Cree Name Generator

Nehiyawewin names and Cree family surnames

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500 Cree names: historical names in Nehiyawewin such as Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear), Cree words that families give as first names such as Wapan (dawn), and family names such as Ahenakew, Wapachee and Saganash, alone and in full names.

About Cree names

Cree people live from the foothills of the Rockies to the coast of James Bay and into Quebec, and the language changes along the way: Plains Cree (nehiyawewin), Woods Cree, Swampy Cree, Moose Cree and East Cree are its main dialects. The historical names here are mostly Plains Cree names of the treaty era, in history-book spelling, with the English name each person is known by: Mistahimaskwa is Big Bear and Pitikwahanapiwiyin is Poundmaker.

Most Cree families carry surnames that were fixed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when treaty pay lists, missions and trading posts wrote names down. Some are Cree names kept whole, such as Ahenakew, Tootoosis, Kataquapit and Wapachee. Some are translations, such as Starblanket, Whitecalf and Yellowbird. Others came through the fur trade from Scotland and France, such as Linklater, Louttit and Laboucan. Surnames are strongly regional, as the tips below show.

First names are mostly English, French and biblical, and some families give Cree words as first names, such as Kisik (sky) or Nipin (summer). There are no made-up warrior names and no ceremonial names, which are not ours to list. The page was not checked by Cree speakers, so for a real child or a spelling that matters, ask a language keeper from that community.

How to choose Cree names

  • Match the surname to the region. Wapachee, Saganash and Mianscum belong to Eeyou Istchee in Quebec, Koostachin and Metatawabin to the Ontario coast of James Bay, and Ahenakew and Tootoosis to Saskatchewan.
  • For a present-day character, pair an ordinary first name with a regional surname, as in Agnes Wuttunee or Noah Snowboy. That is how most Cree people are named.
  • Keep the historical names for the people who carried them. Mistahimaskwa and Pitikwahanapiwiyin were real leaders, so write about them instead of handing their names to an invented character.
  • The spellings here leave out the long-vowel marks of standard roman orthography, in which Kisik is written with a long i. Copy the marked form from a Cree dictionary if your project needs it.
  • Do not build a Cree name by translating an English phrase. If you need a new name, ask a speaker.

Frequently asked questions

What are common Cree last names?

It depends on the region. In Saskatchewan you meet Ahenakew, Tootoosis, Wuttunee and Starblanket, in Alberta Littlechild, Saddleback and Laboucan, in Manitoba Lathlin, Beardy and Monias, on the Ontario coast Koostachin and Cheechoo, and in Quebec Wapachee, Saganash and Coon Come. Many Cree families also carry Scottish and French surnames from the fur trade, such as Linklater and Louttit.

What do the words in parentheses mean?

After a historical name it is the English name the person is known by, which is usually a translation: Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear), Minahikosis (Little Pine), Kapeyakwaskonam (One Arrow). After a single Cree word it is the plain meaning of the word, as in Pisim (sun) and Acahkos (star). A few historical names have no gloss because we were not sure of one.

Why are there no spirit names on this page?

Cree ceremonial names are given by an elder in ceremony and belong to the person who receives them. A generator cannot produce them and should not try. The page keeps to names from the historical record, everyday Cree words that families use as first names, and family surnames.

Can I use these names for a baby or a character?

For fiction, a first name with a surname from the right region is the realistic choice. For a child, talk to Cree speakers and elders first. Spellings vary between dialects and communities, and a name carries family ties that a web page cannot know.

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All 500 Cree 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: 24 names

  • Abel Hamelin
  • Abishabis (Small Eyes)
  • Abraham Hughie
  • Acahkos (star)
  • Agnes Minde
  • Agnes Wuttunee
  • Ahenakew
  • Ahtahkakoop (Star Blanket)
  • Ahyasou
  • Almightyvoice
  • Alook
  • Alphonse Auger
  • Annie Longchap
  • Annie Marten
  • Apetagon
  • Arthurson
  • Asapace
  • Askiy (earth)
  • Asquabaneskum
  • Atcheynum
  • Atsynia
  • Attickasish (Little Deer)
  • Awasis (child)
  • Ayimisis (Imasees)

