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Saturday, November 8, 2025

Some Ways That African American Names Are Created: Beginning A Name With A Prefix And/Or Ending A Name With A Suffix

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a four page 2023 Lipstick Alley.com discussion thread that lists names that the commenters consider to be "African American".

Some of the comments in this discussion thread presents the commenters' opinions about ways that African American names are created by adding a prefix to the beginning of an already existing personal name and/or adding a suffix to an already existing personal name.

This is just one of the subjects that are explored in this four page discussion thread. Another subject that is repeatedly raised in this discussion is "Why do Black Americans have so many "Muslim names?" 

The content of this post is presented for onomastic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who participated in that lipstick alley discussion thread and special thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post..

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WHAT DID MOST COMMENTERS IN THIS DISCUSSION MEAN BY "BLACK AMERICAN NAMES"?
One broad definition of "African American names" in this lipstickalley.com discussion appears to be "personal names that are commonly found among African Americans (or are popular with African Americans, and/or usually associated with African Americans) regardless to what nation (language) these names came from. 

A more specific definition of "African American names" in this lipstickalley.com discussion appears to be "personal names that were created by African Americans, especially those newly created personal names that have certain structural characteristics such as a particular prefix, and/or suffix."

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS SHOWCASED DISCUSSION THREAD

https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/what-are-your-fav-african-american-names.5158067/ What are your favorite African American Names?

1. Bellz Jan 31, 2023
"I want to name my kids african american names. like, names that are not just popular among us, but names that were created by us. Ones that sound nice and simple, not ones that are a jumbling of too many different words and sounds lol. Some of our popular names are ones where we took a european name and shortened or remixed it, for example. Anyway what are your favs?"

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2. shyael, Jan 31, 2023
"Dajanae, Devante, Joy, Coi, Jada, Jayla, Layla, Jaliah, Taliah, Meah, Nia, Anyah, Jahia, Mya, Tasia, Daijah, Aja

Most names ending in -isha or -ika (Camisha, Tamika, etc)

 I love Black American names ❤️"

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3. HiC Orange, Jan 31, 2023
"Great thread, op. I love black names!

for girls I love names that end in -eisha phonetically.

Meisha, Caresha, Felicia

or in -eka

like Tameika, Sheneka.

I used to to know of someone named Mameika (Muh-Mee-Kuh)

which is so pretty to me & one of my favorite names.

I have a boring black name. lol"

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4. Bellz  Jan 31, 2023 [thread starter]
"i have a boring name too, but i like it. it's a white name, but it's spelled in a unique way.

Thanks"

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5. Out2Lunch215, Jan 31, 2023
"Please note that most AA names are Scottish, Latin, and British in origin for the obvious reasons. That being said, the easiest way to make a name "Black/AA" is to add La, Le, Ta, etc to it.

For example, Shawna is English in origin but there are variations like LaShawna, LeShawna, DeShawna, Ta'shawna, and Toshawna among AA.

Same for Marcus. We all know a Demarcus, LeMarcus, Jamarcus, etc."

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6. Redcoral, Jan 31, 2023
"Keisha

Meisha

Leisha

Teisha

Reisha

Add a La or Ta at the beginning and it’s a remix…"

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https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/what-are-your-fav-african-american-names.5158067/page-2


7. Skyglo, Jan 31, 2023
"Naya, laya, jayla any name name with aya in it cus I got my name sounds like that lol"

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8. Mrs. Lindo, Feb 1, 2023
"
Ive seen the name Asia mixed in with other stuff like

Briasia, Deasia, Leasia, etc"

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https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/what-are-your-fav-african-american-names.5158067/page-3


9. SCarmichael, Feb 1, 2023
"Any guy with a Tre' or De' in front of his name is sexy.  I don't make the rules."

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10. Lilliup, Feb 1, 2023
"I know plenty Black guys named Tyrone and Jerome that’s popular in the Black American community, so it counts. As for Black American someone already said name’s ending with -eisha and -eika"

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11. Michakah, Feb 1, 2023
"I like ones that end with tay/ tae/ té"

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https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/what-are-your-fav-african-american-names.5158067/page-4

12.  TiggerBear Feb 2, 2023

"Out2Lunch215 said:

Please note that most AA names are Scottish, Latin, and British in origin for the obvious reasons. That being said, the easiest way to make a name "Black/AA" is to add La, Le, Ta, etc to it.

For example, Shawna is English in origin but there are variations like LaShawna, LeShawna, DeShawna, Ta'shawna, and Toshawna among AA."

Same for Marcus. We all know a Demarcus, LeMarcus, Jamarcus, etc.
-end of quoted comment-
"A lot of Muslim names too"

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13. HiC Orange, Feb 3, 2023
..."My favorite boy names that I've heard of end in

-on or tae

Germon

Keyvion (Key-vee-ahn)

Davontae

Deontae"

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14. M A R S, Feb 5, 2023
"AA Origins I believe:

Feminine

Niyah

Aviani: this might be Arabic not too sure.

Dasia

Nyala

 

Unisex

Semaj

Kamari

 

Masculine

Jelani

Zaire

Tyrese

Tyriq

Amarion

Kairi/Kyrie: the word is Greek but the origin as a name is AA I think.

 

This just made me realize how many names don't have AA origins yet I heavily associate with AAs. I don't think that's a bad thing though. Biblical names are used due to the influence of religion. Same with Islamic names due to the NOI influence. French names I'm assuming came about from New Orleans. Now that I write it out it's so cool how we can trace name usage like this.

I also find it interesting that black girls will sometimes be named after their fathers in a roundabout, but very obvious way.

I know of a Willimesha (Father's name is William)

& a Jameonna (Jay-Me-Ahn-Nuh) (Father's name is James)

 

I feel like I don't see other communities do this to this extent. I think it happens quite a bit with us."

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