Native American Name Generator

Names from Lakota, Navajo, Cherokee, Hopi, Ojibwe and more

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Explore Native American names: male and female given names from Lakota, Navajo, Cherokee, Hopi, Ojibwe, Choctaw and other nations, labeled by nation and language and some with English meanings, the names of historical leaders in both their original and English forms, and family surnames found in Native communities today.

About Native American names

There is no single Native American way of naming. The 570-plus federally recognized nations speak languages from dozens of unrelated families, and each names people differently. Lakota and Dakota names are descriptive phrases built from words for animals, weather and deeds (Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull; Mahpiya Luta, Red Cloud) or birth-order names like Chaske and Winona. Navajo (Diné) names are often everyday words such as Ahiga (usually glossed as he fights), Doli (bluebird) or Nizhoni (beautiful), while Hopi names are poetic compounds like Lomahongva (beautiful clouds arising). Ojibwe given names are frequently clan and animal words: Makwa (bear), Migizi (eagle), Animikii (thunderer).

The list has four layers: historical figures with their original name and its English rendering, labeled by nation, from Goyahkla (Geronimo) and Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) to Zitkala-Sa and Annie Dodge Wauneka; English-translation names as they appear in treaties and agency rolls; male and female given names with the source language and meaning; and real surnames from Native communities today, such as Begay, Yazzie, Sixkiller, Kills Straight, Yellowtail, Tahmahkera, Harjo and Sekaquaptewa, plus plausible given-plus-surname pairings.

Use it for fiction and as a starting point for research. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by speakers of any of these languages, and some given names circulate mainly on baby-name websites and may not be real words in the language they are labeled with. If you need a real name, contact the language program of the specific nation. The historical names belong to specific revered people, and many nations treat personal names as earned or ceremonial, so this is not a source for naming yourself something that sounds Native.

How to choose Native American names

  • Pick one nation and stay inside it: a Lakota given name with a Navajo surname reads as wrong to anyone from either community, so use the language labels to keep a character consistent.
  • For a male character, Lakota names built on Mato (bear), Wanbli (eagle) or Tatanka (buffalo) and Navajo names like Ahiga, Bidzii or Naalnish carry clear masculine associations; for a female character, Lakota names ending in Win (woman), birth-order names like Winona, or Hopi names like Sihu (flower) work well.
  • If you need a modern surname, use the family names actually found in Native communities (Begay, Yazzie, Harjo, Echo Hawk, Yellowtail) rather than translating an English phrase yourself; the real list is distinctive enough.
  • Treat historical names such as Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Sequoyah or Chief Joseph as references to the actual people rather than as free names for invented characters or products.
  • Check spelling against a dictionary from the nation itself (Lakota Language Consortium, Navajo dictionaries, Cherokee Nation, Ojibwe People's Dictionary); this list uses simplified spellings without most diacritics.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real Native American names or made up?

A mix. The historical names are those of documented leaders and figures, and the surnames are family names found in Native communities. The given names are labeled with a source language, but the names and meanings on this page have not been checked by speakers of those languages. Some circulate mainly on baby-name websites and may not be real words or names in the language they are labeled with. The given-plus-surname pairings are made up for fiction. If you need a real name, contact the language program of the specific nation.

Is it appropriate to use a Native American name for a character or for myself?

For fiction, yes if you do it carefully: choose a specific nation, use names from that language, and avoid turning a famous leader's name into a character. For yourself, be cautious. Many nations give names through ceremony or family, and adopting one because it sounds nice can read as appropriation. Nicknames, usernames and pets are a poor fit for historical and ceremonial names.

What are common Native American last names?

Surnames vary by nation. Navajo families often carry Begay, Yazzie, Tsosie, Benally and Manygoats; Cherokee families include Sixkiller, Walkingstick and Bushyhead; Lakota families include Red Owl, Brings Plenty, Two Bulls and Iron Cloud; Crow families include Yellowtail, Real Bird and Not Afraid; Muscogee Creek families include Harjo, Fixico and Yahola; Comanche families include Tahmahkera and Pewewardy. Many others are ordinary English or Spanish surnames adopted during the 1800s.

