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Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares her favorite Native American names for girls
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Native American names carry history, meaning, and a host of sacred customs, so we’re not surprised that you’re looking for a beautiful indigenous name for your baby girl or fictional character. We talked to naming experts to help us put together this extensive list of common and unique Native American female names, along with names inspired by nature, animals, and more.

Note: If you are not a person of Native American heritage and are looking for a name for yourself or your baby, please read our discussion on cultural appropriation first.

Section 1 of 9:

Popular Native American Girl Names

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  1. With so many beautiful and beloved Native American girl names, it’s possible that you’ve heard some of these names without even realizing they had indigenous roots. Indeed, many of our modern names are borrowed or derived from Native American languages. Here are a few of the most popular Native American girl names today:
    • Dakota.[1] Means “ally,” originating from the Sioux peoples. It’s also the name of a group within the Sioux Nation.[2]
    • Mohegan. Means “wolf,” originating from the Mohegan peoples.
    • Kai. Means “willow tree,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Tallulah.[3] Means “leaping water,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Mika. Means “raccoon,” originating from the Omaha-Ponca peoples.
    • Winona.[4] Means “firstborn,” originating from the Lakota peoples.
    • Cheyenne.[5] Means “people of a different language,” originating from the Lakota Sioux language and describing the Cheyenne Nation of the Great Plains.[6]
    • Catori. Means “spirit,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Alaska. Means “mainland,” originating from the Aleut peoples.
    • Sonoma. Means “valley of the moon,” originating from the Miwok peoples.
    • Sequoia. Means “giant redwood tree,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Kaya. Means “she who arranges rocks,” originating from the Niimíipuu peoples.
    • Tacoma. Means “the mother of waters,” originating from the Puyallup peoples.
    • Kateri. Means “pure,” originating from the Mohawk peoples.
    • Koko. Means “night,” originating from the Blackfoot peoples.
    • Poloma. Means “bow,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Aponi.[7] Means “butterfly,” originating from the Pima peoples.
    • Dyani.[8] Means “deer,” originating from the Lakota peoples.
    • Quanah. Means “sweet-smelling,” originating from the Comanche peoples.
    • Nizhoni. Means “beautiful,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Elu. Means “beautiful” or “fair,” originating from the Zuni peoples.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert and content creator. She focuses on sharing the origin of names, plus what they mean and interesting people who’ve had that name before.

    Jennifer Ficarra is a name consultant and the founder of Nom de Bloom. She also shares naming content on social media.

    Sonya Prior is a baby naming expert known as the BB Namer. She works with families to find the perfect baby name and shares name content on social media to over 30k followers.

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Section 2 of 9:

Unique Native American Girl Names

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  1. While some Native American girl names are quite well known, others are rarer and more elusive. A name like Hąboguwįga, for instance, is a unique but beautiful name, and it also pays homage to one of Ho-Chunk’s great female chiefs. Here are some other unique Native American girl names:
    • Ishkode. Means “fire,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Angeni. Means “spirit” or “angel,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Niibin. Means “summer,” originating from the Anishinaabe peoples.
    • Takoda. Means “friend to everyone,” originating from the Sioux peoples.
    • Nashotah. Means “a twin,” originating from the Potawatomi peoples.
    • Lenmana. Means “girl plays flute,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Ziigwan. Means “it is early spring,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Halona.[9] Means “happy” or “fortunate,” originating from the Zuni peoples.
    • Shideezhi. Means “little sister,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Shadi. Means “big sister,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Gola. Means “winter,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Soyala. Means “time of the winter solstice,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Mitena. Means “born under New Moon,” originating from the Omaha peoples.
    • Nata. Means “expert in canoe,” originating from the Ojibwa and Chippewa peoples.
    • Tiva. Means “likes to dance,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Amonute. Means “gift,” originating from the Algonquian peoples.
    • Hąboguwįga. Means “glory of the morning,” originating from the Ho-Chunk peoples.
    • Ehyophsta. Means “yellow-top-to-head,” originating from the Cheyenne peoples.
    • Cuhtahlatah. Means “wild hemp,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Oneida. Means “people of the standing stone,” originating from the Iroquoian language and shared by the Oneida peoples.
    • Kansa. Means “people of the south wind,” originating from the Sioux language and shared by the Kansa peoples.[10]
    • Shawnee. Means “southerner,” originating from the Algonquian language and shared by the Shawnee peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands.
    • Chepi.[11] Means “spirit” or “fairy,” originating from the Algonquian peoples.
Section 3 of 9:

