African American Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Levar Masculine African American African American

Levar (often stylized as LeVar) is a masculine given name primarily used in African American communities. It entered public consciousness through the actor LeVar Burton (born 1957), who rose to fame after portraying Kunt...

Makai Masculine African American African American

Makai is a given name used primarily in African American communities, considered a variant of Mekhi. The root name Mekhi's meaning is unknown and it may be an invented name, substantially popularized by the American acto...

Marques Masculine African American African American

Marques is a surname and masculine given name of diverse origins. As a given name, it is most commonly used within African American communities and is a variant of Marquis. The name Marquis derives from a noble title tha...

Marquis Masculine African American African American

Marquis is a masculine given name primarily used within African American communities, derived from the noble title of a marquis. The title itself comes from the Old French word marche, meaning "march, borderland," and or...

Marquise Masculine African American African American

Marquise is a masculine given name used primarily in African American communities. It is a variant of Marquis, which itself is derived from the noble title. Technically, marquise is the feminine form of the title marquis...

Marquita Feminine African American African American

Marquita is a feminine given name primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of Marquis, a name derived from the noble title that originated from the Old French word marche meaning "march, borderland...

Mekhi Masculine African American African American

Mekhi is a masculine given name of unclear origin, possibly invented. It was popularized by the American actor Mekhi Phifer (born 1974), known for roles in films such as 8 Mile and the television series ER.Etymology and...

Nairobi Feminine African American African American

Nairobi is a female given name of African-American origin, directly derived from the capital city of Kenya. The city's name itself comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which literally translates to "cold water" o...

Nakeisha Feminine African American African American

Nakeisha is a distinctive feminine given name predominantly used within African American communities. It is a modern coinage that combines the phonetic prefix na with the name Keisha. The prefix likely carries a fashiona...

Nakisha Feminine African American African American

Nakisha is a feminine name primarily used in African American communities. It is a combination of the name prefix na and the name Kisha, a variant of Keisha. Thus, Nakisha belongs to a cluster of modern coinages that eme...

Natisha Feminine African American African American

Natisha is a modern American feminine given name, primarily used within African American communities. It is a variant of Natasha, likely formed by blending Natasha with the popular suffix -isha, echoing names like Latish...

Naya Feminine African American African American

Naya is a given name of African American origin, considered a variant of Nia 2, which means "purpose" or "aim" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic نيّة (nīya). The name Naya likely gained popularity from a modern creation...

Nia 2 Feminine Swahili African American Swahili African American

Nia is a feminine given name that carries the Swahili meaning of "purpose" or "aim". It was borrowed from the Arabic word نيّة (nīya), which denotes intention, goal, or resolution—an important concept in Islamic theology...

Nichelle Feminine African American African American

Nichelle is a given name that blends elements of the existing names Nicole and Michelle. Its roots thus trace back through Nicole to the Greek name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people" (from Greek elements nike "vic...

Nikeisha Feminine African American African American

Nikeisha is a modern invented name primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of Nakeisha, which itself combines the phonetic prefix na with the name Keisha. Keisha likely emerged in the 1960s, possi...

Nikisha Feminine African American African American

Nikisha is a feminine given name of African American origin. It is a variant of Nakisha, which in turn is a combination of the name prefix na and the name Kisha. Kisha itself is a variant of Keisha, a name that may have...

Precious Feminine English African American English African American

Precious is a predominantly feminine given name derived directly from the English word precious, meaning "of great worth" or "highly valued." The word itself traces back through Old French to Latin pretiosus, a derivativ...

Qiana Feminine African American African American

Qiana is a feminine given name that emerged in the late 1960s, directly inspired by the innovative silk-like synthetic fiber introduced by DuPont. The name gained popularity during the 1970s alongside the fabric's widesp...

Quanna Feminine African American African American

Quanna is an elaborative feminine name associated with African American naming traditions. The name is an elaboration of the phonetic element quan, which is itself a syllable often found in names like Quan and Waqar. In...

Quiana Feminine African American African American

Quiana is a feminine given name that emerged as a modern coinage in African American communities, deriving from the name Qiana and closely related to variant forms such as Kiana 2 and Quianna.EtymologyThe root name Qiana...