Why do some names have two forms, like Tatanka Iyotake (Sitting Bull)?

Government agents, traders and newspapers translated or transliterated names when they wrote them down, so many historical figures are known by an English rendering alongside their name in their own language. Showing both lets you see how the original is built and which form your setting would use; a 19th-century newspaper says Sitting Bull, a Lakota speaker says Tatanka Iyotake.

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All 496 Native American 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: 31 names

  • Aandeg (Ojibwe: crow)
  • Aandeg Maracle
  • Ahiga (Navajo: he fights)
  • Ahiga Begay
  • Ahtone
  • Ahyoka (Cherokee)
  • Ajei (Navajo: my heart)
  • Ajei Ahtone
  • Ajijaak (Ojibwe: crane)
  • Ajijaak Decorah

A, continued

  • Akicita (Lakota: warrior, soldier)
  • Akicita Real Bird
  • Alaxchiiaahush (Plenty Coups, Crow)
  • Altaha
  • Ama (Cherokee: water)
  • Amik (Ojibwe: beaver)
  • Animikii (Ojibwe: thunderer)
  • Annie Dodge Wauneka (Navajo)
  • Anoatubby
  • Anpo (Lakota: dawn)

A, continued

  • Anpo Not Afraid
  • Asdzání (Navajo: woman)
  • Ashishishe (Curly, Crow)
  • Ashkii (Navajo: boy)
  • Atohi (Cherokee: woods)
  • Atsidi (Navajo: smith)
  • Atsidi Sohappy
  • Attocknie
  • Awashonks (Sakonnet)
  • Awinita (Cherokee: fawn)
  • Ayenwatha (Hiawatha, Onondaga)

B: 19 names

  • Bamewawagezhikaquay (Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, Ojibwe)
  • Battiest
  • Begay
  • Benally
  • Bidzii (Navajo: he is strong)
  • Bidzii Zotigh
  • Big Tree
  • Binesi (Ojibwe: thunderbird, great bird)
  • Bird in Ground

B, continued

  • Bitsui
  • Bizhiw (Ojibwe: lynx)
  • Black Moon
  • Bowannie
  • Brave Heart
  • Brings Plenty
  • Buffalo Bird Woman
  • Buffalo Hump
  • Bugonaygeshig (Hole in the Day, Ojibwe)
  • Bushyhead

C: 22 names

  • Canonchet (Narragansett)
  • Cante Waste Win (Lakota: good heart woman)
  • Catan (Dakota: fourth son)
  • Cesspooch
  • Cetan (Lakota: hawk)
  • Chahta (Choctaw: the Choctaw people)
  • Chaske (Dakota: first-born son)
  • Chaske Iron Cloud
  • Chester Nez (Navajo code talker)
  • Cheveyo (Hopi)
  • Chipeta (Ute)

C, continued

  • Chitto Harjo (Crazy Snake, Muscogee Creek)
  • Chosovi (Hopi: bluebird)
  • Chosovi Namingha
  • Christine Quintasket (Mourning Dove, Okanogan)
  • Chula (Choctaw: fox)
  • Chula Fixico
  • Chupco
  • Coacoochee (Wild Cat, Seminole)
  • Cochise (Chiricahua Apache)
  • Crow Dog
  • Cuch

D: 12 names

  • Dahteste (Apache warrior woman)
  • Dakota (Dakota: friend, ally)
  • Degataga (Stand Watie, Cherokee)
  • Dezba (Navajo: goes to war)
  • Dezba Todacheene
  • Dohasan (Kiowa)
  • Doli (Navajo: bluebird)
  • Doli Benally
  • Donehogawa (Ely Parker, Seneca)
  • Dreadfulwater
  • Dull Knife
  • Dustu (Cherokee: spring frog)

E: 4 names

  • Eagle Chief
  • Echo Hawk
  • Edenshaw
  • Esiban (Ojibwe: raccoon)

F: 8 names

  • Fichik (Choctaw: star)
  • Fineday
  • Fire Thunder
  • Five Wounds
  • Fixico
  • Fools Crow
  • Four Horns
  • Funmaker