Powerful Native American Girl Names

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  1. Native American names often possess an aura of power, confidence, or strength. Some of these names draw their power from nature, some give off an immense inner strength, and others still harness a profound sense of spirituality and interconnectedness. Whatever type of image you’re hoping to project with your baby or character name, here are some powerful Native American girl names to try:
    • Sitanka. Means “bravery” and “leadership,” originating from the Sioux peoples.
    • Kachina. Means “spirit” or “life bringer,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Orenda. Means “great spirit,” originating from the Iroquois peoples.
    • Aquinnah. Means “high land,” originating from the Wampanoag peoples.
    • Etoya. Means “a place where there is knowledge,” originating from the Dakota peoples.
    • Makya. Means “one who hunts eagles,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Nampeyo. Means “snake girl,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Tacoma. Means “the mother of waters,” originating from the Puyallup peoples.
    • Tyee. Means “leader,” originating from the Chinook peoples.
    • Nokomis. Means “grandmother or daughter of the moon,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Dezba. Means “prepared for war,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Anaba. Means “she returns from war,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Doba. Means “there was no war,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Ghigau. Means “war woman” or “beloved woman,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Kawennáhere. Means “her word is above,” originating from the Mohawk peoples.
    • Catori.[12] Means “spirit,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Pavati. Means “clear water,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Dahteste. Means “warrior woman,” originating from the Apache peoples.
    • Kaúxuma. Means “gone to the spirits,” originating from the Kutenai language.
    • Arkeketa. Means “stands together,” originating from Otoe-Missouria peoples.
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Section 4 of 9:

