Apache Name Generator
Apache leaders, descriptive names and family surnames
Generate Apache names: historical Chiricahua, Mescalero and Western Apache leaders like Goyaałé (Geronimo) and Lozen, descriptive names constructed from Western Apache vocabulary with English meanings, and modern full names built from Apache family surnames. Made for historical fiction and Southwest-set games, and as a starting point for family research.
About Apache names
Apache covers several related Southern Athabaskan peoples of the Southwest: the Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Lipan, Plains Apache and the Western Apache groups, who call themselves Ndee or Indé, the people. A person's true name was kept private, so most names history remembers are public nicknames. Many are Spanish: Geronimo, Victorio, Loco, Chato, Nana, Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves), Cuchillo Negro (Black Knife). Others are Apache phrases recorded by soldiers, such as Goyaałé (One Who Yawns), Hashkee Bahnzin (Angry Men Stand in Line for Him), Kas-tziden (Broken Foot) and Daklugie (Forces His Way Through).
Descriptive names follow Apache grammar, noun first and modifier after: Dził Łigai is White Mountain, Shash Łizhin is Black Bear, Itsá Łigai is White Eagle. Building blocks include animals (shash bear, itsá eagle, ba' coyote, łį́į́' horse), landscape words (dził mountain, tú water, tséé rock), colors (łigai white, łizhin black, łichíí' red, dotł'izh blue) and size words like nchaa (big) and nez (tall).
Modern Apache families carry surnames that grew out of those old names or from Spanish and English records: Altaha, Dosela and Goseyun at San Carlos and White Mountain, Chino and Enjady at Mescalero, Vicenti and Pesata among the Jicarilla, and Naiche, Daklugie and Haozous among the Fort Sill Chiricahua. The list mixes all three layers so you can pick the right one for your setting. The descriptive names are constructed for this list in the style of Apache names, not taken from records. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Apache speakers. If you need a real Apache name, contact the language or culture program of the specific Apache nation.
How to choose Apache names
- Match the period: use Spanish nicknames (Victorio, Delgadito, Ponce) and Apache descriptive names for the 1800s, and a given name plus an Apache family surname (Dosela, Kitcheyan, Enjady) for a character living today.
- Keep Apache word order when you build a descriptive name: noun first, then color or size, so Black Bear is Shash Łizhin, not Łizhin Shash.
- Treat the famous names (Geronimo, Cochise, Lozen, Mangas Coloradas) as real historical people to reference, not as names for invented characters; the invented descriptive names and modern full names are the ones to borrow.
- Owls, snakes and the dead are often avoided in Apache speech, so names built on those words will read as wrong or unlucky to Apache readers; animals of strength like bear, eagle, horse and mountain lion are safe choices.
- Spellings here are simplified; for Western Apache the official orthography adds marks like ł, ǫ and high-tone accents, and Chiricahua and Jicarilla spell some of the same words differently.
Frequently asked questions
What do Apache names mean?
Most recorded Apache names are either Spanish nicknames (Geronimo, Loco, Chato) or short descriptive phrases in an Apache language: Goyaałé means One Who Yawns, Kas-tziden means Broken Foot, Hashkee Bahnzin means Angry Men Stand in Line for Him, and Naiche is usually translated Mischief Maker or Meddlesome One. Place-style names such as Dził Łigai (White Mountain) also became personal and band names.
Are these real Apache names?
Partly. The historical Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Lipan and Western Apache leaders and their relatives are documented people, and the surnames are found in Apache communities. The descriptive names are constructed in the style of Apache names from Western Apache vocabulary, and the modern full names are made up for fiction. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Apache speakers. A spelling or a meaning may be wrong. If you need a real Apache name, contact the language or culture program of the specific Apache nation.
Which Apache language are the descriptive names in?
The Apache-language entries use Western Apache (White Mountain and San Carlos) vocabulary in a simplified spelling. Chiricahua, Mescalero and Jicarilla are closely related and share most of these words, though pronunciation and spelling vary, and all of them are close cousins of Navajo.
Can I use these names for a character in a book or game?
Descriptive names and modern full names are fine for fictional characters, especially when used accurately. Avoid giving the names of specific historical figures like Geronimo or Lozen to invented characters, and skip sacred figures such as White Painted Woman entirely.