G: 16 names

  • Gaagaagi (Ojibwe: raven)
  • Gad (Navajo: juniper)
  • Gad Minthorn
  • Gaiänt'wakê (Cornplanter, Seneca)
  • Ganiodaiio (Handsome Lake, Seneca)
  • Giizhig (Ojibwe: sky, day)
  • Giizis (Ojibwe: sun)
  • Going Snake

G, continued

  • Gola (Cherokee: winter)
  • Goldtooth
  • Goodsky
  • Goseyun
  • Goyahkla (Geronimo, Chiricahua Apache)
  • Greendeer
  • Guipago (Lone Wolf, Kiowa)
  • Guwisguwi (John Ross, Cherokee)

H: 35 names

  • Hake (Dakota: fifth son)
  • Hakidonmuya (Hopi)
  • Halfmoon
  • Hanwi (Lakota: moon)
  • Hanwi Pretty on Top
  • Hapan (Dakota: second daughter)
  • Hapstin (Dakota: third daughter)
  • Harjo
  • Hashi (Choctaw: sun)
  • Hastiin (Navajo: man, elder)
  • Hastiin Ch'il Haajiní (Manuelito, Navajo)

H, continued

  • Hastiin Cuch
  • Hastiin Dághaa' (Barboncito, Navajo)
  • Hatchootucknee (Peter Pitchlynn, Choctaw)
  • Hehaka (Lakota: elk)
  • Hehaka Sapa (Black Elk, Oglala Lakota)
  • Hehewuti (Hopi)
  • Hemene Moxmox (Yellow Wolf, Nez Perce)
  • Henry Chee Dodge (Navajo)
  • Hepan (Dakota: second son)
  • Hepan Tippeconnic
  • Hepi (Dakota: third son)
  • Hinmatóowyalahtq'it (Chief Joseph, Nez Perce)

H, continued

  • Hokoleskwa (Cornstalk, Shawnee)
  • Holata Micco (Billy Bowlegs, Seminole)
  • Hollow Horn Bear
  • Honani (Hopi: badger)
  • Honani Swentzell
  • Hopokoekau (Glory of the Morning, Ho-Chunk)
  • Hosa (Little Raven, Arapaho)
  • Hoskininni (Navajo)
  • Humita (Hopi: shelled corn)
  • Hunting Horse
  • Hushi (Choctaw: bird)
  • Hushi Chupco

I: 10 names

  • Inola (Cherokee: black fox)
  • Iron Cloud
  • Iron Jacket
  • Iron Shell
  • Iron Tail
  • Isapo-Muxika (Crowfoot, Blackfoot)
  • Isatai'i (Comanche)
  • Issi (Choctaw: deer)
  • Itancan (Lakota: leader)
  • Ite Omagaju (Rain in the Face)

J: 1 name

  • Jigonsaseh (Mother of Nations, Iroquois)

K: 31 names

  • Kaax̱gal.aat (Elizabeth Peratrovich, Tlingit)
  • Kahamaxeveohtahe (Wooden Leg, Cheyenne)
  • Kahgegagahbowh (George Copway, Ojibwe)
  • Kai (Navajo: willow tree)
  • Kai Momaday
  • Kamiakin (Yakama)
  • Kanati (Cherokee: lucky hunter)
  • Kangi (Lakota: crow)
  • Kangi Yatapi (Crow King)
  • Kanuna (Cherokee: bullfrog)

K, continued

  • Kaquatosh
  • Kateri Tekakwitha (Mohawk)
  • Kechewaishke (Buffalo, Ojibwe)
  • Kele (Hopi)
  • Keokuk (Sauk)
  • Kicking Woman
  • Kills Straight
  • Killsnight
  • Kimimela (Lakota: butterfly)
  • Kimimela Fire Thunder

K, continued

  • Kintpuash (Captain Jack, Modoc)
  • Knifechief
  • Koi (Choctaw: panther)
  • Koi Harjo
  • Kokyangwuti (Hopi: spider woman)
  • Konwatsi'tsiaienni (Molly Brant, Mohawk)
  • Kuruk (Pawnee: bear)
  • Kuruk Echo Hawk
  • Kuwanyamtiwa (Hopi: beautiful badger going over the hill)
  • Kwahu (Hopi: eagle)
  • Kwahu Sekaquaptewa