Famous or Historical Native American Girl Names

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  1. History is full of strong, talented, and dynamic Native American women across nations and eras. For example, we have notable historical figures like Sacagawea and Pocahontas, as well as modern trailblazers and artists like Lily Gladstone (Piitaaki) and Devery Jacobs (Kawennáhere). Here are some more Native American girl names borrowed from historical and contemporary figures:[13]
    • Lozen. Means “one who has stolen horses,” originating from the Apache peoples. It was also the name of a two-spirit Apache warrior and is used to represent skill and reverence.
    • Dyani. Means “deer,” originating from the Lakota peoples. Also the name of Dyani White Hawk, a notable modern artist with Sicangu Lakota ancestry.[14]
    • Kaya. Means “she who arranges rocks,” originating from the Niimíipuu peoples. Also the name of an American Girl doll character whose full name is Kaya’aton’my.
    • Kiona. Means “brown hills,” originating from several groups within the Pacific Northwest. Also the name of Mary Kiona, a renowned basketmaker belonging to the Tai’t na-pam peoples.[15]
    • Pocahontas. Means “playful one,” originating from the Algonquian peoples. Also the name of Pocahontas, a historical icon who became a diplomat for early Jamestown settlers and, later, the inspiration for a modern Disney princess.
    • Amonute. Means “gift,” originating from the Algonquian peoples. Also the birth name of Pocahontas.
    • Mataoka. Means “bright stream between the hills,” originating from the Algonquian peoples. Also the sacred name of Pocahontas.
    • Ghigau. Means “war woman” or “beloved woman,” originating from the Cherokee peoples. Also the title bestowed upon Cherokee women who held spiritual authority, community importance, and political power, or who showed fierce bravery in battle.[16]
    • Sacagewea. Means “bird woman” or “eagle woman,” originating from the Hidatsa and Shoshone peoples. Also the name of the navigator and diplomat on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
    • Nanyehi. Means “she who walks about,” originating from the Cherokee peoples. Also the traditional name of Nancy Ward, a Cherokee diplomat and preservationist who fought in the Battle of Taliwa.[17]
    • Mo’kemeona’e. Means “buffalo calf trail woman,” originating from the Cheyenne peoples. Also the name of a famous warrior who fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
    • Zitkala. Means “red bird,” originating from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux peoples. Also a name of Dakota writer and activist Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, who co-founded the National Council of American Indians.[18]
    • Piitaaki. Means “eagle woman,” originating from the Blackfeet peoples. Also the traditional name of Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone.[19]
    • Kawennáhere. Means “her word is above,” originating from the Mohawk peoples. Also the name of noted Canadian actress Devery Jacobs.[20]
    • Hąboguwįga. Means “glory of the morning,” originating from the Ho-Chunk peoples. Also the name of the last known female chief of the Ho-Chunk.[21]
    • Dahteste. Means “warrior woman,” originating from the Apache peoples. Also the name of a renowned warrior and negotiator who fought alongside Geronimo.[22]
    • Ehyophsta. Means “yellow-top-to-head,” originating from the Cheyenne peoples. Also the name of a warrior who fought in the Battle of Beecher Island.[23]
    • Chipeta: Means “white singing bird,” originating from the Ute language. Also the name of a revered leader and diplomat of the Uncompahgre Ute tribe.[24]
    • Tasina. Means “her shawl,” originating from the Lakota Sioux peoples. Also the second wife of Crazy Horse.[25]
    • Aazhaweyaa. Means “hanging cloud,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples. Also the name of a skilled female warrior in the late 1800s.[26]
Section 5 of 9:

Nature-Related Native American Girl Names

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  1. Mulholland notes that many “indigenous cultures use nature-style names,” often drawing inspiration from the skies, the seas, and all parts of the Earth.[27] For instance, name consultant Jennifer Ficarra notes that “Seneca is the name of a Native American tribe,” but it also refers to a “place of stones” in nature.[28] Here are some more nature-inspired names from Native American culture:
    • Nimkii. Means “thunder,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Lonan. Means “cloud,” originating from the Zuni peoples.
    • Aki. Means “earth,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Kai. Means “willow tree,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Talluluah. Means “leaping water,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Ama. Means “water,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Donoma. Means “sight of the sun,” originating from the Omaha peoples.
    • Malila. Means “salmon swimming fast upstream,” originating from the Miwok peoples.
    • Mendota. Means “confluence of rivers,” originating from the Dakota peoples.
    • Sonoma. Means “valley of the moon,” originating from the Miwok peoples.
    • Shandiin. Means “sunshine,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Anoka. Means “on both sides” or “working waters,” originating from the Dakota and Ojibwa peoples.
    • Picabo. Means “shining waters,” originating from the Shoshone peoples.
    • Kasata. Means “treeless” or “prairie,” originating from the Dakota peoples.
    • Istas. Means “snow,” originating from the Algonquian language.
    • Lomasi. Means “pretty flower,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Hialeah. Means “pretty prairie,” originating from the Muscogee and Seminole languages.
    • Oneonta. Means “place of the stones,” originating from the Mohawk and Iroquois peoples.
    • Mataoka. Means “bright stream between the hills,” originating from the Algonquian peoples.
    • Tala. Means “leaping water,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Seneca. Means “place of stones,” originating from the Haudenosaunee language and used as the colonized name of the Seneca peoples.
    • Piitaaki. Means “eagle woman,” originating from the Blackfeet peoples.
    • Pavati. Means “clear water,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Aazhaweyaa. Means “hanging cloud,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
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Section 6 of 9:

