Native American Names
Across 4 pages
of 4
Pakuna
Native American, Miwok
"deer jumping as she runs downhill"
Unusual and lithe.
Patzi
Native American, Omaha
"yellow bird"
Though unrelated, this would probably be taken as a fanciful spelling of Patsy.
Pavati
Native American, Hopi
"clear water"
A sweet and clear Hopi name with a lovely natural meaning to match.
Peta
Native American, Blackfoot,or Greek, "golden eagle, or rock, stone"
"golden eagle, or rock, stone"
Too tightly tied to the acronym for the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Petah
Native American
"rock, stone"
This spelling variation of Peta, chosen by Ani DiFranco for her daughter, might be a little difficult to pull off. Alternative suggestions: Petra and Petal.
Picabo
Native American
"silver creek"
Olympic skier Picabo Street was allowed to choose her name at the age of three, and picked it possibly (a) after a nearby Idaho town or (b) because she loved to play peekaboo. No longer a…
Sequoia
Native American, Cherokee
"sparrow"
This name of a giant tree, itself named for a nineteenth-century Cherokee who invented a way to write his tribe's language, makes a strong, stately statement.
Sequoyah
Native American, Cherokee
"sparrow"
A strong name equally appropriate for girls and boys. For more, see Sequoia, which is the more feminine-feeling spelling.
Shada
Native American
"pelican"
Pretty and unusual bird-related name.
Shawnee
Native American tribe name
The Shawnee were an Eastern tribe that migrated westward; Shawnee makes an unusual name, if a little dated a la Shawn and Tawnee.
Tadita
Native American, Omaha
"to the wind"
Feminissima.
Takala
Native American, Hopi
"corn tassel"
A given name found among the Hopi people as well as a Finnish surname.
Tala
Persian, Arabic, Tagalog, Samoan, Scandinavian
"gold; turmeric; star; story; noble"
Tala is a super multicultural name with roots in many diverse languages and cultures. In Northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia, it is a diminutive derived from Adelheid "noble", long used as a…
Talula
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…
Talullah
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.
Tandy
English, Zulu, Xhosa
"strong, manly; beloved"
Similar in sound but fresher than Brandy or Mandy, Tandy is an upbeat and playful choice that actually has international and ancient roots. As a Zulu and Xhosa name, it may be a variation on Thandie…
Topanga
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.
Waneta
American, meaning unknown
Rumors abound about Waneta, which is a Canadian place name. Some say it's an Anglicization of Juanita, while others claim it's a Native American name. Interestingly, Waneta is a common name among the…
Zabana
Taino, Persian
"grassy flatlands; flame of a candle"
This zippy, outdoorsy name is a multicultural option, with its roots in Taino and Persian. On one hand, it is the source of the word and name Savannah, derived from Taino, the language of the…
Zaltana
Native American
"high mountain"
Has an evocative feel, unusual to the Western ear without being identified with any particular culture.