Quianna Feminine African American African American

Quianna is a variant of Qiana, a name primarily used in African American communities. Qiana itself derives from the trade name of a silk-like synthetic fabric introduced by DuPont in 1968, which became a symbol of luxury...

Rashaun Masculine African American African American

Rashaun is a modern given name of African American origin, created as a combination of the prefix ra with the name Shaun. It exemplifies a widespread naming tradition within African American communities during the late 2...

Rashawn Masculine African American African American

Rashawn is a modern given name primarily used within African American communities. It is a combination of the prefix ra with the name Shawn. The prefix ra is often employed in African American naming practices to create...

Semaj Unisex African American African American

Semaj is a masculine given name of African American origin, formed by spelling the name James in reverse. This innovative typographical reversal is a distinctive feature of African American naming practices, which often...

Shameka Feminine African American African American

Shameka is a variant of Shamika, a given name that emerged in African American communities during the mid-to-late 20th century. Like many names of its kind, Shameka reflects a creative naming tradition that blends phonet...

Shamika Feminine African American African American

Shamika is an invented name, primarily used in African American communities. It blends the popular phonetic prefix sha with the name Tamika, reflecting a common pattern of creating distinctive names by combining syllable...

Shanae Feminine English African American English African American

Shanae is a feminine given name primarily used in English-speaking and African American communities. The name is a modern combination of the popular phonetic elements sha and nay, a type of coinage that became fashionabl...

Shaneka Feminine African American African American

Shaneka is a variant spelling of Shanika, a name that emerged in African American communities during the late 20th century. It follows a creative naming tradition where phonetic elements like sha and nee are combined wit...

Shanequa Feminine African American African American

Shanequa is a modern invented female given name, considered a variant of Shaniqua. It emerged primarily within African American communities, combining popular phonetic elements characteristic of coinages in the late 20th...

Shanice Feminine African American African American

Shanice is a modern feminine given name, most prominently used in African American culture. It is a creative combination of the phonetic elements sha and nees, reflecting a trend of constructing unique names by blending...

Shanika Feminine African American African American

Shanika is a feminine given name that originated within African American communities in the late 20th century. It is a modern coinage combining the popular phonetic elements sha, nee, and ka, which were fashionable in th...

Shaniqua Feminine African American African American

Shaniqua is an invented female given name that emerged in the African-American community, gaining popularity beginning in the 1970s and peaking in the early 1990s. The name is constructed from popular phonetic elements:...

Shanita Feminine African American African American

Shanita is a feminine given name that emerged primarily in African American communities during the latter half of the 20th century. It is a coined name, created by combining the popular phonetic elements sha, nee, and ta...

Shaniya Feminine African American African American

Shaniya is a modern feminine given name, primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of Shania, which was popularized by singer Shania Twain. Alternatively, it may be a creative blend of popular phone...

Shantae Feminine African American African American

Etymology and Relation to ChantéShantae is a modern American name, most closely recognized as a variant of the French-derived name Chanté. Chanté itself originates from the French word chanter, meaning "to sing", and the...

Shaquan Masculine African American African American

Shaquan is a modern African American masculine given name created by combining the phonetic elements sha and quan. This type of fabricated name is part of a broader tradition in African American naming practices, especia...

Shaquana Feminine African American African American

Shaquana is a feminine first name primarily used within African American communities. It is a modern invented name, formed by combining the phonetic elements sha, qua, and na. This type of construction is common in Afric...

Shaquila Feminine African American African American

EtymologyShaquila is a feminine given name used primarily within African American communities. It is considered a variant of Shakila, which itself is the feminine form of Shakil. The Arabic name Shakil means "handsome".C...

Shaquille Masculine African American African American

Shaquille is a modern first name primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of the Arabic name Shakil, from which it inherits the meaning "handsome". The form "Shaquille" emerged as a distinctive spe...

Sharonda Feminine African American African American

Sharonda is an invented name primarily used in the African American community. It combines the popular phonetic prefix sha with the name Rhonda, following a common pattern in African American naming traditions where uniq...

