Going through childhood with toys that look like you and reflect your life is so important for young ones. Yet it can take a little more finessing to find quality, affordable Black and brown dolls. With the holidays coming up, we put together a guide to some of the best diverse dolls to gift the kids in your life.
And, if you want to pick one up for yourself, too, you aren’t alone: Countless adult reviewers described wishing they had options like this growing up — and decided to treat themselves to one, too!
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This adorable baby doll from brand Naturalistas, Lily, is 14 inches of huggable love and validating play.
Designed for “a lifelong love of natural coils, curls and crowns,” Lily rocks a royal crown — and comes with a crown for your little one to wear, too!
Promising review: “I love the whole entirety of this doll. She is beautiful and well made. She is such a wonderful representation of a beautiful young black girl” — BAE
Whether you’re an HBCU alum, fan or relative to someone attending or working there, these official HBCU-themed dolls would make exceptionally special gifts for little ones.
Created by a Hampton University graduate and officially licensed by the schools, the 18-inch HBCyoU dolls come in three styles: Cheer captain Alyssa (left), homecoming queen Nicole (center) and student body president Hope (right).
Shop all HBCyoU dolls at Target, where you’ll find different school uniforms in addition to the pictured Howard outfit. You can also find select cheerleader doll versions at Amazon.
Promising review: “Priceless watching my niece open this doll and say ‘she looks like me!!!’ She just turned 9 & has never received a doll that really resembles her – hard to find up until these last couple of years without spending a lot! I was so happy to find this. Absolutely beautiful doll. Well made, gorgeous & soft hair! Not sure how she’ll hold up to playtime without major tangles, but that’s typical of ALL dolls. Stop thinking about it & just buy her!” — Jessica
Made with plush fabric and sweet embroidered smiles, these 14-inch Playtime By Eimmie dolls are ready to accompany kids ages one year and up to school, car trips, playtime at home and anywhere else life takes them!
We think Kaylie (left) and Charlie (center) are perfectly huggable; the brand offers several other dolls with different skin tones and styles.
Clip the coupon for an added discount at checkout for Charlie!
Promising reviews: “I purchased the Kaylie doll for my daughter’s 2nd birthday because it was the only soft/safe doll that I could find at the time that looked like her. She INSTANTLY fell in love. This doll has gone everywhere and to bed with her almost every night for the last 2 years. It holds up well to the daily use and abuse of a toddler. The best part is that it’s machine washable! The only negative is that some of the string hair on the back of her head detached from the head of the doll but the string hair strands did not fall of they are just less secure. Otherwise I’m so glad that I got this for her. For anyone thinking about getting this doll, especially parents with brown skin little girls, Don’t think just get it! It will be worth it!” — Bee B
“My 22-month-old nephew loves Charlie. He likes to rub his hair and often takes naps with him. It’s so good to have an affirming toy that has chocolate skin like my nephew. Charlie is made very well and his so cute. I couldn’t be more pleased with this purchase.” — Mona D.
These sweet, smiling HarperIman dolls were made by a mother-daughter team to promote positive self-image in children.
“We want little kids to be able to have dolls that look like them and share the same style as them — dolls that reflect who they are and who they want to be,” writes the brand.
Each 14-inch doll is handcrafted with linen and comes with its own backstory.
Ashton, in green pants and a corduroy jacket (left), is a voracious reader writing her own book about superheroes.
Sydney, in the camo set and a pretty bandana (center), loves to sing and dance.
And Frankie, in jeans and a red flannel (right), is a talented painter who loves museums and art shows.
Another cool HarperIman option is Charlie, who wears an astronaut suit as she is determined to someday walk on the moon!
Promising reviews: “Not only does this doll look like my daughter, it LOOKS like my daughter. It was an 18th birthday gift, and she could not stop smiling!! The whole line is amazing.” — BKNY 718
Our Generation dolls — which are only sold by Target — have a beautiful selection of options beyond the typical blonde doll. Online is your best bet for choosing your little loved one’s gift, since Our Generation’s offerings go way beyond what you’ll find in-store.
I’m particularly taken with Malik, an 18-inch Black boy doll with a sweet short-sleeved hoodie and comfy joggers. Like the rest of Our Generation’s offerings, Malik has a soft, huggable body and lifelike features with eyes that open and close. He’s ready for lots of fun with the kid in your life — and to give lots of love to his new companion!
