Navajo Name Generator

Diné names, words, and Navajo Nation surnames

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Draw from Navajo (Diné) naming: Diné Bizaad words used as given names like Nizhoni and Shandiin, historical leaders such as Manuelito and Barboncito, and Navajo Nation surnames like Begay, Yazzie, Tsosie and Manygoats. Built for historical fiction and respectful character creation, and as a starting point for family research.

About Navajo names

Navajo names come from Diné Bizaad, an Athabaskan language spoken by well over 100,000 people across the Navajo Nation in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Historically a Diné person had a sacred name used only in ceremony, while everyday life ran on descriptive nicknames and kinship terms. That is why 19th-century leaders are known by descriptions: Manuelito was Hastiin Ch'il Haajiní (Man of the Black Weeds), Barboncito was Hastiin Dághaa' (Man with Whiskers), and Henry Chee Dodge was Hastiin Adiits'a'ii (Mr. Interpreter).

Modern Navajo surnames were mostly assigned by census takers, boarding schools and trading posts between the 1880s and 1930s, and many are frozen Navajo words or phrases: Begay (biyeʼ, his son), Yazzie (yázhí, little one), Tsosie (tsʼósí, slender), Nez (nééz, tall), Tso (tsoh, big), Benally (binálí, his paternal grandchild), Hosteen and Hastiin (mister). Others are translations such as Manygoats, Yellowhair, Goldtooth, Smallcanyon and Whitehorse, or clan and place references like Todacheene and Tsinnijinnie. First names on the reservation run from older English and Spanish names to Diné words now used as given names, especially for girls: Nizhoni (beautiful), Shandiin (sunlight), Doli (bluebird), Hozhoni (walks in beauty).

The list layers historical figures, Diné words used as names with meanings, standalone surnames, and realistic first-plus-surname pairings across generations. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Navajo speakers. If you need a real Navajo name, ask a Navajo speaker or contact a language program run by the Navajo Nation.

How to choose Navajo names

  • Match the layer to the era: descriptive Diné names and Spanish nicknames suit 1800s settings, while first name plus Begay, Yazzie or Tsosie fits anything from the 1900s to today.
  • Diné-word given names like Nizhoni and Shandiin are real and common, but keep sacred terms (Changing Woman, Talking God, the Holy People) out of character names.
  • Pronunciation counts: Begay is roughly 'buh-GAY', Tsosie 'SO-see', Yazzie 'YAH-zee', Benally 'buh-NAL-lee'. Say the full name aloud to check it flows.
  • Avoid pan-Indian clichés such as 'Running Wolf' or 'Little Feather'; they are not Navajo and will read as wrong to Diné readers.
  • For family research, Navajo census rolls from 1885 onward and Bureau of Indian Affairs school records list thousands of real names and their English renderings.

Frequently asked questions

How do Navajo names work?

Historically a Diné child received a sacred name, often tied to the Kinaaldá or other ceremonies, that was rarely spoken. Day to day, people used kinship terms (shimá, my mother; shínaaí, my older brother) and descriptive nicknames, which is why historical leaders are recorded under several names.

What are the most common Navajo last names?

Begay and Yazzie are by far the most common, followed by Benally, Tsosie, Nez, Tso, Chee, Etsitty, Bitsui and Begaye. Translated names like Manygoats, Yellowhair, Goldtooth and Whitehorse are also distinctively Navajo.

What do popular Navajo girl and boy names mean?

Nizhoni means beautiful, Shandiin means sunlight or sunbeam, Doli is bluebird, Hozhoni refers to walking in beauty and balance, Ashkii means boy, Niyol means wind, and Yazhi means little one. Most are Diné words rather than older personal names, but they are widely used today. The names and meanings on this page have not been checked by Navajo speakers. If you need a real Navajo name, ask a Navajo speaker or contact a language program run by the Navajo Nation.

Is it respectful to use Navajo names for fictional characters?

Yes, if handled with care: use real names accurately, give the character a specific Diné background and clan context rather than a generic 'Native' one, avoid ceremonial and sacred vocabulary, and read Diné authors such as Luci Tapahonso or Sherwin Bitsui for a feel of the culture.

