Orthographic map of Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Till the 1970s, just few African names became popular in America – such as Kwame, Ayana and Jabari, especially in the African-American community.
Since the 1970s African-American parents started to create new names for their children, combining fashionable syllables and sounds; such as girls names with prefixes Sha-, La-, Ka-, Shan-, or Ty-, with a fashionable suffix, such as -isha, -ika, -onda, -ae, -ique, or -ice.
In the 1970s and 1980s, names beginning with La- such as Lashonda and Lashay were most popular.
In the 1990s, Sha- names such as Shameka, Shanae, and Shaniqua were fashionable.
Nowadays, girl baby names have origins in many languages including French, Latin, English and African. Many have the popular prefix of ‘La’ or ‘Le’ ( Latoya, Lashawn, Latrice etc) and also ‘Da’ and ‘De’ (Denelle, Danisha etc). Other African languages include Zulu, Swahili, Zulu, Igbo, and Yoruba.
Here is some popular baby girl names from African-American community:
- Abrienne
- Adalina
- Aeesha
- Alla
- Benella
- Chalese
- Cozette
- Dena
- Elmina
- Farrah
- Imanie
- Jaenesha
- Jameeka
- Jaylon
- Jazmynn
- Jody
- Kachelle
- Kenda
- Latoyia
- Latricia
- Marcenia
- Melyssa
- Nahiah
- Reann
- Saniya
- Shakilah
- Shaniqua
- Takeya
- Tameka
- Twila
- Verleena
- Zacari
Boy baby names also have origins in many languages including French, Latin, English and various languages in Africa. There are also those with the prefix of ‘La’ as is Lamarr or DaJon.
Here is some popular baby boy names from African-American community:
- Achmed
- Ajamil
- Akins
- Asante
- Chantay
- Daemon
- Darnell
- Gray
- Hakim
- Haywood
- Hondo
- Jaquon
- Javaughn
- Jayron
- Jeremie
- Jody
- Juwon
- Keldon
- Kier
- Levon
- Marsden
- Montrel
- Obama
- Rasean
- Shontae
- Terrelle
- Tysen
- Wyshawn
- Yashon