Heads up: If you’re a Target Circle member, this is part of a BOGO 50% off deal on toys. The deal ends on November 30.
Our Generation’s 18-inch Mirna doll sports cool denim pants, a pretty pink hijab and enviable brown loafers. She even has dimples to highlight her playful spirit, according to the brand (a feature that reviewers love)!
Promising reviews: “This doll is so adorable!! I love that OG has an inclusive doll for Muslims! My girls loved that there is a doll that resembles mama” — Mo
“I love the character representation of this doll with her hair covering and those adorable dimples! Our Generation is getting it so right with the beautiful diversity of dolls.” — So Lovely
Heads up: If you’re a Target Circle member, this is part of a BOGO 50% off deal on toys. The deal ends on November 30.
These ultra-soft East and South Asian dolls won the 2024 Mom’s Choice and National Parenting Product awards! Each 18-inch toy is meticulously handmade and wears beautiful traditional attire.
Pictured here is Danbi (left), who wears a beautiful Korean hanbok; Kamala (center), who dons a pink Lehenga skirt, gold Choli and a stunning dupatta; and Hoa (right), dressed in a lovely Vietnamese Áo Dài.
The brand, Joeydolls, also offers a Filipina ‘Malaya’ doll, a Japanese ‘Aiko’ doll and more on their site!
These dolls are actually from Netflix’s animated show, Karma World!
Even if you and your kid haven’t seen the show, we think they’re a great gifting option: The dolls are durable and beautiful at an excellent price point, according to reviewers.
You can always start the show after opening the gift for an added treat for your little!
Karma Grant (left), holds a microphone to reflect her aspirations of being a rap star and her legendary rhyme schemes.
Winston Torres (center) is best friends with Karma and an artist who carries a camera to record his friends’ music videos.
P.S.: At 8.7 inches and 9.5 inches each, respectively, they’re a little smaller than other options (see righthand photo for size reference), making them ideal for kids into similarly-sized action figures and for easy traveling.
Promising reviews: “My niece loved this doll. I always give her melanated dolls but recently she made the comment that she had never had a doll that looked like her. I was totally surprised because that’s something I look for when choosing. Gave her this for her 10th birthday and her 1st comment was SHE LOOKS LIKE ME!!” — Theresa
“I bought two dolls at the same time. I love that my goddaughter can look at a doll and see herself in the character. 5 out of 5” — Hanna
This precious plush doll, named Rumaysa, is the kind of gift that will light up kids’ eyes. Soft to the touch and perfectly huggable, Rumaysa wears a beautifully embroidered dress with Moroccan designs and a soft hijab with a flower hairpiece.
The 15-inch doll comes in a meticulously designed clear-front bag to add another special touch to your gift.
Promising review: “My daughter loved it the moment she saw it. Such a lovely gift for our young Muslim girls, glad these kind of dolls that is inclusive exist now” — Fatima
Target’s Our Generation doll, Mei, is ready to play and lend a kind ear to your sweet little. With a soft yet sturdy 18-inch body, Mei shows her love for butterflies through her headband and belt.
Heads up: If you’re a Target Circle member, this is part of a BOGO 50% off deal on toys. The deal ends on November 30.
I would be remiss not to include Our Generation’s many special event dolls. The brand’s 30th anniversary collection includes Adira (far left) and Ayumi (far right), who both don radiant, full princess dresses with sequined tops and sparkling tiaras.
The brand’s pixie fairy doll is also a standout (center); while she is technically modeled after the tooth fairy (which her piggy bank nods to), her lovely fairy wings, crown, shimmery dress and starry wand make her an especially magical gift in any context.
P.S.: The sugar plum fairy Delmy doll also gets a special mention with her lovely ballet dress, tiara and snowflake wand.
Heads up: If you’re a Target Circle member, this is part of a BOGO 50% off deal on toys. The deal ends on November 30.
Our Generation also has a gorgeous selection of Black girl dolls, many of which include themed accessories and matching storybooks!
Lucia, left, wears a stylish faux-fur jacket and a trendy floral dress with a tulle bottom.
