October 7th, 2019 Last Updated on: February 23rd, 2021
All new parents know naming your child is one of the hardest decisions you'll probably ever have to make. Native American 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 100 unique Native American names for boys and girls.
And if you're looking for shower gifts, be sure to check our Native American baby gift guide!
Native American Names for Girls
Algonquian
Odina
The Native American Algonquin name means “mountain.” Usually, it's a girl's name.
Chepi
This Native American baby girl name means “fairy.”
Cherokee Tribe
Aiyana
This girl's name means “forever flowering.”
Galilahi
A Cherokee Native American girl’s name that means “attractive.”
Chippewa Tribe
Nokomis
This unique name is a Chippewa girl's name meaning “grandmother or daughter of the moon.”
Choctaw Tribe
Tallulah
A beautiful girl's name meaning “leaping water.”
Isi
A Native American girl’s name that translates to “deer.”
Coo Tribe
Aleshanee
A charming name that means “she plays all the time.”
Hopi Tribe
Hehewuti
A Native American girl’s name that translates into “warrior mother spirit.”
Kachina
A Native American girl’s name that means “spirit.”
Pavati
A girl’s name from the Hopi tribe that means “clear water.”
Soyala
A Hopi tribe girl’s name that means “time of the winter solstice.”
Qaletaqa
A strong Hopi tribe name that means “guardian of the people.”
Tablita
A girl’s name originating from the Hopi tribe meaning “crown.”
Tiva
A short Hopi tribe girl’s name that means “dance.”
Una
A Hope Tribe girl’s name that translates into “remember.”
Inuktitut Tribe
Sakari
A cute name for a little girl that means “sweet.”
Iroquois Tribe
Orenda
A mystical Native American girl’s name meaning “magic power.”
Omaha Tribe
Mitena
A common Native American girl's name meaning “new moon or coming moon.”
Donoma
This girl’s name from the Omaha Tribe means “visible sun.”
Tadewi
A girl’s name from the Omaha tribe that means “wind.”
Urika
A Native American girl’s name that means “useful.”
Pamunkey Tribe
Pocahontas
Arguably the most famous Native American name, it means “playful one.”
Shoshone Tribe
Sacajawea
Another famous name on the list. It means “bird woman.”
Sioux Tribe
Winona
Just like actress Winona Rider, the name means “the first daughter.”
Takoda
Similar to Dakoda, this female name means “friend to all.”
Makawee
Makawee means “Generous, abundant, freely giving and motherly” in Sioux
Magaskawee
A Sioux tribe girl’s name means “swain maiden” or “graceful.”
Wachiwi
A Native American girl’s name that translates into “dancing girl.”
Nahimana
A Native American girl’s name that means “mystic.”
Snana
A Sioux girl’s name that means “jingle like little bells.”
Weayaya
A Sioux tribe girl’s name meaning “sunset.”
Wuti
A short Native American girl’s name that means “woman.”
Zuni Tribe
Elu
This short, yet beautiful, name from the Zuni tribe means “beautiful.”
Taa
A short Zuni tribe girl’s name that means “seed.”
Unknown Tribal Affiliation
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.”
Nina
This popular girl's name is common in other cultures as well; it means “mighty or fire.”
Olathe
This stunning girl's name literally means “beautiful.”
Shysie
Shysie is a girl's name that means “silent little one.”
Tayen
A lovely girl's name that means “new moon.”
Bena
A girl’s name that translates into “pheasant.”
Etenia
A Native American girl’s name that means “rich.”
Lomasi
A Native American girl’s name that means “pretty flower.”
Native American Names for Boys
Algonquian Tribe
Waban
A Native American boy’s name that means “East wind.”
Apache
Cochise
A powerful name for a little boy. Cochise means “Renowned warrior chief of the Chiricahua Apache.”
Blackfoot
Jacy
Jacy is a common male Native American name meaning “the moon.”
Chinook Tribe
Tyee
A strong name for a boy, Tyee means “chief, leader, or big and superior.”
Cherokee Tribe
Dustu
A Native American boy’s name that means “spring frog.”
Cheyenne Tribe
Viho
A Cheyenne boy’s name that means “chief.”
Dakota Tribe
Tokala
An adorable name for a little boy. Tokala means “fox.”
Wicasa
A Native American boy’s name that means “sage.”
Hopi Tribe
Hania
This cool boy's name means “spirit warrior.”
Kele
This cute boy's name means “sparrow” in Hopi.
Ayawamat
This name for boys means “one who follows orders.”
Tawa
A Hopi tribe boy’s name that means “sun.”