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All 500 Apache names
A: 20 names
- Abel Tiznado
- Ahnandia
- Alchesay
- Alejandro Inez
- Alfred Goseyun
- Allan Houser
- Alma Vicenti
- Alonzo Mithlo
- Alope
- Alvin Belvado
- Ambrose Lavender
- Angelina Tiznado
- Angry Bear
- Anita Petago
- Anthony Baltazar
- Arlene Tenijieth
- Arnold Edison
- Arrow Maker
- Asa Daklugie (Forces His Way Through)
- Audrey Daklugie
B: 30 names
- Ba' Łibá (Gray Coyote)
- Ba' Łizhin (Black Coyote)
- Ba'cho (Wolf)
- Ba'cho Łigai (White Wolf)
- Ba'cho Łizhin (Black Wolf)
- Barranquito
- Bear Dancer
- Beatrice Toclanny
- Benedict Jozhe
- Benjamin Tecube
- Bernard Martine
- Bernice Tenijieth
- Bésh Łigai (Silver, White Metal)
- Bésh Łizhin (Black Knife)
- Beshe
- Bi-ya-neta
- Big Talker
- Bįįh Łibá (Gray Deer)
- Bįįh Łizhin (Black Deer)
- Bįįh Nez (Tall Deer)
- Blanquet
- Blossom Wratten Haozous
- Blue Turquoise Woman
- Bonito
- Bow Carrier
- Brandon Magoosh
- Brave and Tall
- Bright Star Woman
- Burning Sage
- Bylas
C: 44 names
- Cadete
- Calvin Apachito
- Capitan Chiquito
- Carl Mangas
- Carla Stanley
- Carmelita Notsinneh
- Carries Fire
- Casador
- Cecilia Inez
- Cedar Woman
- Celeste Klinekole
- Chaa Łizhin (Black Beaver)
- Chacón
- Chan-deisi (Broken Nose)
- Chappo
- Charlene Nachu
- Charles Istee
- Chato (Flat Nose)
- Che-hash-kish
- Cheryl Bullis
- Chie
- Chihuahua (Kla-esh)
C, continued
- Christian Naiche
- Chuntz
- Clement Tsisnah
- Clifford Gregg
- Cloud Gatherer
- Clyde Rope
- Cochinay
- Cochise (Cheis, Oak)
- Colleen Kanseah
- Comes at Dawn
- Comes Back Quietly
- Consuelo Vigil
- Corinne Naiche
- Corn Tassel Woman
- Counts the Stars
- Coyuntura
- Crosses the River
- Cruz Notsinneh
- Cuchillo Negro (Baishan, Black Knife)
- Cuelgas de Castro
- Cuentas Azules
- Curtis Endfield
D: 39 names
- Dahkeya
- Dahteste
- Dandy Jim
- Darlene Cosay
- Darrell Balatche
- Dead Shot
- Deer Runner
- Delbert Altaha
- Delfina Cassador
- Delgadito (The Slim One)
- Della Gregg
- Delores Peso
- Delshay
- Denise Talkalai
- Dennis Altaha
- Derek Nosie
- Dewey Ethelbah
- Diablo (Eskeltesela)
- Dilth-cleyhen
- Diyin Nez (Tall Medicine Man)
- Dohn-say (Tozey)
- Dolores Tafoya
- Dora Callado
- Doreen Enos
- Dorothy Naiche
- Dos-teh-seh
- Duane Peso
- Duncan Balatchu
- Dust Rider
- Dustin Comanche
- Dutchy
- Dzeeh Łibá (Gray Elk)
- Dzeeh Nchaa (Big Elk)
- Dził Dotł'izh (Blue Mountain)
- Dził Łibá (Gray Mountain)
- Dził Łichíí' (Red Mountain)
- Dził Łigai (White Mountain)
- Dził Łizhin (Black Mountain)
- Dził Nchaa (Big Mountain)
E: 22 names
- E-clah-heh
- Eagle Feather Woman
- Eagle Singer
- Edgar Burnette
- Edwina Second
- Eldon Lupe
- Elena Serafin
- Elias Kayitah
- Elmer Hooke
- Emerson LaPaz
- Erma Kaydahzinne
- Ernest Blaylock
- Ernesto Largo
- Eskiminzin (Hashkee Bahnzin, Angry Men Stand in Line for Him)
- Esther Elote
- Ethelyn Shanta
- Eugene Chihuahua
- Eunice Tsisnah
- Eva Geronimo
- Evelyn Talkalai
- Everett Shendo
- Eyelash
F: 12 names
- Fast Horse
- Faye Bigmouth
- Felix Velarde
- Fenton Geronimo
- Finds the Water
- Flacco
- Flechas Rayadas
- Florence Martine
- Francisco
- Franklin Imach
- Freddie Enos
- Fuerte
