Cherokee Name Generator

Tsalagi names, words, and historical figures

Real-World Names & CulturesPart of: real-world name generators500 names

0 of 500 seen

This or that?

7 picks, 1 winner

Tap the name you like more.

Tap a name to copy it. The arrows swap one name.

Or browse all 500 names, A to Z

Draw from Cherokee (Tsalagi) given names, nature words used as names, historical leaders like Sequoyah and Nanyehi, and Cherokee Nation surnames such as Sixkiller and Walkingstick. Ideal for historical fiction and respectful character creation, and a starting point for family research.

About Cherokee names

Cherokee names come from the Tsalagi language, an Iroquoian tongue spoken in the Southern Appalachians for centuries and still taught in Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band schools today. Older given names were often single words drawn from the natural world or a person's character: Salali (squirrel), Waya (wolf), Wohali (eagle), Kanuna (bullfrog). Names could change over a lifetime as a person earned a new reputation, which is why 18th-century records list leaders under several names at once.

Many of the most famous Cherokee names are known through English translations or renderings. Nanyehi is remembered as Nancy Ward, Tsiyu Gansini as Dragging Canoe, Guwisguwi as John Ross, and Degataga as Stand Watie. Sequoyah, who created the Cherokee syllabary in 1821, is one of the few whose Cherokee name is the one everybody uses. After removal to Indian Territory, English-style surnames took hold, and today's Cherokee Nation is full of distinctive family names that translate older Cherokee ones: Sixkiller, Walkingstick, Standingdeer, Youngbird, Dreadfulwater, Hummingbird, Bushyhead, Goingsnake.

The list here mixes those three layers: historical figures with both forms of their name, Cherokee-language words offered as personal names, and modern given-name plus surname pairings. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Cherokee speakers, so some of these words may never have been used as names. If you need a real Cherokee name, contact the language program of the Cherokee Nation or of another Cherokee tribal government. If you are naming a character, choose the layer that matches your setting, and remember that made-up "Indian-sounding" names are easy for readers to spot.

How to choose Cherokee names

  • Match the era: single Tsalagi words suit pre-1800 settings, while first name plus a Cherokee surname like Sixkiller or Teehee fits the 1830s onward.
  • Check meanings before you use a word as a name; Selu (corn) and Kanati (the first hunter) are figures from Cherokee sacred stories, not casual baby names.
  • Avoid pan-Indian clichés like "Running Deer" or "Little Feather"; they are not Cherokee, and readers will notice.
  • If you are researching your own family, cross-reference the Dawes Rolls (1898-1914) and Baker Roll (1924), which list thousands of real Cherokee names.
  • Cherokee has no gendered grammar, so many nature-word names work for any character; use context, not the word itself, to signal gender.

Frequently asked questions

How do Cherokee names work?

Historically a Cherokee person received a name in childhood, often a nature word or a description, and could gain new names through deeds or life events. Clan membership passed through the mother, and names were not fixed family surnames until English-style naming spread in the 1800s.

What are common Cherokee surnames?

Cherokee Nation citizens carry both ordinary English surnames such as Ross, Adair, and Vann, and translated Cherokee ones like Sixkiller, Walkingstick, Standingdeer, Bushyhead, Youngdeer, Teehee, and Hummingbird.

Is it appropriate to use Cherokee names for fictional characters?

Yes, if done with care. Use real names accurately, avoid sacred or ceremonial terms, give the character a genuine Cherokee background rather than a generic "Native" one, and consider reading Cherokee authors like Robert J. Conley for context. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Cherokee speakers. If you need a real Cherokee name, contact the language program of the Cherokee Nation or of another Cherokee tribal government.

How do I write Cherokee names correctly?

Cherokee is written in Sequoyah's syllabary, but Latin transliterations vary. Use consistent spelling within your project, and note that "v" in transliteration represents a nasal "uh" sound, as in Nvda (sun) or Gvli (raccoon).

