By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Native American, Miwok
"deer jumping as she runs downhill"
Unusual and lithe.
Native American, Omaha
"yellow bird"
Though unrelated, this would probably be taken as a fanciful spelling of Patsy.
Native American, Hopi
"clear water"
A sweet and clear Hopi name with a lovely natural meaning to match.
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.
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.
"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…
"pelican"
Pretty and unusual bird-related name.
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.
"to the wind"
Feminissima.
"corn tassel"
A given name found among the Hopi people as well as a Finnish surname.
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…
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…
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…
"high mountain"
Has an evocative feel, unusual to the Western ear without being identified with any particular culture.
Native American, meaning unknown
This attracitve Sioux name belonged to one of Sitting Bull's many wives.
Singer Shania Twain is said to have chosen this name, pronounced as Asia, for her son to honor her father's Native-American culture.
"youthful"
A Julian derivative, via Spanish conquistadors, that could be a more unusual yet still reasonable substitute for that current favorite.
Literature
"horse lover"
A literary name created by J. R. R. Tolkien for a Lord of the Rings noblewoman of Rohan. It would make an interesting choice for literature lovers or fans of names like Elowen and Evelyn.
Native American tribal and place-name
Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.
"sturgeon"
Fish -- or caviar -- lover's choice, though it would tend to sound like a girl's name.