B: 18 names

  • Ballantyne
  • Beardy
  • Bella Visitor
  • Bernadette Ledoux
  • Bigchild
  • Bighetty
  • Bigknife
  • Bignell
  • Blackned
  • Blesse
  • Blueboy
  • Bluecoat
  • Bobbish
  • Bradburn
  • Brayden Corston
  • Buffalocalf
  • Burnstick
  • Butterfly

C: 34 names

  • Calliou
  • Capissisit
  • Caroline Kingfisher
  • Caroline Littlechild
  • Castel
  • Chaboyer
  • Chacachas
  • Chakastaypasin
  • Chamakese
  • Charlotte Cheechoo
  • Charlotte Gladue
  • Charmaine Wesley
  • Chatsis
  • Checkosis
  • Cheecham
  • Cheechoo
  • Cheezo
  • Chiskamish
  • Chocan
  • Chookomolin
  • Chum
  • Clarence Sewepagaham
  • Clarence Swampy
  • Clifford Ottereyes
  • Clifford Sapp
  • Cookish
  • Coon Come
  • Coonishish
  • Couchees
  • Courtoreille
  • Cromarty
  • Crookedneck
  • Cuthand
  • Cutknife

D: 11 names

  • Daisy Reuben
  • Darrell Carriere
  • Darryl Keewatin
  • Darryl Petawabano
  • Delbert Oakes
  • Delbert Semaganis
  • Desnomie
  • Dorothy Blacksmith
  • Dorothy Willier
  • Dustyhorn
  • Dysart

E: 20 names

  • Echum
  • Edna Bighead
  • Edna Gull
  • Eli Masty
  • Eli Rockthunder
  • Elijah Scribe
  • Elsie Custer
  • Emile Arcand
  • Emile Sutherland
  • Emily Osborne
  • Emily Shecapio
  • Eninew
  • Erless
  • Ermineskin
  • Esquawenoe
  • Etapp
  • Ettawacappo
  • Eyahpaise
  • Ezra Gambler
  • Ezra Jolly

F: 8 names

  • Faries
  • Fineday
  • Flora Neeposh
  • Flora Nicotine
  • Florence Michel
  • Forbister
  • Frencheater
  • Fryingpan

G: 14 names

  • Gadwa
  • Gardypie
  • Garrioch
  • Georgekish
  • Gibot
  • Gideon Jonah
  • Gideon Steinhauer
  • Gilbert Omeasoo
  • Gilbert Poorman
  • Gloria Friday
  • Goodswimmer
  • Grandjambe
  • Greyeyes
  • Grieves

H: 10 names

  • Halkett
  • Harriet Happyjack
  • Harriet Wildcat
  • Hattie Whitefish
  • Highway
  • Hookimaw
  • Howard Awashish
  • Howard Longjohn
  • Hughboy
  • Hunter Murdock

I: 4 names

  • Iahtail
  • Irene Alexson
  • Isaiah Baldhead
  • Isaiah Hester

J: 12 names

  • Jayden Fireman
  • Jebb
  • Jemima Folster
  • Jeremiah Salt
  • Jeremiah Strongman
  • Jimiken
  • Josephine Bellegarde
  • Josephine Diamond
  • Josiah Halfe
  • Josiah Pash
  • Juliette Giroux
  • Juliette Iserhoff

K: 43 names

  • Kahkewistahaw (He Who Flies Around)
  • Kahpeaysewat
  • Kaiswatum
  • Kakabat
  • Kakakaway
  • Kakekaspan
  • Kakisiwew (Loud Voice)
  • Kamalatisit
  • Kamiokisihkwew (Fine Day)
  • Kamiyistowesit (Beardy)
  • Kanatewat
  • Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit)
  • Kapashesit
  • Kapeyakwaskonam (One Arrow)
  • Kappo
  • Kasokeo
  • Katapatuk
  • Kataquapit
  • Kathleen Constant
  • Kathleen Pachano
  • Kawacatoose (Poor Man)
  • Kawapit
  • Kayden Lazarus
  • Keegan Moody
  • Keenatch
  • Keenooshayo
  • Keeper
  • Kehewin (Eagle)
  • Kiana Cowboy
  • Kihiw (eagle)
  • Kirkness
  • Kisik (sky)
  • Kisik Lightning
  • Kiskayo (Bobtail)
  • Kitchekeesik
  • Kiwetin (north wind)
  • Knapaysweet
  • Kona (snow)
  • Koochicum
  • Koosees
  • Koostachin
  • Kopahawakenum (Flying Dust)
  • Kytwayhat