Related generators

More like this

Browse category

All 500 Cherokee names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 60 names

  • Aaron Buckskin
  • Ada Sevenstar
  • Adahy
  • Adam Locust
  • Adam Welch
  • Adanvdo
  • Adawehi
  • Adayvsgi
  • Adsila
  • Adsila Walkingstick
  • Agasga
  • Agayvli
  • Agehya
  • Agili (George Lowrey)
  • Agiya
  • Ahalenidohi
  • Ahnawake
  • Ahuludegi (John Jolly)
  • Ahwi
  • Ahyoka
  • Ahyoka Swimmer
  • Alice Mankiller
  • Ama
  • Ama Crowe
  • Amadahy
  • Amaka
  • Amanda Long
  • Amanda Swimmer
  • Amanda Youngdeer
  • Amayeli
  • Amble Bradley
  • Amicalola
  • Ammoneeta Sequoyah
  • Ammons Crowe
  • Ammons Oocumma
  • Amos Blackbird
  • Amos Runningwater
  • Amos Smoker
  • Amouskositte
  • Anagalisgi
  • Andrew Grasshopper
  • Andy Owle
  • Anna Mitchell
  • Anna Screamer
  • Annie Tenkiller
  • Aquone
  • Asgaya
  • Atsadi
  • Atsila
  • Attakullakulla
  • Awi Usdi
  • Awiakta
  • Awinita
  • Awinita Saunooke
  • Ayasta
  • Ayelohvsgi
  • Ayita
  • Ayoli
  • Ayunini (Swimmer)
  • Ayvdaqualosgi

B: 16 names

  • Ben Duck
  • Ben Tadpole
  • Bertha Glass
  • Betsy Bird
  • Bettie Fishinghawk
  • Bettie Tenkiller
  • Betty Standingdeer
  • Big Cove
  • Birdtown
  • Bloody Fellow
  • Bob Benge
  • Bold Hunter
  • Boyd Driver
  • Boyd Shell
  • Bud Goingsnake
  • Bushyhead

C: 31 names

  • Cain Climbingbear
  • Callie Wahnee
  • Charles Lowrey
  • Charles Renatus Hicks
  • Charley Chuculate
  • Charley Walkingstick
  • Charlotte Sunday
  • Chattooga
  • Chatuga
  • Cheesquatalawny (John Rollin Ridge)
  • Chenoa
  • Cheowa
  • Chestatee
  • Chewey
  • Chickamauga
  • Chief Bowl (Diwali)
  • Chilhowee
  • Chota
  • Citico
  • Clem Rogers
  • Cliff Ketcher
  • Conasauga
  • Coosawattee
  • Cora Hawk
  • Cornelius Boudinot
  • Cowee
  • Cullasaja
  • Cullowhee
  • Cunne Shote (Standing Turkey)
  • Cynthia Foreman
  • Cynthia Proctor

D: 15 names

  • Dagsi
  • Dahlonega
  • Dakwa
  • Dalonige
  • Daniel Wildcat
  • Degataga (Stand Watie)
  • Delilah Adair
  • Delilah Vann
  • Didanawisgi
  • Digadoli
  • Dinah Ensley
  • Dora Sixkiller
  • Doublehead
  • Doya
  • Durbin Feeling

E: 24 names

  • Effie Whitekiller
  • Eli Ridge
  • Eli Waterkiller
  • Elias Wachacha
  • Elisi
  • Eliza Chuwalooky
  • Ella Armachain
  • Ella Kingfisher
  • Ella Mae Sequoyah
  • Ella Soap
  • Ellen Mayes
  • Ellijay
  • Ellis Squirrel
  • Emeline Youngdeer
  • Emma Cornsilk
  • Emma Toineeta
  • Emmet Starr
  • Enisi
  • Enoli (Black Fox)
  • Equa
  • Estatoe
  • Etowah
  • Etsi
  • Ezra Otter

F: 2 names

  • Fannie Welch
  • Frank Dreadfulwater

G: 27 names

  • Gadugi
  • Gadusi
  • Galegina (Elias Boudinot)
  • Galilahi
  • Galilahi Owl
  • Galuyasdi
  • Galvladi
  • Ganegwo
  • Ganoli
  • Ganvgi
  • Ganvhida
  • Ganvsgi
  • George Sequoyah
  • George Whitekiller
  • Ghigau
  • Gigage
  • Gogeyi
  • Gogi
  • Going Snake
  • Goingback Chiltoskey
  • Gola
  • Grace Oosahwee
  • Guque
  • Guwisguwi (John Ross)
  • Gvli
  • Gvna
  • Gvnage

