African American Names Novels & Stories

I don’t know but I kind of have this funny feeling that I sounded like a daughter of a boutique owner since my two names are both flowers. Well, nevertheless, it kind of has chemistry to my last name: Zadzisai Yes, I know. It sounds peculiar but it’s actually common to African surnames. Wait ‘till you hear my uncle Imani Onai on how he pronounced my last name. As I’ve been saying, my name is pretty much well-combined, don’t you think? Rozelyn Nadeshiko Zadzisai. Yes, it has a lot of Zs in it but what else do you expect? I was born from two different races and cultures, naming is one of their challenges but they named me impressively despite their varied origins.

"Before I continue, Mosetsana, what is your full name?" Mosetsana looked at the others in question, and Lola shrugged. "Uhm... My birth name is Mosetsana Cleopatra Masiteng, now Taunyane." Antonina frowned in confusion, who the hell was Namhla? "Oh, don't you have any other names?" She asked. Mosetsana shook her head. "Not that I know of. Just Fredah, but that's my mom's name. People back home call me young Fredah 'cause my mother and I look alike."

“I’ve been thinking, Agnes. In our Yoruba tradition, we often name children after gods or attributes that we hope they will embody.” Agnes raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? And what do you have in mind?” Baba Tunde’s smile widened. “Well, considering the circumstances of his birth and the battles you’ve faced, I thought of a couple of names that might be fitting.” Agnes couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I’m curious to hear these names, Baba Tunde.” “First, there’s Oluwaseun, which means ‘God has done it’ or ‘God is gracious,’” Baba Tunde suggested, his eyes sparkling with meaning. “And then, there’s also Oluwafemi, which means ‘God loves me.’”

“Are you letting go of your grudge against him or of your love for him?” Namhla chuckled, her eyebrows drawing together as she gave Mosetsana a brief look before picking up her coffee and sitting back on a couch with her legs crossed. “You know, only you and Thuso ever call me Namhla, it always feels wrong when someone else calls me by my second name. My dad only calls me that when he is angry, otherwise, everyone else calls me Amandla.” Mosetsana only called her Namhla because that was how Thuso had introduced her despite her widely-used first name. “He has a way of making a woman feel special, doesn’t he?” She asked, becoming more and more reserved by the second.

I opened it and stared. "Obim! You own my heart, so if you suffer, I suffer as well." Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled the fond name she used to call me. "You see, Aretha was of mixed heritage, her father was an African, a Nigerian, to be exact, but her mother was American." Frankly speaking, if she had been from the moon, I would not have cared. All I wanted was-

It was a natural conjugal, I mean we were meant to be for each other like he was everything to me and I was his perfect woman even if the traditions of our people allowed men take up as many women as they could cater for he was still my man. Afamefuna was his name, a very beautiful name that rings up in my head each time I was alone and over thinking myself out. The name literally meant my name will not be lost emphasizing the importance of family legacy and continuity. The name reminds me that within all the predicaments that I must have been through my name Thelma must be heard even if I no longer exist with you humans here on this planet.

suggested Alpha River in a firm voice. "I don't like those names. My top five names were Nefertiti, Amina, Fatima, Yaa Asantewaa, and Makeda. My wolf liked Amona Reinas better, therefore I am not changing it." responded Miriam, sounding irritated by his request. "Fine! It's your name, but it is a lot." confessed Alpha River, not happy at all. "That's fine! I don't care if other people like it as long as I love it." declared Miriam with a chuckle.

She was a gentle and beautiful black woman. With shoulder-length curly hair, a smooth spotless face, and a pointed chin; shaped into a v face. Charming as she was, she was a paradigm of elegance. Although she was not as beautiful as the two other queens Esagho and Idia, it was generally accepted that her intelligence made up for her slight loss in terms of beauty to the other queens. Some people even argued, that her intelligent and supportive nature even, made her far more superior, to the other two queens, since she was also very beautiful.

I asked, excitement springing within me. "First of all, I've been wanting to tell you, my name is not pronounced as Jay-de, it is pronounced as Jah-day. My full name is Jadesola, it is a Yoruba name and it means to emerge into wealth. I am a Nigerian, but as a result of migration, we found ourselves here, my parents and I. The Alpha's elder brother, Aaron found us first before he took us to his parents. The Alpha's parents were nice so they accommodated us and took care of us," She explained with a smile on her face.

He asked hoping he didn't ruin her Nigerian name. "No, its pronounced Efayin, it's my tribal name. I considered changing it into some white washed name like Sasha or Ashley, Sarah or some white chick detective name but last minute decided against it. Why not make my name difficulty a problem for everyone and keep them on their toes everytime they needed to call my name," Dera chuckled. Remembering when the chief police wanted to call her name for the award of bravery and used a full two minutes trying to get the full name right without offending her after which he settled for just her first name.