L: 23 names

  • Laboucan
  • Lagrelle
  • Laliberty
  • Lameboy
  • Lameman
  • Lathlin
  • Leonard Houle
  • Leonard Matoush
  • Letendre
  • Lillian Dreaver
  • Lillian Whitecalf
  • Linklater
  • Littlechild
  • Littlewolfe
  • Lloyd Louison
  • Lloyd Sasakamoose
  • Lonechild
  • Loone
  • Loonskin
  • Lorna Hardisty
  • Louisa Tourangeau
  • Louttit
  • Luke Colomb

M: 57 names

  • Machiskinic
  • Madeline Buffalo
  • Madeline Merasty
  • Maggie Thunder
  • Mahihkan (wolf)
  • Makaoo
  • Makinaw
  • Makokis
  • Mamianskum
  • Margaret Wynne
  • Marjorie Favel
  • Marjorie Starblanket
  • Marvin Laboucan
  • Marvin Raine
  • Maskepetoon (Broken Arm)
  • Maskwa (bear)
  • Massan
  • Masuskapoe
  • Mattawashish
  • Matthew Easter
  • Mattinas
  • Mayappo
  • Mayham
  • Meechance
  • Meetoos
  • Melvin Blackstar
  • Melvin Saddleback
  • Memnook
  • Meneen
  • Menow
  • Merasty
  • Meskino
  • Metabie
  • Metatawabin
  • Mettaweskum
  • Mianscum
  • Mikisiw (bald eagle)
  • Minahikosis (Little Pine)
  • Minnie Bearskin
  • Minnie Caribou
  • Misponas
  • Mistacheesick
  • Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear)
  • Mistawasis (Big Child)
  • Mitsuing
  • Monias
  • Moonias
  • Moosewah
  • Moosomin
  • Moostoos
  • Moses Saunders
  • Mowatt
  • Moyah
  • Mukash
  • Muskego
  • Muswaggon
  • Myrtle Chubb

N: 34 names

  • Nahachick
  • Nahoway
  • Nakochee
  • Nakogee
  • Namagoose
  • Nancy Garson
  • Nanooch
  • Napaokesik
  • Napash
  • Napope
  • Natachequan
  • Nateweyes
  • Nawakayas
  • Naytowhow
  • Neacappo
  • Neepin
  • Nekaneet (Foremost Man)
  • Nellie Esau
  • Nellie Quinney
  • Nepoose
  • Netmaker
  • Nighttraveller
  • Nikamon (song)
  • Nipin (summer)
  • Nipin Wapachee
  • Niquanicappo
  • Niska (goose)
  • Nitanis (my daughter)
  • Noah Bellerose
  • Noah Snowboy
  • Nokusis
  • Norman Dorion
  • Noskey
  • Noskiye

O: 14 names

  • Ochapowace
  • Okanee
  • Okemasis (Little Chief)
  • Okemaysim
  • Okemow
  • Okeymow
  • Okimaw
  • Oldpan
  • Omeasoo
  • Ominayak
  • Onchaminahos (Little Hunter)
  • Opikokew
  • Osecap
  • Ouskan

P: 32 names

  • Pachano
  • Pahtayken
  • Pakan
  • Papaschase (Woodpecker)
  • Papewes (Lucky Man)
  • Paskimin
  • Paskwaw (Pasqua)
  • Paulmartin
  • Paupanekis
  • Payipwat (Piapot)
  • Pechawis
  • Peekeekoot
  • Peepeekisis (Sparrow Hawk)
  • Pepabano
  • Percy Ironchild
  • Percy Voyageur
  • Petagumskum
  • Petawabano
  • Petequakey
  • Peyachew
  • Pihew-kamihkosit (Red Pheasant)
  • Pisim (sun)
  • Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker)
  • Piyesis (bird)
  • Piyesiw-awasis (Thunderchild)
  • Ponask
  • Pooyak
  • Potskin
  • Primrose
  • Priscilla Crier
  • Priscilla Ominayak
  • Puskiakiwenin

