Native American Names for Boys
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
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Native American boy names might by definition be the truest, most authentic version of American names, which are also an amalgamation of invented names, English word names, names of English derivation, and American place names.
Native American names for boys, most not frequently heard these days, include the following. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
Native American names for boys, most not frequently heard these days, include the following. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
- Dakota
Origin:
Place-name; SiouxMeaning:
"friendly one"Description:
An early and still one of the most popular unisex names, also a place name and name of a Native American people in the northern Mississippi valley, which makes it a controversial baby name choice. While the popularity of Dakota is trending downward for both genders, it's one of those rare genuinely gender-neutral names that is used for nearly equal numbers of boys and girls.
- Teton
Origin:
Native American, Sioux tribe; also western American place-nameDescription:
Rare and rugged, though one of the baby names with a lot of teasing potential.
- Tennessee
Origin:
Native American, Cherokee, place-nameMeaning:
"bend in the river or meeting place"Description:
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.
- Powhatan
Origin:
Native American, AlgonquinMeaning:
"powwow hill"Description:
Powhatan is identified with the powerful chief and father of Pocahontas; not likely to be adopted by others.
- Pawnee
Origin:
Native American tribal nameDescription:
Pawnee, the name of a Plains tribe, seems cartoonish as a first name.
- Denali
Origin:
Place-name and Native AmericanMeaning:
"the great one"Description:
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. There were 20 boys and 55 girls given the name in 2014.
- Sequoyah
Origin:
Native American, CherokeeMeaning:
"sparrow"Description:
A strong, meaningful name, associated with a famous Cherokee linguistic scholar; also suggests the magnificent California sequoia redwood trees.
- Yancey
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"yankee"Description:
A fancy TV western name that didn't catch on like fellow cowboys Luke and Josh, but definitely has a certain amount of charm. It is also spelled Yancy, as in the 1950s series Yancy Derringer. It was first spotted in the Edna Ferber novel Cimarron, which became a popular movie.
- Coro
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"wind"Description:
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.
- Geronimo
Origin:
Native American; Italian variation of JeromeDescription:
This name of a renowned Apache leader and mystic would be a difficult choice, since it was used as a rallying cry in so many old westerns and by paratroopers jumping out of their planes in World War II.
- Hakan
Origin:
TurkishMeaning:
"emperor, ruler"Description:
A Turkish twist on the trend for ruler names.
- Tahoe
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"edge of the lake"Description:
A unique natural-wonder option, conjuring up the beauty of the lake between California and Nevada that has become a popular tourist destination.
- Dasan
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"son of bird clan leader"Description:
Name from legend that might be an interesting Jason alternative.
- Nahma
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"sturgeon"Description:
Fish -- or caviar -- lover's choice, though it would tend to sound like a girl's name.
- Halian
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
A Julian derivative, via Spanish conquistadors, that could be a more unusual yet still reasonable substitute for that current favorite.
- Quanah
Origin:
Native American, ComancheMeaning:
"sweet smelling, fragrant"Description:
Name of a major figure in Indigenous history, Quanah Parker, a Comanche chief who became a judge on the Court of Indian Affairs.
- Éowyn
Origin:
LiteratureMeaning:
"horse lover"Description:
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.
- Eja
Origin:
Native American, meaning unknownDescription:
Singer Shania Twain is said to have chosen this name, pronounced as Asia, for her son to honor her father's Native-American culture.
- Mojave
Origin:
Native American tribal and place-nameDescription:
Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.
- Yosemite
Origin:
Native American tribal nameMeaning:
"those who kill"Description:
The evocative name of one of our most beautiful national parks -- yes, but also the bombastic cartoon character, Yosemite Sam.
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