G: 23 names
- Gaagé Łizhin (Black Crow)
- Gad Nez (Tall Juniper)
- Gah Łigai (White Rabbit)
- Gah-kiz-a-duh
- Garrett Kazhe
- Geneva Burnette
- Georgia Chatto
- Gerald Botella
- Gil-lee
- Gilbert Tafoya
- Gives Away Horses
- Glenn Shanta
- Gloria Kindelay
- Gonkon
- Good Talker
- Gordo
- Gorgonio
- Gósé Łigai (White Dog)
- Gósé Łizhin (Black Dog)
- Gouyen (Wise Woman)
- Goyaałé (Geronimo, One Who Yawns)
- Grace Darrow
- Gray Horse Rider
H: 15 names
- Ha-o-zinne
- Haozous (Pulling Roots)
- Harlan Bullis
- Hashkee (Angry One)
- Hashkee Nteel (Broad Angry One)
- Haskay-bay-nay-ntayl (The Apache Kid)
- Hazel Gooday
- He Just Sits There
- Herman Chee
- Holds the Mountain
- Horse Catcher
- Howard Klinekole
- Huerito Mundo
- Hugh Chee
- Hunts at Sunrise
I: 17 names
- Ida Magoosh
- Ignacio Serafin
- Ih-tedda
- Iłtį́į́ Nchaa (Big Bow)
- Irene Shendo
- Isdzán Nzhǫǫ (Good Woman)
- Ishkeh
- Ishton
- Isidro Julian
- Istee
- Itán
- Itsá Diyin (Eagle Power)
- Itsá Łibá (Gray Eagle)
- Itsá Łigai (White Eagle)
- Itsá Łizhin (Black Eagle)
- Itsá Nchaa (Big Eagle)
- Itsá Nteel (Wide-Winged Eagle)
J: 14 names
- James Kaywaykla
- Jarvis Kessay
- Jason Betzinez
- Jasper Kanseah
- Jeanette Apachito
- Jerome Istee
- Joaquin Callado
- Jose Elote
- Jose Largo
- Josephine Julian
- Jozhe
- Juana
- Juanita Botella
- Juh
K: 16 names
- K'aa' Łichíí' (Red Arrow)
- K'aa' Łizhin (Black Arrow)
- K'os Dilhił (Dark Cloud)
- K'os Łichíí' (Red Cloud)
- K'os Łigai (White Cloud)
- K'os Łizhin (Black Cloud)
- Kaahteney
- Kayitah
- Kaytennae
- Keeps the Fire
- Kelsay
- Kenneth Kessay
- Knows the Canyon
- Kǫ' Łichíí' (Red Fire)
- Kǫ' Nchaa (Big Fire)
- Koon-ka-zachey (Apache John)
L: 34 names
- Lamar Dazen
- Laughs at Danger
- Lawrence Vigil
- Łeezh Łichíí' (Red Earth)
- Lenna Geronimo
- Leon Enjady
- Leonard Talgo
- Leroy Kaydahzinne
- Lester Stanley
- Lightning Woman
- Łį́į́' Łibá (Gray Horse)
- Łį́į́' Łichíí' (Red Horse)
- Łį́į́' Łigai (White Horse)
- Łį́į́' Łikizh (Spotted Horse)
- Łį́į́' Łizhin (Black Horse)
- Little Elk
- Little Gray Bear
- Lives Near the Spring
- Lloyd Second
- Lobo Blanco
- Loco
- Łóg Łichíí' (Red Fish)
- Lois Comanche
- Long Arrow
- Looks Far Off
- Loren Tessay
- Lorena Cassadore
- Lorenzo Polk
- Loretta Endfield
- Lozen (Dexterous Horse Thief)
- Lucille Quintana
- Lucinda Kaywaykla
- Lupe Tecube
- Lyle Gooday
M: 27 names
- Machol
- Magoosh
- Mahko
- Mangas Coloradas (Dasoda-hae, Red Sleeves)
- Mangus
- Mano Mocha
- Manuel Atole
- Marcella Atole
- Maria Jozhe
- Marian Chee
- Marjorie Talgo
- Marlene Tessay
- Martine
- Marvin Hinton
- Massai
- Maxine Hooke
- Melinda Declay
- Mescal Gatherer Woman
- Mickey Free
- Miguel
- Miguel Narbona
- Mildred Imach Cleghorn
- Morning Sky Woman
- Moses Loco
- Moves His Camp Often
- Myrna LaPaz
- Myron Goseyun
N: 31 names
- Nadą́ą́' Dotł'izh (Blue Corn)
- Nadą́ą́' Łitsog (Yellow Corn)
- Nadine Rope
- Nah-dos-te
- Nah-ke-de-sah
- Nahdeyole
- Nahilzay
- Naiche (Mischief Maker)
- Naithlotonz
- Nana (Kas-tziden, Broken Foot)
- Nana-tha-thtith
- Nant'án Łibá (Gray Chief)
- Nant'án Nez (Tall Chief)
- Nant'án Nzhǫǫ (Good Chief)
- Nantaje
- Nantan Lupan (Gray Wolf Chief)
