1. Home
  2. Topics

Black Hero Names

Black hero names honor notable Black leaders of history and today, including abolitionists, activists, athletes, artists, and entertainers. Some of the most famous Black figures, such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Josephine Baker, add a subtle layer of significance to their traditional first names. Their more distinctive surnames are a modern and particularly powerful way to connect your child to your hero.

Along with King and Josephine, other Black hero names in the US Top 300 include Brooks, Clara, Ella, Kyrie, Legend, Nina, Ruby, and Walker. Unique surnames of Black figures’ worth considering for your child include Carver, Ellington, Hughes, and Owens.

A Black hero name may serve to imbue your child the strength and values of their namesake. If you are searching for a name to connect your child to their Black heritage or wish to honor an important Black hero, browse our list of over 250 names below.

Mccoy

Meaning: fire

Origin:Irish variation of McKay
922
Carmelo

Meaning: garden

Origin:Spanish and Italian from Hebrew
1647
Ulysses The name Ulysses is of Latin origin. The mea...
Origin:Latin variation of the Greek Odysseus
607
Crispus

Meaning: curly-haired

Origin:Latin
4697
Basquiat The name Basquiat is a French-origin name mo...
Origin:French surname
4385
Parks

Meaning: park-keeper or stone

Origin:English
4886
Mordecai

Meaning: follower of Marduk

Origin:Hebrew
303
Hosea

Meaning: salvation

Origin:Hebrew
1317
Martin

Meaning: warlike

Origin:Latin
378
Legend

Meaning: hero or fable

Origin:English
556
Ashe Ashe is a masculine name with roots in Old E...
Origin:English surname; diminutive of Ashley, Ashton, etc
2143
Truth

Meaning: truth

Origin:English word name
8990
Kwame

Meaning: born on Saturday

Origin:Ghanaian, Akan
1320
Coleman

Meaning: little dove

Origin:English and Irish
2693
Clyde Clyde is traditionally a Scottish name for a...
Origin:Scottish river name
573
Payton

Meaning: fighting man's estate

Origin:English variation of Patton or Peyton
3824
Payton

Meaning: fighting man's estate

Origin:English variation of Patton or Peyton
3824
Alvin

Meaning: noble friend, friend of the elves

Origin:English
695
Kareem

Meaning: noble, generous

Origin:Arabic
2745
Origin:Invented name
7391