also on our list of strong boy names
Angelo
Origin: Italian, Greek
Meaning: “angel; messenger”
Anthony
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “from Antium”
Recommended: Anthony has cool nicknames such as Tony and Nino
Antwone
Origin: French
Meaning: “priceless”
Autry
Origin: French
Meaning: “noble strength”
B
Booker
Origin: English
Meaning:"scribe”
Brandon
Origin: English
Meaning: “broom-covered hill”
Recommended: Brandon is also on our list of earth names for babies
Brayton
Origin: English
Meaning: “from Bray’s town”
C
Caleb
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “devotion to God”
Calvin
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “bald or hairless”
Cameron
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “crooked nose”
Carl
Origin: German
Meaning: “free man”
Carter
Origin: English
Meaning: “transporter of goods by cart”
Cartier
Origin: English
Meaning: “transporter of goods by cart”
Christopher
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “bearer of Christ”
Clayton
Origin: English
Meaning: “place with good clay”
Recommended: You’ll also find Clayton on our vintage boy names and southern boy names lists
Clinton
Origin: English
Meaning: “hilltop town”
Cody
Origin: English
Meaning: “helpful”
Colby
Origin: English
Meaning: “coal town”
Colten
Origin: English
Meaning: “from the coal or dark town”
Cornell
Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: “crow”
Craig
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “from the rocks”
Curtis
Origin: French
Meaning: “courteous; polite”
D
Damien
Origin: Russian
Meaning: “to tame; subdue”
Damon
See Also300+ Black Baby Boy Names to Help Your Little Man Stand Out | LoveToKnow100 Popular Black Baby Boy Names With Meanings: A Comprehensive ListOrigin: English
Meaning: “to tame; subdue”
Recommended: Damon is also on our list of edgy names for boys
Daran
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: “great”
Darius
Origin: Greek, Persian
Meaning: “possessing goodness”
Deandre
Origin: American
Meaning: “strong; manly”
Deangelo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “from the angels”
Deion
Origin: American
Meaning: “god of wine and revelry”
Delroy
Origin: French
Meaning: “servant of the king”
Demarcus
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “son of Marcus”
Demetrius
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “follower of Demeter”
Recommended: Demetrius is also on our list of handsome names for boys
Denzel
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: “from the high stronghold”
Dewayne
Origin: American
Meaning: “wagon maker”
Dikembe
Origin: African
Meaning: “unknown”
Dontrell
Origin: American
Meaning: “to endure”
Duante
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “dark”
E
Elijah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Jehovah is my God”
Recommended: Check out our list of middle names for Elijah
Emmett
Origin: Irish, Hebrew, English
Meaning: “universal”
Ericson
Origin: Scandinavian, Nordic
Meaning: “son of the eternal ruler”
Ervan
Origin: Jamaican
Meaning: “sea friend”
F
Farrell
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “brave; courageous”
Furnell
Origin: English
Meaning: “fern covered hill”
G
Gabriel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “God is my strength”
Gage
Origin: French
Meaning: “pledge; oath”
Recommended: Gage would be a great middle name for Noah
Grady
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “noble”
Griffin
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “strong lord”
H
Hakeem
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “wise”
Hassan
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “handsome”
Herold
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: “army ruler”
Hyde
Origin: English
Meaning: “hide”
I
Isaac
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “laughter”
Recommended: Isaac is an aesthetic name that is also on our list of baby name combinations
Isaiah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “salvation of the Lord”
Izaak
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “laughter”
J
Jaheem
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “raised up; dignified”
Jamal
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “beauty; handsome”
Jamar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “beauty; handsome”
Jamarcus
Origin: American
Meaning: “from the god Mars”
James
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “supplanter”
Recommended: James is also on our list of middle names for Braylin
Jayce
Origin: American
Meaning: “to heal”
Jayden
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “thankful”
Jermaine
Origin: French
Meaning: “from Germany”
Jesiah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “the Lord exists”
Jevonte
Origin: American
Meaning: “Son of Japtheh”
Joseph
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “to add; to increase”
Recommended: Joseph is also on our list of biblical boy names
Joshua
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “God is my salvation”
Justin
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “just; fair; righteous”
K
Kadeem
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “servant”
Karikoga
Origin: African
Meaning: “loner; one who is alone”
Recommended: Karikoga is also on our list of boy names that mean alone
Keenan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “ancient”