Animal-Related Native American Girl Names

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  1. Most Native American tribes held wild animals in high regard, so it’s no wonder that they borrowed the names of animals for their daughters and granddaughters. Mulholland notes that, “because certain animals have certain characteristics like wisdom, strength, or courage, [indigenous people] would choose that style of name to represent how their child will be in the future.”[29] The Comanche name Esarosa, for example, means “white wolf,” according to baby naming expert Sonya Prior.[30] Here are some other examples of animal-inspired Native American girl names:
    • Peta. Means “golden eagle,” originating from the Blackfeet peoples.
    • Tokala. Means “fox,” originating from the Dakota peoples.
    • Kele. Means “sparrow hawk,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Mohegan. Means “wolf,” originating from the Mohegan peoples.
    • Tokori. Means “owl,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Niabi. Means “fawn,” originating from the Osage peoples.
    • Isi. Means “deer,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Wingra. Means “duck,” originating from the Ho-Chunk peoples.
    • Aponi. Means “butterfly,” originating from the Pima peoples.
    • Mika. Means “raccoon,” originating from the Omaha-Ponca peoples.
    • Dyani. Means “deer,” originating from the Lakota peoples.
    • Inola. Means “black fox,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Waya. Means “wolf,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Malila. Means “salmon swimming fast upstream,” originating from the Miwok peoples.
    • Nascha. Means “owl,” originating from the Navajo peoples.
    • Cahokia. Means “wild geese,” originating from the Illiniwek language and shared by the Cahokia peoples.
    • Behitha. Means “eagle child,” originating from the Ahahneenin peoples.
    • Awinita. Means “fawn,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Woya. Means “dove,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Makwa. Means “bear,” originating from the Ojibwe peoples.
    • Nita. Means “bear,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Nampeyo. Means “snake girl,” originating from the Hopi peoples.
    • Keshena. Means “swift flying eagle,” originating from the Menomonee peoples.
    • Wesa. Means “cat,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Yona. Means “bear,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Kaliska. Means “coyote chasing deer,” originating from the Miwok peoples.
    • Walela. Means “hummingbird,” originating from the Cherokee peoples.
    • Kimemela. Means “little butterfly,” originating from the Sioux peoples.
    • Opa. Means “owl,” originating from the Choctaw peoples.
    • Esarosa. Means “white wolf,” originating from the Comanche peoples.
    • Zitkala. Means “red bird,” originating from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux peoples.
    • Chipeta: Means “white singing bird,” originating from the Ute language.
Section 7 of 9:

Cherokee Girl Names

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  1. Cherokee names traditionally draw inspiration from the natural world. Often, given names incorporate the words for different animals, plants, or weather phenomena. Names are typically thought of as sacred gifts that are given to children in the hopes that they will someday match the meaning and dignity of their names. Here are some examples of Cherokee names for girls:
    • Agali. Means “sunshine.”
    • Ama. Means “water.”
    • Inola. Means “black fox.”
    • Waya. Means “wolf.”
    • Awinita. Means “fawn.”
    • Woya. Means “dove.”
    • Sequoia. Means “giant redwood tree.”
    • Atsila. Means “fire.”
    • Wesa. Means “cat.”
    • Yona. Means “bear.”
    • Walela. Means “hummingbird.”
    • Amadahy. Means “forest water.”
    • Kamama. Means “butterfly.”
    • Salali. Means “squirrel.”
    • Tsula. Means “fox.”
    • Adsila. Means “blossom.”
    • Ahyoka. Means “one who brings happiness.”
    • Ayita. Means “first to dance.”
    • Ghigau. Means “war woman” or “beloved woman.”
    • Galilahi. Means “attractive.”
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Section 8 of 9:

Navajo Girl Names

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  1. Navajo names usually include a descriptive or evocative word, usually based on a child’s personality or character. However, some traditional Navajo names are purely ceremonial, while some are derived from clan-derived surnames or names adopted from the English language. Here are some examples of Navajo girl names:
    • Kai. Means “willow tree.”
    • Nascha. Means “owl.”
    • Shideezhi. Means “little sister.”
    • Shadi. Means “big sister.”
    • Gola. Means “winter.”
    • Nizhoni. Means “beautiful.”
    • Shandiin. Means “sunshine.”
    • Ajei. Means “my heart.”
    • Dezba. Means “prepared for war.”
    • Doli. Means “bluebird.”
    • Yiska. Means “the night has passed.”
    • Anaba. Means “she returns from war.”
    • Doba. Means “there was no war.”
Section 9 of 9:

Is using a Native American baby name cultural appropriation?

