October 7th, 2019 Last Updated on: June 2nd, 2020
All new parents know naming your child is one of the hardest decisions you'll probably ever have to make.
Native American baby names are unique, and they have powerful, sentimental, and beautiful meanings behind them.
Anyone with an American Indian background can pay the ultimate homage to their heritage by giving their bundle of joy a classic Native American name.
Keep reading for 50 unique Native American boy and girl names.
And if you are looking for shower gifts, be sure to check our Native American baby gift guide!
Native American Girl Names
Aiyana
This girl's name means “forever flowering.”
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
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.”
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.”
Native American 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.”
Home » Blog »
Explore Native Culture
TAGGED: native american names
Toyah says:
Knowing the name meaning is important but also the culture and origin! My name was given to me by my Godmother because I was born a girl and was thought to have been a boy so they did not have a girl’s name picked. My godmother named me Toyah and said it meant ‘little one’ and was the name of a great Comanche Indian Chief. The name fit me perfectly because I was only 5lbs when I was born and she wished for me to do great things. I used to hate the name because I am a very white girl, and everyone made fun of my name, but my Godmother is native and she knew what she was doing. My father’s slight native looks just didn’t pass on to me! I digress, I have done research on my name and now I love my name and am proud. Anyone who asks about it, I gladly tell them, both the history of the name and how I received it!
Drew says:
I named my son…….”Awaehsaeh” or “Bear” in our own Native-Language (Menominee),as when my wife was only a few months pregnant and not even knowing what the sex of the child was yet………..I had a “vision”,of our child and when I awoke……….that’s the name I chose!!! Also helpful is our Family is “Bear-clan” within our Tribe as well!!! 🙂
Me says:
My fav name was Nina it means mighty fire
Shawna says:
Which tribe arw these “native names derived from? Because my sons name Adriel is straight out of the bible!
Stella Mary says:
Naming a newborn is always a process and a joyful act as the parents must think if the name suits the baby. Again knowing the meaning of the name is an advantage. Thank you for the helpful data.
Cathy Cannon says:
I named my son Nakia ….yes it was a tc show about a Native/Abarigional policeman who was Navaho & did his job without using a gun unless he had to starring Robert Forester in the late 70’s….I loved the show NAKIA & how the main character tried to settle things without violance as much as possible….anyway I’ve never been able to find out the meaning behind his name & while its been 41 yrs since I named my son Nakia , I was wondering if you might possibly know how to find the meaning of his name. Thankyou in advance for any help you can provide for me.
Jean says:
Hi Stella, my nephew is also named Nakia : my sister also watched that show -if you find out the tribal origins of that name please let us know. Maybe it is Navajo since you mentioned it in your post.
Ibi Hinrichs says:
You left out a very important fact on most names, what tribe/ language does it does it come from? This is appropriation without understanding or cultural connection- how would a child feel in their life if some one asked them about their name and they could not say what tradition it comes from? How does that carry on the legacy of the tribe?
A name is much more to a child, to a culture – do not make it meaningless.
Please reprint this list of names with the important information about that name so people can choose wisely and with respect.
Elle says:
I second these thoughts/concerns one hundred percent. Origin of the names: what tribe and language. Not all tribes speak the same language.
Lynn Lewis-Shaganaby says:
Where I really appreciate this list of NA names, I too agree that more information is needed. My mother received her NA name from a Medicine Man in our tribe (Odawa-Ottawa) who went into the mountains as a ritualistic practice of elders in Indian Country, however, now he has passed on and more and more we are losing our ancestors who know and still practice our sacred rituals. Therefore, it is critical that we learn from them in order to use and pass them on to the next generations. The pronunciations are a major factor as well. Our many NA languages (Anishinaabemowin) have very different sounds and that needs to be known.