L: 17 names

  • LaDuke
  • Lakota (Lakota: friend, ally)
  • Lame Deer
  • Lean Bear
  • Leopold Pokagon (Potawatomi)
  • Leschi (Nisqually)
  • Limberhand
  • Little Robe

L, continued

  • Little Wolf
  • Little Wound
  • Lomahongva (Hopi: beautiful clouds arising)
  • Lomasi (Hopi)
  • Longboat
  • Looking Glass
  • Looking Horse
  • Louis Tewanima (Hopi)
  • Lozen (Apache warrior woman)

M: 40 names

  • Ma'iingan (Ojibwe: wolf)
  • Maang (Ojibwe: loon)
  • Mahpiya (Lakota: sky, cloud)
  • Mahpiya Iyapato (Touch the Clouds)
  • Mahpiya Luta (Red Cloud, Oglala Lakota)
  • Mahpiya Tahmahkera
  • Maka (Lakota: earth)
  • Makataimeshekiakiak (Black Hawk, Sauk)
  • Makwa (Ojibwe: bear)
  • Makwa Goodsky
  • Mangas Coloradas (Apache)
  • Mansi (Hopi)
  • Manygoats

M, continued

  • Maracle
  • Mato (Lakota: bear)
  • Mato Brave Heart
  • Mato Wanahtaka (Kicking Bear)
  • Matoaka (Pocahontas, Powhatan)
  • McCurtain
  • Medicine Crow
  • Mékaisto (Red Crow, Blood)
  • Menawa (Muscogee Creek)
  • Metacomet (King Philip, Wampanoag)
  • Miantonomo (Narragansett)
  • Micanopy (Seminole)
  • Micco

M, continued

  • Migizi (Ojibwe: bald eagle)
  • Migizi Fineday
  • Mikinaak (Ojibwe: snapping turtle)
  • Minko (Choctaw: chief)
  • Minko Yahola
  • Minthorn
  • Miskwaadesi (Ojibwe: painted turtle)
  • Mni (Lakota: water)
  • Mo'ohtavetoo'o (Black Kettle, Cheyenne)
  • Momaday
  • Mosi (Navajo: cat)
  • Mountain Wolf Woman
  • Mushulatubbee (Choctaw)
  • Mutsimiuna (Buffalo Calf Road Woman, Cheyenne)

N: 30 names

  • Naalnish (Navajo: he works)
  • Naduah (Cynthia Ann Parker, Comanche)
  • Naiche (Chiricahua Apache)
  • Naiche Kaywaykla
  • Namingha
  • Nampeyo (Hopi-Tewa)
  • Nanabozho (Ojibwe: the trickster hero)
  • Nantan (Apache: spokesman, chief)
  • Nantan Goseyun
  • Nanyehi (Nancy Ward, Cherokee)
  • Naranjo
  • Narbona (Navajo)
  • Nascha (Navajo: owl)
  • Nashoba (Choctaw: wolf)
  • Nashoba Battiest

N, continued

  • Nastas (Navajo: curve like foxtail grass)
  • Natawista (Medicine Snake Woman, Blood)
  • Nayquonabe
  • Nigig (Ojibwe: otter)
  • Niibin (Ojibwe: summer)
  • Nita (Choctaw: bear)
  • Nita Micco
  • Niwot (Left Hand, Arapaho)
  • Niyol (Navajo: wind)
  • Niyol Manygoats
  • Nizhoni (Navajo: beautiful)
  • Nizhoni Yazzie
  • Nonhelema (Shawnee)
  • Not Afraid
  • Noya (Cherokee: sand)

O: 17 names

  • Ogimaa (Ojibwe: leader)
  • Ogimaakwe (Ojibwe: leader woman)
  • Ohanzee (Lakota: shadow, shade)
  • Ohanzee Attocknie
  • Ohiyesa (Charles Eastman, Dakota)
  • Oka Homma (Choctaw: red water)
  • Old Coyote
  • Old Person