Q: 2 names

  • Quachegan
  • Queskekapow

R: 17 names

  • Rabbitskin
  • Ratfat
  • Ratt
  • Rattlesnake
  • Raymond Chalifoux
  • Raymond Metatawabin
  • Rebecca Cochrane
  • Rebecca Mukash
  • Redcrow
  • Redhead
  • Ribbonleg
  • Rodney Ballantyne
  • Rodney Faithful
  • Rosalie Greyeyes
  • Rosalie Pinay
  • Ruby Cattleman
  • Ruby Muswaggon

S: 51 names

  • Sackaney
  • Saddleback
  • Saganash
  • Sakastew (sunrise)
  • Sakihitowin (love)
  • Sally Trapper
  • Samson Halcrow
  • Sarah Budd
  • Sasakamoose
  • Scatch
  • Sealhunter
  • Seekaskootch (Cut Arm)
  • Seenum
  • Seeseequon
  • Seesequasis
  • Semaganis
  • Settee
  • Sewap
  • Sewepagaham
  • Shaganash
  • Shanush
  • Sharphead
  • Shashaweskum
  • Shayla Moar
  • Shecapio
  • Sheila Gilpin
  • Shisheesh
  • Sikwan (spring)
  • Sikwan Moostoos
  • Silas Roasting
  • Silas Stoney
  • Simeon Bosum
  • Simeon Cardinal
  • Sipiy (river)
  • Smallboy
  • Solomon Kanatewat
  • Solomon Munroe
  • Soonias
  • Soosay
  • Sophie Scipio
  • Sophie Weenie
  • Sowan
  • Sparklingeyes
  • St. Arnault
  • Standinghorn
  • Standingribbon
  • Stanley McCallum
  • Stanley Shisheesh
  • Starblanket
  • Stonechild
  • Swiftwolfe

T: 22 names

  • Tallcree
  • Tanis (daughter)
  • Tanis Ermine
  • Tanis Whitstone
  • Tanoush
  • Tapiatic
  • Tawpisin
  • Taypotat
  • Thaddeus Icebound
  • Thaddeus Vermillion
  • Theresa Lathlin
  • Theresa McGilvery
  • Threefingers
  • Tomagatick
  • Tomatuk
  • Tookate
  • Tootoosis
  • Tristan Rickard
  • Tuccaro
  • Tuckanow
  • Twinn
  • Tyson Crate

U: 2 names

  • Umpherville
  • Unipouheos

V: 6 names

  • Verna Fourhorns
  • Verna Makokis
  • Vernon Dieter
  • Vernon Okemaysim
  • Victoria Coon Come
  • Victoria Flett

W: 36 names

  • Wabano
  • Wallace Tallman
  • Wallace Wastesicoot
  • Wapachee
  • Wapan (dawn)
  • Wapan Saganash
  • Wapanacahkos (morning star)
  • Wapass
  • Wapikwaniy (flower)
  • Wapinesiw (White Bird)
  • Waquan
  • Wasacase
  • Waseskwan (clear sky)
  • Washipabano
  • Waskahat
  • Waskewitch
  • Wastesicoot
  • Watchmaker
  • Wavey
  • Weapenicappo
  • Weekusk
  • Weenusk
  • Weistche
  • Wheesk
  • Whiskeychan
  • Whiskeyjack
  • Whitecalf
  • Whiteknife
  • Whitstone
  • Wikaskokiseyin (Sweet Grass)
  • Wilfred Lafond
  • Wilfred Matches
  • Wilma Spence
  • Winnie Isadore
  • Winnie Kataquapit
  • Wuttunee

Y: 6 names

  • Yellowback
  • Yellowbird
  • Yellowdirt
  • Yellowknee
  • Yotin (wind)
  • Youngchief