Names from Books written by POC authors

Jedi

Literary name or short form of Jedidiah, Hebrew

"Beloved by the Lord"

Star Wars fans may know the lore behind the origin of the word and the concept Jedi well enough to confidently choose their name for their child. It has to do with balancing the forces of the…

Kehinde

Yoruba

"second-born of twins or one who falls behind"

This African name, which derives from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, is used for both girls and boys -- but in the US, its most notable bearer is (male) artist Kehinde Wiley. Wiley, who paints brown-…

Kelechi

Igbo

"glorify God"

A common unisex name in Nigeria. Kerry Washington used it as the middle name for her son Caleb.

Kofi

Ghanaian, Akan, Twi

"born on Friday"

This Akan day name is very much associated with Kofi Annan, the seventh secretary general of the United Nations. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the…

Kwasi

Akan

"Born on a Sunday"

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this…

Nile

River name, color name, or variation of Niall, Irish

"champion"

Water names are a cool category these days, and this one of the famous Egyptian river is no exception. It streamlines the fussier Niles and also may be thought of as a color name, meaning dark blue…

Ola

Norwegian and Swedish form of Olaf

"ancestor's relic"

Simple, friendly, distinctive name heard in several cultures. The a ending may feel more feminine in the US than Ole, though both variations are acceptable in Scandinavia.

Rafa

Short form of Rafael

Rafa is an adorable short form introduced to the world by actors Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, who used the name for their second son. Rafael is the Latin cognate of the Hebrew boys' name Raphael,…