Virginia, right, is school-themed, donning a cat-and-heart t-shirt that I wish existed in real life. Her set includes a backpack, school supplies, a gym class outfit and a storybook that details Virginia’s first day of kindergarten.
Heads up: If you’re a Target Circle member, this is part of a BOGO 50% off deal on toys.
This snuggly, smiley doll is personalizable! You can have your little one’s name embroidered in a fun, whimsical font on the front of the toy’s dress. (The brand, Dibsies, can fit up to nine letters).
With soft yarn hair and butterfly-emblazoned dresses, the doll measures 15 inches and comes in several different styles. Because she’s so soft yet sturdy, this doll is a great option for extra-little ones!
Promising reviews: “These dolls are adorable and the price is great! Personalized doll for $20 what?!? It is a wonderful gift and the kids love them! It is a soft doll and I love how you can personalize the skin color and child’s name!!” — Kindle Customer
This sweet hijabi doll, named Warda, comes with a silver lobster clasp and keyring so the littles in your life can carry her around on their school backpacks (or, adults can attach her to their keys and bags)!
You can also opt to leave her keyring off and enjoy her as a regular pint-sized doll; at 4.2 inches, she’ll play well with other little plushies like mini Beanie Babies. Her little details, like her lavender, lace-lined dress and sweet blushing cheeks, make her an extra-special gift.
Also, Texas-based Etsy storefront Hudhud Creations offers tons of other adorable hijabi-themed items, like this incredibly cute hijabi princess fairy sticker (!) and, for adults, a “cutie on the road” rose-scented car air freshener.
Glitter Girls doll Keltie encourages extra-imaginative play with her posable, bendy profile, which lets her stand alone on flat surfaces or sit upright. She comes with a fun outfit, including playful leggings, which the brand says will fit most other 14-inch dolls, too!
She’s a big hit with kids, according to reviewers, one of whom jokingly warns “[if you have two girls] make sure you buy two.”
Promising review: “Such a beautiful doll! I don’t like Barbi dolls due to the body shape issue and lack of ethnic diversity so I went searching for more natural looking dolls for my daughter. I Absolutely Love 14″ dolls! The Glitter Girls in particular are great because you can actually bend and shape their legs and arms unlike other 14” dolls we tried such as Wellie Wishers and Hearts for Hearts dolls (although they all can wear the same clothes which is amazing!). The lack of makeup and more childlike appearance of these Glitter Girls made them immediately relatable to my daughter. And those eyes!! The eyes are absolutely breathtaking! The clothes are easy to change, modest and not revealing such as baring the tummy and the shoes are sturdy and rubbery… I bought 3 different dolls that looked the most different so she could have a good variety but not be overwhelmed and take them for granted. I may rethink that because these dolls are just that wonderful! The price point being around a fraction of the cost is LEAPS AND BOUNDS better than other competitors too which is super great! Love the Glitter Girls dolls and 100% recommend them for any little girl!” — MommaBear15
Also from the Naturalistas brand, these 11-inch dolls have whole backstories that your little one will find on the back of their product boxes. Liya, center, is an engineering student from Atlanta who is also an international natural hair model. Whitney, right, was raised in Florida with a heritage from the Caribbean; she is a social media executive who supports natural hair entrepreneurs.
Promising review: “This doll is beautiful! The hair and outfit are amazing. Comes with a pick too! Naturalista are really nice, quality dolls. Much better buy than basic Barbie fashionistas.” — Trishoneandonly
Ebuddy’s Black girl dolls are pretty special, reviewers say: As beautiful as the product photos and beloved by the kids who received them, who “play with it all the time.”
At 14.5 inches, these sweet, realistic dolls each come with an extra outfit to make playtime extra fun and imaginative. The sunflower dress doll comes with a sporty shorts and t-shirt set and sunglasses; the pink capris doll includes an adorable unicorn dress. Both dolls also include sweet backpacks and doll-sized toy cameras!
And, parents will appreciate that the dolls and their clothes are washable — their outfits can go in the washing machine, and the vinyl doll can be wiped down by hand with a damp cloth.
Promising review: “If you are looking for a gift for a child that loves doll this is it! It comes with accessories that include a pair of little sunglasses, a toy camera, and a little skirt. The doll is about 14 inches tall and this is just what I was looking for for my 5 year old kid!” — sherlock eu