By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Munsee Lenape, Native American
"place for gathering the [wood to make] bows"
Manhattan is the smallest yet one of the most populous New York City boroughs. The area was historically inhabited by Munsee Lenape and Wappinger tribes of Native Americans, and the name Manhattan is…
Native American, Wappo, Yuki
"coast"
Coastal California was originally home to the Wappo and Yuki tribes, among whom the word meiomi meant "coast". Today, Meiomi is the name of a mid-price wine brand that's inspiring the parents of baby…
Native American
"edge of the lake"
Unique baby names are often found in nature, conjuring up the beauty of the lake between California and Nevada that has become a popular tourist destination. Though Tahoe is also a line of SUVs,…
"wind"
A place name from Venezuela believed to come from an indigenous word for wind, this can make an innovative choice for a child of either sex.
Spanish from Native American word name
"hurricane"
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…
Native American tribal name
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…
Purportedly the name of Pocahontas' mother.
Word name, English from Tupi
"pepper"
Spicy.
A popular destination but a rare baby name, Manhattan is derived from the Munsee Lenape language. It refers to the hickory trees that grew in the area and were used to make bows. The place name first…
Algonquian
"shell money"
The name of a river, an island, a valley, and a variety of other places throughout the US, Roanoke was also the name of a Algonquian-speaking people of North Carolina. Taken from the Algonquian word…
Hungarian or Slavic short form of Alexandra or Sarah; Cherokee
"goose"
Sasa is a simple name with complex origins. In the Cherokee language, it means goose. It might also be a Hungarian or other Easterm European short form of Sarah or Alexandra, ala Sasha. Some sources…
Place-name, Caddo
"friend"
If you like your place names bold and undiscovered and if you like Dallas but don't want something in the US Top 1000, then Texas might just be for you. Sporadically and quietly used for girls since…
Creek
"swamp tree"
Tupelo, one of the common name for trees of the Nyssa genus, stems from the Creek words ito and opilwa , meaning "swamp tree". Also the name of a city in Mississippi, Tupelo trees are associated with…
A powerful yet playful choice, Tupelo is a name with southern charm, appearing on the map as as place in Mississippi and as the name of a tree with soft, light wood that grows in the swamps of the…
Place name, Clackamas Chinook
"still, quiet water"
The name of a river and valley in the US state of Oregon, Willamette is a rare place option with potential. Originating from the name of a Clackamas village on the Columbia river, Willamette emerged…
Native American place-name
The Native American name for Martha's Vineyard and for a town at the far end of that lovely island, this was used by Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan for one of their twin daughters.
Ojibwe
"it is (early) spring"
From the Ojibwe word for early Spring, Ziigwan has a bright, jubilant sound, reflective of its meaning. Used by the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains, Ziigwan may be…
Native American, Seminole
"pretty prairie"
Pleasant sound, but too tied to the racetrack.
"rain falling"
A Miwok tribe name with a pleasant meaning.