O, continued

  • Ollokot (Nez Perce)
  • One Bull
  • Ooljee (Navajo: moon)
  • Opechancanough (Powhatan)
  • Opothleyahola (Muscogee Creek)
  • Osceola (Seminole)
  • Oshkosh (Menominee)
  • Ouray (Ute)
  • Ousamequin (Massasoit, Wampanoag)

P: 28 names

  • Pamuya (Hopi)
  • Parra-Wa-Samen (Ten Bears, Comanche)
  • Passaconaway (Pennacook)
  • Pathkiller
  • Pavati (Hopi: clear water)
  • Pavati Tsethlikai
  • Peshlakai
  • Peta (Lakota: fire)
  • Peta Nocona (Comanche)
  • Peta Running Crane
  • Petalesharo (Pawnee)
  • Pewewardy
  • Pi'tamaka (Running Eagle, Blackfeet)
  • Piominko (Chickasaw)

P, continued

  • Pizi (Gall)
  • Plenty Horses
  • Po'pay (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo)
  • Po-ve-ka (Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso)
  • Pocatello (Shoshone)
  • Polikwaptiwa (Hopi: butterfly sitting on a flower)
  • Polingaysi Qoyawayma (Hopi)
  • Poolaw
  • Powless
  • Pretty Eagle
  • Pretty on Top
  • Pretty Shield (Crow)
  • Ptesan Wi (White Buffalo Calf Woman)
  • Pushmataha (Choctaw)

Q: 2 names

  • Quanah Parker (Comanche)
  • Quandelacy

R: 8 names

  • Real Bird
  • Red Leaf
  • Red Owl
  • Red Shirt
  • Red Tomahawk
  • Rides at the Door
  • Running Antelope
  • Running Crane

S: 45 names

  • Sacagawea (Lemhi Shoshone)
  • Sagoyewatha (Red Jacket, Seneca)
  • Salali (Cherokee: squirrel)
  • Salali Standingdeer
  • Saluskin
  • Sani (Navajo: the old one)
  • Sani Halfmoon
  • Sassacus (Pequot)
  • Satank (Sitting Bear, Kiowa)
  • Satanta (White Bear, Kiowa)
  • Saunooke
  • Sekaquaptewa
  • Sequoyah (Cherokee)
  • Shabbona (Potawatomi)
  • Shakopee (Dakota)

S, continued

  • Shenandoah
  • Shideezhi (Navajo: my younger sister)
  • Shilah (Navajo: brother)
  • Shilah Tsosie
  • Shingwauk (Ojibwe)
  • Si Tanka (Big Foot)
  • Si'ahl (Chief Seattle, Duwamish)
  • Sihu (Hopi: flower)
  • Sihu Bowannie
  • Sikyatavo (Hopi: yellow rabbit)
  • Silverheels
  • Sinte Gleska (Spotted Tail, Brulé Lakota)
  • Sits in the Middle of the Land
  • Sixkiller
  • Smohalla (Wanapum)

S, continued

  • Sohappy
  • Soyala (Hopi: winter solstice)
  • Spoonhunter
  • Spring Frog
  • Standing Bear (Ponca)
  • Standing Elk
  • Standingdeer
  • Stands in Timber
  • Still Smoking
  • Stone Calf
  • Sungila (Lakota: fox)
  • Sungila Spoonhunter
  • Sungmanitu (Lakota: coyote)
  • Sunka Bloka (He Dog)
  • Swift Bear

T: 55 names

  • Tadodaho (Onondaga)
  • Tafoya
  • Tahca (Lakota: deer)
  • Tahmahkera
  • Tailfeathers
  • Talasi (Hopi)
  • Talasi Honanie
  • Tall Bull
  • Tallsalt
  • Tantaquidgeon
  • Taoyateduta (Little Crow, Dakota)
  • Tashina (Lakota: robe, blanket)
  • Tashina Brings Plenty