Hototo
A Native American boy’s name that translate into “warrior spirit who sings.”
Wikvaya
A Hope tribe boy’s name meaning “one who brings.”
Lushootseed Tribe
Seattle
Just like the city, it means “man of high status.”
Mandan Tribe
Mato
This sweet-sounding boy's name means “bear.”
Miwok Tribe
Kosumi
Another unique boy's name. Kosumi means “fishes for salmon with a spear.”
Misu
A Native American boy’s name that translates into “rippling water.”
Hawaiian Tribe
Nahele
Nahele is a boy's name that means “forest.”
Navajo Tribe
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.”
Shilah
A male Navajo name that means “brother.”
Gaagii
A Native American boy’s name in Navajo that means “raven.”
Puyallup Tribe
Tahoma
This male name means “giver of the water.”
Sauk Tribe
Keokuk
A solid boy's name meaning “one who is alert and watchful.”
Sioux Tribe
Chayton
A popular name for boys Chayton means “falcon.”
Enapay
A Sioux Native American boy’s name that means “appears bravely.”
Wapi
Wapi is a male name that means “lucky.”
Ohiyesa
A Native American boy’s name meaning “winner.”
Paytah
A boy’s name coming from the Sioux tribe meaning “fire.”
Shappa
A Sioux tribe boy’s name that translates to “red thunder.”
Takoda
A nice Native American boy’s name from the Sioux tribe meaning “friend to everyone.”
Tatonga
A Sioux tribe boy’s name that means “large deer.”
Wahkan
A Native American boy’s name meaning “sacred.”
Weayaya
A Sioux tribe name for boys that means “setting sun.”
Laguna Tribe
Tauri
A Native American boy’s name that means “young eagle.”
Zuni Tribe
Elu
Elu is a boy's name that means “full of grace.”
Lonan
A Native American name from the Zuni Tribe that means “cloud.”
Unknown Tribal Affiliation
Dasan
Another firm male name, Dasan means “chief.”
Sahale
This boy's name means “above or high place.”
Nayati
A boy's name that means “he who wrestles.”
Nitis
This popular male name means “friend.”
Paco
Paco is a male name meaning “eagle.”
Bodaway
This is a Native American boys name that means “fire maker.”
Illanipi
A Native American boy’s name that translate into “amazing.”
Kajika
A Native American boy’s name that translates to “walks without sound.”
Nodin
A Native American boy’s name meaning “wind.”
Native American Names For Both Boys and Girls (Unisex)
Cherokee Tribe
Onacona
Onacona means “white owl” in Cherokee.
Chippewa Tribe
Abedabun
This name is a variation of Cheyanne that means “sight of day.”
Chumash Tribe
Simi
This stunning name means “valley of the wind.”
Navajo Tribe
Kai
This name is ultra popular now. It means “willow tree” in Navajo.
Sioux Tribe
Dakota
Dakota is a popular name for both male and female babies across America. The Native American name means “friend.”
Mika
Mika is often used for both boys and girls; the name means “rabbit.”
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Looking for a girl’s name from the Crow tribe. Thank you
Looking for a name that means Precious jewel or jewel
Does anyone know of any Crow names that are common?
i would to know what tribe did the name light easley could have come from
Um. . . huh? 🤨I didn’t understand what that is supposed to mean. 😕Get your typing correct. 😒Sheesh. Then maybe someone could actually understand you.🙄
Light easley possibly was translated from the honor of being a fire keeper ganawishkodawe ( Chippewa) he keeps the fire; tends the fire. This happens often when someone tries to translate one language to another.
I have an ancestor named Namequa. Does anyone know what that means?
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!
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!!! 🙂
My fav name was Nina it means mighty fire
My fav name was Kachina it means spirit
Which tribe arw these “native names derived from? Because my sons name Adriel is straight out of the bible!
what does my name Frances mean? my children’s name ,Antonio,Juanita, and granddaughter
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.
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.
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.
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.
I second these thoughts/concerns one hundred percent. Origin of the names: what tribe and language. Not all tribes speak the same language.
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.
I agree also. It would great if you put the language on there. Not all people would know how to pronounce these names. It would be very helpful for those who are trying to choose a name for their child, and they wouldn’t know how to pronounce it. And not all tribes would pronounce it the same way, so it would be very helpful to put the language on there. But I am very thankful that you put the tribe name on there.
Looking for a name that means Precious jewel or jewel
Name from caddo or chickasaw tribe for a boy with pronunciation and meaning please .Is it possible to hear the name on phone so i can record them?