H: 7 names

  • Hanging Maw
  • Harriet Boudinot
  • Hastings Shade
  • Hattie Bearpaw
  • Henry Vann
  • Hiwassee
  • Homer Raven

I: 12 names

  • Ida Leaf
  • Ida Starr
  • Iga
  • Inadv
  • Inali
  • Inola
  • Inola Christie
  • Isaac Deerinwater
  • Isaac Hummingbird
  • Isaac Teehee
  • Isabel Cobb
  • Itse

J: 24 names

  • Jack Dirtseller
  • Jasper Ketcher
  • Jennie Bigmeat
  • Jennie Downing
  • Jerry Wolfe
  • Jesse Lossiah
  • Jesse Poorbear
  • Jesse Snell
  • Jim Gritts
  • Jim Muskrat
  • Job Proctor
  • Jocassee
  • Joe Bearmeat
  • Joel Blackfox
  • John Looney
  • John Nofire
  • Jonathan Taylor
  • Josiah Littlejohn
  • Josiah Sapsucker
  • Josiah Teesateskie
  • Josie Rattler
  • Josie Saunooke
  • Josie Tiger
  • Junaluska

K: 20 names

  • Kahnungdaclageh (Major Ridge)
  • Kalanu
  • Kalvgv
  • Kamama
  • Kanagatoga (Old Hop)
  • Kananeski
  • Kanati
  • Kanogisdi
  • Kanuga
  • Kanuna
  • Kanuna Sixkiller
  • Kate Coon
  • Kate Locust
  • Kate Lossiah
  • Kate Tramper
  • Katie Buzzard
  • Keowee
  • Kingfisher of Chota
  • Kituwah
  • Kunokeski (John Watts)

L: 19 names

  • Lena Rattlinggourd
  • Levi Bigmeat
  • Levi Goingsnake
  • Levi Horsefly
  • Levi Scraper
  • Lewis Fivekiller
  • Lewis Ross
  • Little Owl
  • Little Turkey
  • Lizzie Hogshooter
  • Lizzie Saunooke
  • Lloyd Lambert
  • Louis Ballard
  • Louis Threekiller
  • Louisa Crowe
  • Lucy Squirrel
  • Lucy Wickliffe
  • Lula Ratley
  • Lynn Riggs

M: 16 names

  • Maggie Owl
  • Martha Pumpkin
  • Mary Golda Ross
  • Mary Ross
  • Mattie Flute
  • Mattie Sourjohn
  • Maude Hummingbird
  • Milo Arneach
  • Minnie Bluebird
  • Minnie Tickaneesky
  • Molly Kingfisher
  • Molly Queen
  • Mose Ledford
  • Mose Watty
  • Moses Cloud
  • Moytoy of Tellico

N: 34 names

  • Nacoochee
  • Nan Swimmer
  • Nancy Christie
  • Nancy Keys
  • Nancy Springwater
  • Nannie Foreman
  • Nannie Fourkiller
  • Nannie George
  • Nannie Ridge
  • Nannie Sanders
  • Nantahala
  • Nanyehi (Nancy Ward)
  • Nathan Wolfe
  • Ned Catolster
  • Ned Christie
  • Ned Panther
  • Nellie Beanstick
  • Nellie Youngbird
  • Nettie Doublehead
  • Nettie Youngbird
  • New Echota
  • Nickajack
  • Nikwasi
  • Nimrod Jarrett Smith
  • Noah Hair
  • Nokwisi
  • Nolichucky
  • Nottely
  • Noya
  • Nunnehi
  • Nununyi
  • Nvda
  • Nvwoti
  • Nvya

O: 12 names

  • Ocoee
  • Oconaluftee
  • Oconostota
  • Old Abram of Chilhowee
  • Ollie Bigwitch
  • Ollie Duncan
  • Ollie Mouse
  • Ooltewah
  • Osda
  • Ostenaco
  • Ostenaco (Judd's Friend)
  • Owen Hornbuckle

P: 6 names

  • Painttown
  • Park Hill
  • Pathkiller
  • Peter Crawfish
  • Peter Wolf
  • Polly Terrapin

