Names That Mean Native

A name from the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi and Alabama.

A cute, upbeat name with a covetable meaning.

In Choctaw culture, people could have multiple names over a lifetime. New names would be bestowed upon tribe members after major life events.

A strong and simple nature name from the Choctaw culture.

A pretty and wearable option with traditional Choctaw roots.

One of numerous names that could have been given to Choctaw men after a successful hunt.

Although it looks and sounds like the Spanish name Paloma, meaning "dove," Poloma has Native American origins from the Choctaw tribe.

Yancy has two separate American origins — first as the Native American term for "Yankee," and second as the Americanized variation of the common Dutch surname Jansen. Jan being the Dutch form of John, Yancy could work to honor anyone in your life with a John-related name.

A masculine name in Choctaw culture. In English, it resembles the feminine name Hallie.

Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name, thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys too, inasfar as the name can work for any child. As a name, Hurricane is definitely original and attention-getting, but is it a name you'd want to carry around for life?

In Choctaw culture, along with that of certain other Native American tribes, names were not solidified at birth. New names were given after major life achievements. In this case, after a hunt.

In the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi and Oklahoma, Tassa was a traditional female name.

A masculine name in Choctaw culture.

In Choctaw culture, new names were given after major life events. This would have been bestowed on a man following a hunting achievement.

Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. Twice as many girls as boys were given the name in 2021, but the gender gap is closing.

A rare name from Choctaw culture that is no longer in use.

Name bestowed upon Choctaw men.

Masculine name in the Choctaw tradition.