By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Native American tribal name
"friend to us"
The name of one of the branches of the Great Sioux Nation has a very namelike sound, but is not used as a name by the Lakota people themselves, and could be seen as appropriative.
Mohawk variation of Katherine
"pure"
St. Kateri Teckakwitha is the first Native American saint, canonized in 2012. St. Kateri was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior, born in 1656 in upstate New York. She converted to Christianity at age…
Navajo
"beautiful"
Nizhoni is the Navajo word for "beautiful." It's a rare, elegant, and meaningful option, used as a baby name for around 30 baby girls each year. It's uniquely common in Arizona, a large part of…
Variation of Cheyenne
"people of a different language"
Shy Anne? The original place-name spelling Cheyenne is preferable to this phonetic and slyly jokey spelling in every way.
Native American
"where the mountain meets the sea"
Used for a free-spirited character on a 1990s sitcom, this name of a beautiful Southern California canyon does have an unconventional aura.
Native American, Cherokee, place-name
"bend in the river; meeting place"
Young rocker Tennessee Thomas has brought this former one-person name over to the girls' side -- though the census roles of North Carolina in 1850 included a female named Tennessee and called Tincy.…
Place-name
After Dallas, Austin, and Houston, the new cowboy on the block, complete with old-school Western nickname, Tex. Quietly used as a name since at least the late 19th-century, Texas was given to around…
"deer"
Beautiful Indigenous name connected to visual artist Dyani White Hawk. Dyani was most popular in 2001, when it was given to 73 baby girls.
Quechua
"sun"
This name traces back to Incan mythology, where Inti is a sun god celebrated as the patron of the Incas. A cute name with a rich history and celestial meaning, Inti is well-used in various South…
Variation of Tallulah or Talulla
Talula might be a streamlined spelling of either the Native American Tallulah or the Irish Talulla -- and very few namers know the difference as they sound identical. Investigate further and you…
"bend in the river or meeting place"
When playwright Thomas Lanier Williams adopted the pen name of Tennessee, he created a new possibility among American place-names, although it's admittedly a bit bulky in size. Reese Witherspoon…
Turkish
"emperor, ruler"
A Turkish twist on the trend for ruler names. Spelled Håkan, this is the Swedish form of Haakon. It may also be a Native American name meaning "fiery".
"son of bird clan leader"
Name from legend that might be an interesting Jason alternative.
"brown hills"
Striking and accessible choice.
Irish, Anglicized variation of Tuilelaith
"lady of abundance"
Talullah or Talulla, the old Irish name of two early saints, is almost identical to the Native-American Tallulah. A modern hipster favorite, however it's spelled.
"happy fortune"
Resonant and unusual.
"dugout canoe"
Missouri, the name of a tribe, a state and a river, derives from the Illinois word mihsoori meaning "dugout canoe". It became a somewhat popular American girls' name in the mid-19th century. Missouri…
Native American, Cherokee
"sparrow"
A strong name equally appropriate for girls and boys. For more, see Sequoia, which is the more feminine-feeling spelling.
Cherokee is the name of a Native American tribe, the largest in the United States stretching from North Carolina through Oklahoma. The meaning of the word Cherokee is uncertain: It may be Choctaw for…
Variation of Tupa or Tupaq, Quechua
"royal, noble"
Rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur was named after 18th century Peruvian revolutionary Túpac Amaru. There was also a 15th century Incan ruler whose name was an extension of the Quechua Topa or Tupa, and the…