- Natiotish
- Natzili
- Ndee Nez (Tall Man)
- Ndóí Łibá (Gray Mountain Lion)
- Ndóí Łizhin (Black Mountain Lion)
- Nellie Largo
- Nelson Declay
- Night Walker
- Nłch'i Dilhił (Dark Wind)
- Nłch'i Nchaa (Big Wind)
- Noche
- Nock-ay-det-klinne
- Nolgee
- Nora Balatche
- Norman Jozhe
O: 5 names
- Olivia Cojo
- One Eye
- Opal Blaylock
- Orlando Kanseah
- Oscar Chatto
P: 13 names
- Pablo Veneno
- Pacer
- Patricia Cromwell
- Paul Guydelkon
- Paula Baltazar
- Pauline Kayitah
- Pedro
- Perico (White Horse)
- Peso
- Pionsenay
- Pisago Cabezón
- Ponce
- Priscilla Patterson
Q: 1 name
- Quiet Hawk
R: 26 names
- Rain Woman
- Ramon Quintana
- Ramona Chihuahua Daklugie
- Ramona Kitcheyan
- Randall Belvado
- Raul Pesata
- Raymond Loco
- Raymond Petago
- Red Clay Woman
- Red Sleeves
- Reuben Daklugie
- Rhonda Ivins
- Rides Alone
- Rides the Gray Horse
- Rita Lavender
- Robert Geronimo
- Roberta Mithlo
- Roland Cromwell
- Rosa Muniz
- Rosalie Yuzos
- Rosemary Pesata
- Ruben Muniz
- Rudy Kaywaykla
- Running Deer Woman
- Runs at Night
- Russell Patterson
S: 41 names
- Sam Haozous
- Sam Kenoi
- San Juan
- Santana
- Scar on the Cheek
- Sees in the Dark
- Selena Edison
- Sergeant Jim
- Sergeant Rowdy
- Shakes the Ground
- Sharlene Ethelbah
- Shash Diyin (Bear Power)
- Shash Łibá (Gray Bear)
- Shash Łichíí' (Red Bear)
- Shash Łizhin (Black Bear)
- Shash Nchaa (Big Bear)
- Shash Nteel (Broad Bear)
- She-gha
- Shield Bearer
- Shirley Hinton
S, continued
- Short Neck
- Shtsha-she
- Siki Toclanni
- Simon Naiche
- Sings Before Battle
- Skinya
- Skippy
- Sleeps Lightly
- Sǫǫs Dotł'izh (Blue Star)
- Sǫǫs Łichíí' (Red Star)
- Sǫǫs Łigai (White Star)
- Sousche
- Speaks for the Band
- Stands Against the Wind
- Stands on Two Rocks
- Stanley Vicenti
- Strikes the Enemy First
- Stuart Cojo
- Sun Climber
- Swift Runner
- Sylvia Veneno
T: 37 names
- Ta-ayz-slath
- Taklishim (The Gray One)
- Talbot Gooday
- Talks With Thunder
- Tall Pine
- Tanya Cassadore
- Taza
- Tazhí Łizhin (Black Turkey)
- Teresa Monarco
- Terrance Darrow
- Thelma Dazen
- Theresa Velarde
- Three Fingers
- Throws the Rope
- Tissnolthos
- Tł'é' Dilhił (Dark Night)
- Tł'oh Łitsog (Yellow Grass)
- Toclanny
- Toga-de-chuz
- Tomas Cassador
- Trevor Dosela
- Tséé Dotł'izh (Blue Rock)
- Tséé Łichíí' (Red Rock)
- Tséé Łizhin (Black Rock)
- Tséé Nchaa (Big Rock)
- Tsin Nchaa (Big Tree)
- Tsin Nez (Tall Tree)
- Tsisnah
- Tú Dotł'izh (Blue Water)
- Tú Háálį (Spring Water)
- Tú Łigai (White Water)
- Tú Łizhin (Black Water)
- Tú Nchaa (Big Water)
- Tú Nlįį (Flowing Water)
- Two Horses
- Tyrell Bigmouth
- Tzoe (Peaches)
U: 1 name
- Ulzana (Josanie)
V: 7 names
- Velma Dosela
- Verna Kazhe
- Vernon Nachu
- Victor Monarco
- Victorio (Bidu-ya)
- Vincent Kitcheyan
- Vivian Imach
W: 15 names
- Waits for the Rain
- Walks on Stone
- Walks Soft
- Walks With Deer
- Walter Toclanny
- Wanda Polk
- Warren Yuzos
- Watches the Trail
- Water Carrier Woman
- Wendell Chino
- Wesley Kindelay
- Wild Horse
- Willard Ivins
- Winona Istee
- Wolf Tracker
Y: 6 names
- Ya'áí Łichíí' (Red Sun)
- Ya'áí Łitsog (Yellow Sun)
- Yahnozha (Fun)
- Yellow Bird Woman
- Yolanda Enjady
- Yrigóllen