T, continued

  • Tasina Mani (Moving Robe Woman)
  • Tasunke Kokipapi (Young Man Afraid of His Horses)
  • Tasunke Witko (Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota)
  • Tatanka (Lakota: buffalo bull)
  • Tatanka Iyotake (Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota)
  • Tatanka Knifechief
  • Tate (Lakota: wind)
  • Tavibo (Paiute)
  • Tawa (Hopi: sun)
  • Tayanita (Cherokee: young beaver)
  • Taza Daklugie
  • Tecumseh (Shawnee)
  • Tene-angopte (Kicking Bird, Kiowa)
  • Tenskwatawa (The Prophet, Shawnee)

T, continued

  • Tessay
  • Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant, Mohawk)
  • Thocmetony (Sarah Winnemucca, Paiute)
  • Tippeconnic
  • Tishomingo (Chickasaw)
  • Tisquantum (Squanto, Patuxet)
  • Tiva (Hopi: dance)
  • Tiva Tafoya
  • Tocho (Hopi: mountain lion)
  • Todacheene
  • Tohbi (Choctaw: white)
  • Tonihka
  • Toohoolhoolzote (Nez Perce)
  • Tsatoke

T, continued

  • Tse Tsan (Pablita Velarde, Santa Clara)
  • Tsethlikai
  • Tsinajinnie
  • Tsiyu Gansini (Dragging Canoe, Cherokee)
  • Tsoodle
  • Tsosie
  • Tsula (Cherokee: fox)
  • Tushka (Choctaw: warrior)
  • Tushka Tonihka
  • Tuwa (Hopi: earth)
  • Tuwa Tewanima
  • Two Bulls
  • Two Moons
  • Two Strike

U: 3 names

  • Uncas (Mohegan)
  • Unega (Cherokee: white)
  • Usdi (Cherokee: little one)

V: 3 names

  • Vanderhoop
  • Victorio (Warm Springs Apache)
  • Vóóhéhéve (Morning Star, Cheyenne)

W: 44 names

  • Wa-Tho-Huk (Jim Thorpe, Sac and Fox)
  • Waabooz (Ojibwe: rabbit)
  • Waagosh (Ojibwe: fox)
  • Waaseyaa (Ojibwe: it is bright, dawn)
  • Wabasha (Dakota)
  • Wachiwi (Dakota: dancer)
  • Wahunsenacawh (Chief Powhatan)
  • Wakinyan (Lakota: thunder being)
  • Walkingstick
  • Wambli Gleska (Lakota: spotted eagle)
  • Wamsutta (Wampanoag)
  • Wanbli (Lakota: eagle)
  • Wanbli Red Owl
  • Wanig Suchka (Red Bird, Ho-Chunk)

W, continued

  • Wanske (Dakota: fourth daughter)
  • Wapato
  • Washakie (Shoshone)
  • Wasicu Tasunke (American Horse)
  • Waubojeeg (White Fisher, Ojibwe)
  • Waukau
  • Waukon Decorah (Ho-Chunk)
  • Waya (Cherokee: wolf)
  • Waya Walkingstick
  • Weetamoo (Pocasset Wampanoag)
  • Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket, Shawnee)
  • White Antelope
  • White Bird
  • White Bull
  • White Path

W, continued

  • White Plume
  • Wi (Lakota: sun)
  • Wicahpi (Lakota: star)
  • Wicahpi Killsnight
  • Wicapi Wakan (Lakota: holy star)
  • Wihake (Dakota: fifth daughter)
  • Winnemucca (Paiute)
  • Winona (Dakota: first-born daughter)
  • Winona Looking Horse
  • Wiyaka (Lakota: feather)
  • Wohali (Cherokee: eagle)
  • Wohali Saunooke
  • Woodenlegs
  • Woqini (Roman Nose, Cheyenne)
  • Wovoka (Jack Wilson, Paiute)

Y: 10 names

  • Yahola
  • Yamka (Hopi)
  • Yas (Navajo: snow)
  • Yas Yallup
  • Yazhi (Navajo: little one)
  • Yazzie
  • Yellow Thunder
  • Yellow Wolf
  • Yellowtail
  • Yona (Cherokee: bear)

Z: 5 names

  • Ziigwan (Ojibwe: spring)
  • Zintkala Nuni (Lost Bird)
  • Zitkala (Lakota: bird)
  • Zitkala-Sa (Red Bird, Yankton Dakota)
  • Zotigh