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  1. It may be considered cultural appropriation to use a Native American baby name as a non-indigenous person. If you’re a First Nations member or a person with significant Native American heritage, you can of course use any baby name you like. However, if you do not have any substantial connections to Native American culture, some Native Americans may consider it offensive if you choose an indigenous name for your child. This is partly because Native American names were once (and still are) so taboo—people with indigenous heritage have been and are expected to adopt an English name in order to be accepted.
    • Additionally, Native American names stem from specific customs and languages. Many online lists of Native American baby names are inaccurate and contain names that have no proven roots in indigenous languages. So, if you choose a Native American name for your child, you may be choosing a name without fully understanding the meanings and sacred associations behind it.
    • Ficarra adds that, as a name consultant, she will never “recommend a name that feels like appropriation.” Ficarra believes that “culture dictates names and their usage, so if you’re not a part of it, you’ll never really understand. [That being said], it’s up to parents to do their own research and decide if they feel comfortable using that name.”[31]
    • Mulholland affirms Ficarra’s points, stating that, in Native American customs, “elders are often supposed to name the babies and [take into account] the meaning of the names. So, when people use those types of names, it’s probably cultural appropriation.”[32]
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References

  1. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  2. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2020/c2020br-13.pdf
  3. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  4. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  5. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  6. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2020/c2020br-13.pdf
  7. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  8. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  9. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  1. https://archive-share.america.gov/words-and-names-that-come-from-native-americans/index.html
  2. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  3. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  4. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2418/twelve-famous-native-american-women/
  5. https://www.dyaniwhitehawk.com/
  6. https://whitepasscountrymuseum.org/collections/native-american-display/
  7. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nancy-Ward
  8. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nancy-Ward
  9. https://www.nps.gov/people/zitkala-sa.htm
  10. https://www.npr.org/2024/01/22/1226019196/the-effort-behind-getting-the-blackfeet-language-taught-on-the-tribes-reservatio
  11. https://fashionmagazine.com/wellness/my-story-kawennahere-devery-jacobs/
  12. https://www.native-americans.org/haboguwiga/
  13. https://www.pyramidlakehealing.org/posts/lozen-and-dahteste-warrior-award
  14. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2508/ehyophsta-legend/
  15. https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/chipeta
  16. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/crazy-horse
  17. https://d.umn.edu/news/unusual-urop-launches-publishing-adventure
  18. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  19. Jennifer Ficarra. Name Consultant. Expert Interview
  20. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  21. Sonya Prior. Baby Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  22. Jennifer Ficarra. Name Consultant. Expert Interview
  23. Natalie Mulholland. Naming Expert. Expert Interview
  24. https://www.familyeducation.com/75-native-american-names
  25. https://www.lovetoknow.com/parenting/baby/119-native-american-baby-names-definitions
  26. https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/native-american
  27. https://www.momjunction.com/baby-names/native-american/girl/

About This Article

Natalie Mulholland
Co-authored by:
Naming Expert
This article was co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophie Burkholder, BA. Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert and content creator based in Athens, Georgia. With a lifelong interest in names, Natalie started creating content around this passion in 2023. She brings a linguistically focused approach to her content, sharing a name’s origin, meaning, category, notable people, and more. She is expecting to receive her bachelor’s degree in human development and family science from the University of Georgia in 2025. This article has been viewed 1,065 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: August 27, 2026
Views: 1,065
Categories: Naming a Baby
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