Q: 2 names

  • Qualla
  • Quatie Ross

R: 23 names

  • Rachel Caroline Eaton
  • Rachel Hicks
  • Rebecca Deer
  • Rebecca Turtle
  • Rebecca Wildcatt
  • Red Clay
  • Redbird Guess
  • Redbird Smith
  • Reuben Sneed
  • Rhoda Sittingdown
  • Rider Fields
  • Ridge Nofire
  • Rising Fawn
  • Robert Bushyhead
  • Robert J. Conley
  • Robert Youngdeer
  • Roberta Lawson
  • Rosa Catcher
  • Rosa Littledave
  • Rosie Cornsilk
  • Ross Bushyhead
  • Ruth Fourkiller
  • Ruth Muskrat Bronson

S: 47 names

  • Sadie Pigeon
  • Sakonige
  • Saladin Watie
  • Salali
  • Salali Bushyhead
  • Sallie Blossom
  • Sallie Cucumber
  • Sallie Ghormley
  • Sallie Hicks
  • Sallie Wachacha
  • Sallisaw
  • Sam Manus
  • Sam Reed
  • Sam Standingdeer
  • Sam Toney
  • Sam Walkingstick
  • Sampson Owl
  • Sarah Drywater
  • Sarah Eagle
  • Sarah Swayney
  • Sasa
  • Sautee
  • Savanukah (Raven of Chota)
  • Selu
  • Sequatchie
  • Sequoyah
  • Sequoyah Adair
  • Sequoyah Guess
  • Sikwa
  • Sikwayi
  • Silas Fox
  • Simon Muskrat
  • Skahtlelohskee (John Ridge)
  • Sleeping Rabbit
  • Snowbird
  • Soco
  • Solomon Bird
  • Sour Mush
  • Spring Frog
  • Stecoah
  • Sunalei
  • Susan Downing
  • Susannah Oosahwee
  • Susie Redbird
  • Susie Smoke
  • Svhiyeyi
  • Svnoyi

T: 43 names

  • Tagwadihi (The Glass)
  • Tahchee
  • Tahlequah
  • Tahlonteeskee
  • Tallassee
  • Talulah
  • Tame Doe
  • Tanasi
  • Tayanita
  • Tayanita Wolfe
  • Tellico
  • Tessentee
  • Thomas Sixkiller
  • Thompson Chuculate
  • Tlanuwa
  • Tlvdatsi
  • Toccoa
  • Tom Backbone
  • Tomotley
  • Toochalar
  • Toqua
  • Toxaway
  • Tsalagi
  • Tsali
  • Tsalu
  • Tsayoga
  • Tsigili
  • Tsigilili
  • Tsisdu
  • Tsisqua
  • Tsiya
  • Tsiyahi
  • Tsiyu Gansini (Dragging Canoe)
  • Tsu-la (Fox)
  • Tsula
  • Tsuli
  • Tsulkalu
  • Tsuwatelda
  • Tuckasegee
  • Tugaloo
  • Turkeytown
  • Turtle at Home
  • Tusquitee

U: 21 names

  • Udohiyu
  • Ugama
  • Ugidali
  • Uguku
  • Ugvwiyuhi
  • Uktena
  • Ulihelisdi
  • Ulisi
  • Ulogilv
  • Ulunsuti
  • Unadena
  • Unega
  • Unole
  • Usdi
  • Ustanali
  • Ustiga
  • Utana
  • Utsati
  • Utsidsata (Corn Tassel)
  • Uweyv
  • Uwoduhi

W: 32 names

  • Wado
  • Waguli
  • Wahya
  • Walker Calhoun
  • Walosi
  • Wat Whitmire
  • Watauga
  • Watt Christie
  • Watt Rattlinggourd
  • Waya
  • Waya Standingdeer
  • Wes Studi
  • Wesa
  • Wesley Bushyhead
  • Wesley Teehee
  • White Path
  • Wilbur French
  • Will Rogers
  • Will West Long
  • Willenawah (Great Eagle)
  • William Chewey
  • William Hicks
  • William Shorey Coodey
  • Willie Ninekiller
  • Willstown
  • Wilma Mankiller
  • Wilma Sixkiller
  • Wilson Rackliff
  • Wohali
  • Wohali Youngbird
  • Wolfetown
  • Wurteh

Y: 6 names

  • Yansa
  • Yellowhill
  • Yona
  • Yona Teehee
  • Yonaguska (Drowning Bear)
  • Yunwi Tsunsdi

Z: 1 name

  • Zeke Proctor