Looking for names for Native American for educational or curiosity? Well you came to the right place. Here you will find a lot of great information on many different Native American Names.
First of all let’s talk about some history.
Long ago there were no First, Middle, and last names like they do have right now. Instead tribes gave names to their own through ceremony. Sometimes names would change as they got older because they did a special deed or earned it.
Just like the Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. His name was different and he also inherited a nick name “curly” or “light hair” before it got changed to Crazy Horse.
*Fun Fact. Crazy Horse’s dad was also called Crazy Horse, and his Grandfather as well. Names were sometimes passed down just like someone would be called Jr.
Now a days people still get “Indian Names” which differ from what they call their “Government Names” and they get them through ceremony such as a Sun Dance Ceremony or giving gifts to an Elder who will go through other ceremonies such as a Sweat Lodge to get your name.
There are many different Names for Native American people and a lot will differ because they will be using their authentic Native Language for names.
For example) An Indigenous name for a boy, they may call him Bear.
Well you can say “Bear” in many different ways using many different Native American Languages.
- To Say Bear in Cree, you would say – Maskwa
- Shash means bear in Navajo
- “Yona” is the Cherokee word for bear.
- Shush is how you say bear in Apache
There are many different Native American languages so you can see you can get a name from different languages that mean the same thing.
Contents
So now that we know a little bit of history lets get into some of the Names for Native American kids, family, and more
First there are a lot of names that come directly from the tribe name. Many families and even mainstream society use the names for Tribes for the names of their kids.
Here are Names From Native American Tribes
| Names. | Meaning/Origin |
| Cree | Algonquian word for “first people.” |
| Lakota | “friend, ally” |
| Dakota | this female name means “friend to all.” |
| Sioux | short for Nadowessioux, meaning “little snakes” |
| Cheyenne | “people of a different language” |
| Cherokee | “people of different speech” |
| Shoshone | “grass house people” |
| Nakota | “friends” or “allies.” |
| Seneca | “keepers of the western wall” |
Here’s a Shortlist of Some Names You Can Give to Girls
Sometimes girls would have to go through a rite of passage to go from being a girl to evolving to a woman.
Aiyana
This girl’s name means “forever flowering.”Na’estse: Means “one” in Cheyenne
Nese: “Two” in Cheyenne
Nistu: Means “three”
Neewa: Means “four”
Niaran: means “five”
Enemene: Means “sing” in Cheyenne
Enesta: Means “hear” in Cheyenne
Toma: Means “sun” in Wiyot
Tepkunset: Means “moon”
Seke: Means “black”
Nagamao: Means “sing”
Maji: Means “leave”
Winona: Means “first daughter”
Tanis: Means “daughter”
Nizhoni: Means “beautiful”
Meli: Means “daughter”
Kateri: The Mohawk version of Catherine
Bly
If you like shorter names, Bly is a girl’s name meaning “tall or high.”
Chenoa
A beautiful girl’s name with an even more beautiful meaning. Cheona means “white dove.”
Enola
A female name that means “magnolia.”
Halona
Halona is a female name meaning “fortune.”
Istas
If you have a little girl in the winter, maybe name her Istas, it means “snow.”
Malia
Just like the name of former President Barack Obama’s daughter, Malia means “calm” and is derived from the name Mary.
Nina
This popular girl’s name is common in other cultures as well; it means “mighty or fire.”
Nokomis
This unique name is a Chippewa girl’s name meaning “grandmother or daughter of the moon.”
Odina
The Native American Algonquin name means “mountain.” Usually, it’s a girl’s name.
Pocahontas
Arguably the most famous Native American name, it means “playful one.”
Tallulah
A beautiful girl’s name meaning “leaping water.”
Winona
Just like actress Winona Rider, the name means “the first daughter.”
Mitena
A common Native American girl’s name meaning “new moon or coming moon.”
Sacajawea
Another famous name on the list. It means “bird woman.”
Olathe
This stunning girl’s name literally means “beautiful.”
Sakari
A cute name for a little girl that means “sweet.”
Shysie
Shysie is a girl’s name that means “silent little one.”
Takoda
Similar to Dakoda, this female name means “friend to all.”
Tayen
A lovely girl’s name that means “new moon.”
Makawee
Makawee means “Generous, abundant, freely giving and motherly” in Sioux
Native American Boy Names
A lot of the Indigenous boys wear braids or long hair. Now a days a lot of men wear long hair as a way to honour their ancestors.
Adriel
Adriel is a native American boy’s name that means “beaver or symbol of skill.”
Bidziil
While this name may sound different to some, it’s a male Navajo name meaning “he is strong.”
Cochise
A powerful name for a little boy. Cochise means “Renowned warrior chief of the Chiricahua Apache.”
Dasan
Another firm male name, Dasan means “chief.”
Elu
Elu is a boy’s name that means “full of grace.”
Nikosis
Means “my son”
Hania
This cool boy’s name means “spirit warrior.”
Jacy
Jacy is a common male Native American name meaning “the moon.”
Chayton
A popular name for boys Chayton means “falcon.”
Kosumi
Another unique boy’s name. Kosumi means “fishes for salmon with a spear.”
Kele
This cute boy’s name means “sparrow” in Hopi.
Keokuk
A solid boy’s name meaning “one who is alert and watchful.”
Mato
This sweet-sounding boy’s name means “bear.”
Nahele
Nahele is a boy’s name that means “forest.”
Sahale
This boy’s name means “above or high place.”
Nayati
A boy’s name that means “he who wrestles.”
Seattle
Just like the city, it means “man of high status.”
Tahoma
This male name means “giver of the water.”
Tokala
An adorable name for a little boy. Tokala means “fox.”
Nitis
This popular male name means “friend.”
Tyee
A strong name for a boy, Tyee means “chief, leader, or big and superior.”
Paco
Paco is a male name meaning “eagle.”
Shilah
A male Navajo name that means “brother.”
Wapi
Wapi is a male name that means “lucky.”
Indigenous Names For Both Boys and Girls
Dakota
Dakota is a popular name for both male and female babies across America. The Native American name means “friend.”
Kai
This name is ultra popular now. It means “willow tree” in Navajo.
Mika
Mika is often used for both boys and girls; the name means “rabbit.”
Simi
This stunning name means “valley of the wind.”
Onacona
Onacona means “white owl” in Cherokee.
Abedabun
This name is a variation of Cheyanne that means “sight of day.”
Bonus Native American Names for Horses
- Kiona – Brown Mountain
- Kuruk – Bear (Pawnee)
- Miki – Little (Inuit)
- Dakota – Friend (Sioux)
- Miwak – Growl of a Bear (Miwok)
- Nokosi – Bear (Seminole)
- Kasa – Dressed in Furs (Hopi)
- Squanto – Saved the pilgrims
- Kele – Sparrow (Hopi)
- Kai – Willow Tree (Navajo)
- Geronimo – Apache Leader
- Ama – Water (Cherokee)
- Takoda – Friend to Everyone (Sioux)
- Kohana – Swift (Sioux)
- Mona – Noble One
- Kaya – Pure
- Wakanda – Possesses Magic (Sioux)
- Nova – Chases Butterfly (Hopi)
- Yuma – Song of the Chief (Navajo)
- Maikoh – Wolf (Navajo)
- Kitchi – Brave (Algonquin)
- Mansi – Plucked Flowers (Hopi)
- Misu – Rippling Brook (Miwok)
- Tala – Wolf
- Bly – Tall
- Pontiac – Ottawan Leader
- Mika – Intelligent Racoon
- Micco – Chief (Seminole)
- Una – One
- Honi – Wolf (Arapaho)