Kelvin
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “narrow or wooded river”
Kenan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “possession”
Keshawn
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “God is gracious”
Khalil
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “friend”
Recommended: Khalil is also on our list of boy names that mean friend
Kordell
Origin: English
Meaning: “rope maker”
Kwame
Origin: African
Meaning: “born on Saturday”
L
Lamar
Origin: English
Meaning: “dweller by a pool”
Lamonte
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “law man”
Lashawn
Origin: American
Meaning: “God is gracious”
Lavaughn
Origin: American, Welsh
Meaning: “little”
Lebron
Origin: French
Meaning: “brown-haired one”
Levi
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “joined; attached”
Lloyd
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “gray-haired; sacred”
Recommended: Lloyd is also on our list of catchy short boy names
Louis
Origin: French
Meaning: “famed warrior”
Luther
Origin: German
Meaning: “army people”
M
Malachi
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “messenger of God”
Malcolm
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “devotee of St. Colomba”
Malik
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “king”
Marcel
Origin: French
Meaning: “little warrior”
Marques
Origin: Portuguese, French
Meaning: “dedicated to Mars; nobleman”
Mashawn
Origin: Hebrew, American
Meaning: “gracious”
Michael
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “gift from God”
Montel
Origin: French
Meaning: “my ruler; mountain”
Montrell
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “mountain”
Murphy
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “sea warrior”
N
Nathan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “gift of God”
Recommended: Nathan is also on our list of names that mean gift of God
Nelson
Origin: English
Meaning: “son of Neil”
Noah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “rest”
Nolan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “champion”
Recommended: Nolan is also on our list of boy names with attitude
O
Odell
Origin: English
Meaning: “of the valley”
Omari
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: “flourishing”
Oscar
Origin: English, Irish
Meaning: “God spear; deer-lover; champion warrior”
Owen
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “young warrior; well-born”
P
Payne
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “countryman”
Perry
Origin: English
Meaning: “dweller near a pear tree”
R
Rashaad
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “good judgment”
Rashard
Origin: American
Meaning: “brave ruler”
Rashon
Origin: American
Meaning: “God is gracious”
Reginald
Origin: English
Meaning: “counsel power”
Revon
Origin: English
Meaning: “person who is dark as a raven”
Rodney
Origin: English
Meaning: “island near the clearing”
Roscoe
Origin: Norse
Meaning: “deer forest”
Recommended: Roscoe is also on our list of green boy names
Roshaun
Origin: African, American
Meaning: “shining light”
Rufus
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “red-head”
Recommended: Rufus is also on our list of names for redheads
S
Salim
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “safe; peaceful”
Sayon
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “most beautiful”
Sebastian
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “venerable”
Shaquille
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “handsome”
Sharod
Origin: Arabic, Muslim
Meaning: “Autumn”
Shaun
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “God is gracious”
Shevon
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “God is gracious”
Stefon
Origin: English
Meaning: “crown; wreath”
T
Tavon
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “hillside”
Tevin
Origin: American
Meaning: “handsome”
Trayvon
Origin: American, English
Meaning: “fair town”
Tyrell
Origin: English, French
Meaning: “stubborn; to pull”
V
Vashon
Origin: American
Meaning: “God is gracious; merciful”
Von
Origin: Norse
Meaning: “hope”
Voshon
Origin: American
Meaning: “God is gracious; merciful”
W
Warren
Origin: French, English
Meaning: "park-keeper"
Wendell
Origin: German
Meaning: “wanderer; traveler”
X
Xavier
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “new house; bright”
Xayvion
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: "bright"
Z
Zahair
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “helper; supporter”
Zaid
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “to increase”
Zaire
Origin: African
Meaning: “the river that swallows all rivers”
Zareb
Origin: African
Meaning: “guardian”
Zephan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “hidden by God”
Zion
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “highest point”
Now that you’ve gone through my list of black baby names for a boy, I hope you found some that you like!
Not sure if you’re having a girl or a boy? Here are more baby name lists to consider:
BABY GIRL NAMES LISTS
Cool City Names For Girls
Girl Names With Cute Nicknames
Girls Names With 4 Letters
NAME LISTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
Names That Mean Protector
Gender Neutral Names
Names That Mean Dream
If you liked my post with black and African American boy names, share it below so others can benefit as well!
Alice