Shaunte Feminine African American African American

Shaunte is a feminine given name primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of Chanté, which itself derives from the French verb chanter, meaning "to sing." The spelling corresponds to the French pas...

Shavon Feminine English African American English African American

Shavon is a modern feminine given name used primarily in English and African American communities. It is a variant of Shavonne, which itself is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Siobhán. The ultimate origin traces bac...

Shavonne Feminine English African American English African American

Shavonne is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Siobhán, often considered a combination of the phonetic element sha and Yvonne.EtymologySiobhán is the Irish form of Jehanne, a Norman French variant of Jeanne, which is t...

Shelena Feminine African American African American

Shelena is a feminine given name that originated in African American communities, typically interpreted as a combination of the phonetic prefix sha and the name Lena. The first element, sha, is a common stylistic prefix...

Stephon Masculine African American African American

Stephon is a masculine given name, primarily used in African American communities. It is a variant of Stephen, generally stressed on the second syllable. The name emerged as a distinctive form, reflecting the creative na...

Tajuana Feminine African American African American

Etymology and OriginTajuana is a name of African American origin, created as a combination of the prefix ta and the name Juana. The prefix ta is a common element in modern coinages, often serving as an ornamental or phon...

Talisha Feminine African American African American

Talisha is a feminine given name primarily used in African American communities. It is a modern invented name, created as a combination of the popular prefix ta and the name Lisha. This pattern of combining a decorative...

Tamia Feminine African American African American

Tamia is a modern invented name, most notably borne by the Canadian singer Tamia Hill (1975-), known mononymously as Tamia. The name follows a pattern of names like Tamika, using the initial “Tam-” sound and the popular...

Taneka Feminine African American African American

Taneka is an African American feminine name that emerged as a variant of Tanika, a name invented in the 20th century. The name belongs to a broader tradition within African American naming practices of creating distincti...

Tanesha Feminine African American African American

Tanesha is a feminine given name primarily used in African-American communities. It is a variant of Tanisha, a name that gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s.Etymology and OriginsThe root name Tanisha...

Tanika Feminine African American African American

Tanika is an invented female given name, primarily found in African American communities. It was likely coined in the United States in the 20th century, modeled on the sounds and structures of names like Tamika, Tanisha,...

Taniqua Feminine African American African American

Taniqua is a modern female given name primarily used within African American communities. It is a coinage from the late 20th century, formed by combining three popular phonetic elements—ta, nee, and qua—that were frequen...

Tanisha Feminine African American African American

Tanisha is a feminine given name popularized in the United States during the early 1970s. Its surge in popularity is largely attributed to the African-American actress Ta-Tanisha (born 1953 as Shirley Cummings), who appe...

Taniya 1 Feminine African American African American

Taniya is an invented first name primarily used in African American communities. It is a modern, phonetically crafted name that draws inspiration from similar-sounding names such as Tanisha and Shania, blending their mel...

Tavon Masculine African American African American

Tavon is a modern American given name, predominantly used in African American communities. It is a phonetic blend, combining the elements ta or tay with von. The von component, often associated with Germanic surnames mea...

Terell Masculine English African American English African American

Terell is a variant of the English surname and given name Terrell. As a first name, it emerged primarily in English-speaking and African American communities, particularly gaining popularity from the 1970s to the 1990s....

Terrell Masculine English African American English African American

Terrell is a given name of English and African American origin, ultimately derived from an English surname. The surname Terrell most likely originated from the Norman French nickname tirel, meaning "to pull," which was u...

Tisha Feminine English African American English African American

Tisha is a feminine given name used primarily in English and African American communities. It functions as a short form of Letitia or the coinage Latisha. Letitia derives from the Late Latin word laetitia, meaning "joy"...

Toccara Feminine African American African American

Toccara is a modern, primarily African American given name that originated from an unlikely source: a 1981 Avon perfume. The fragrance name was derived from the Italian verb toccare, meaning "to touch," lending the name...

Trayvon Masculine African American African American

Trayvon is a male given name, predominantly used within African American communities. It is a variant of Trevon, which itself is a modern invented name combining the phonetic elements tre and von. Other related variants...