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All 500 Navajo 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: 41 names

  • Abigail Beyal
  • Ada Gorman
  • Adrian Slowman
  • Ahiga (he fights)
  • Ahiga Dayish
  • Ahiga Denetclaw
  • Ahiga Silversmith
  • Ahiga Yellowhair
  • Ajei (my heart)
  • Ajei Todacheene
  • Albert Lapahie
  • Alice Goldtooth
  • Alicia Blackhorse
  • Alonzo Dehiya
  • Alvin Notah
  • Alyssa Denetsosie
  • Amber Nakai
  • Andrew Ahasteen
  • Anna Peshlakai
  • Annie Dodge Wauneka
  • Anthony Tsoh
  • Antonio Platero
  • Arlen Denetclaw
  • Arlene Tahe
  • Armijo
  • Arnold Bitsilly
  • Arviso
  • Ashike
  • Ashkii (boy)
  • Ashkii Blackgoat
  • Ashkii Deschene
  • Ashkii Nez
  • Ashkii Tsosie
  • Ashley Willeto
  • At'eed (girl)
  • Atsa (eagle)
  • Atsa Manygoats
  • Atsa Nez
  • Atsidi Sani (Old Smith)
  • Attakai
  • Autumn Jishie

B: 34 names

  • Bahe
  • Bahe Yazzie
  • Barboncito (Hastiin Daghaa')
  • Becenti
  • Bedonie
  • Beesh Ligaii Atsidii (Slender Maker of Silver)
  • Begay
  • Begaye
  • Begody
  • Bekis
  • Benallie
  • Benally
  • Benny Blackgoat
  • Bernice Roanhorse
  • Bessie Haskie
  • Beyal
  • Biakeddy
  • Bianca Klah
  • Bigman
  • Bilii' Lizhinii (Black Horse)
  • Billy Bitsui
  • Bitsie
  • Bitsinnie
  • Bitsoi
  • Bitsui
  • Blackgoat
  • Blackhorse
  • Bluehouse
  • Brandi Manygoats
  • Brandon Littleben
  • Brent Cayaditto
  • Brianna Wauneka
  • Brittany Chischilly
  • Bryce Notah

C: 31 names

  • Cabra Negra
  • Calvin Bitsinnie
  • Cameron Teller
  • Carl Gorman (Kin-Ya-Onny-Beyeh)
  • Carolyn Natonabah
  • Cayetano
  • Cecelia Tapahonso
  • Chantel Curley
  • Charley
  • Charley Nez
  • Charmaine Watchman
  • Chee
  • Chee Yazzie
  • Chelsea Goodluck
  • Chester Hatathlie
  • Chester Nez
  • Chischillie
  • Chischilly
  • Ciara Lameman
  • Clah
  • Claw
  • Clifford Jishie
  • Cly
  • Colleen Sombrero
  • Colton Sombrero
  • Cordell Tsosie
  • Corey Bia
  • Crystal Begaye
  • Curley
  • Curtis Cayaditto
  • Cyrus Begaye

D: 41 names

  • Daghaa' Sik'aad (Spread Out Beard)
  • Dahi (hummingbird)
  • Dahi Nakai
  • Dahi Platero
  • Dahi Yazzie
  • Dahozy
  • Daisy Wauneka
  • Dan Tsinnijinnie
  • Daniel Singer
  • Danielle Gorman
  • Darian Zah
  • Darlene Tso
  • Darnell Cly
  • Darrell Clah
  • Dayish
  • Dehiya
  • Delgadito
  • Delores Yellowhair
  • Delvin Whitehair
  • Denetclaw
  • Denetsosie
  • Dennison Cly
  • Derrick Tapaha
  • Deschene
  • Deshawn Tsosie
  • Desmond Werito
  • Destiny Yabeny
  • Deswood
  • Dezba (goes to war)
  • Dezba Ahasteen
  • Dezba Begaye
  • Dezba Littleben
  • Dineyazhe
  • Doli (bluebird)
  • Doli Laughter
  • Doli Tsosie
  • Dominique Arviso
  • Doris Bigman
  • Dustin Hatathlie
  • Dwayne Keeswood
  • Dwight Zahne

E: 19 names

  • Edison Silversmith
  • Edna Kescoli
  • Elijah Clah
  • Ella Slim
  • Elmer Naswood
  • Elouise Tsosie
  • Emerson Bitsui
  • Emma Blueeyes
  • Erica Cowboy
  • Ernest Dodge
  • Esther Claw
  • Etcitty
  • Ethan Natonabah
  • Etsitty
  • Etta Manygoats
  • Eugene Nofchissey
  • Eunice Singer
  • Eva Deswood
  • Evelyn Gorman

F: 7 names

  • Felix Beyal
  • Fernando Bitsie
  • Flora Slim
  • Francine Begay
  • Frank Chee
  • Franklin Tapaha
  • Fred Begay

G: 17 names

  • Gaagii (raven)
  • Gaagii Cayaditto
  • Gaagii Chischilly
  • Gaagii Smallcanyon
  • Ganado Mucho (Totsohnii Hastiin)
  • Garnenez
  • Garrett Ahasteen
  • Geraldine Tso
  • Gilbert Jumbo
  • Gishie
  • Glenda Henio
  • Goldtooth
  • Goodluck
  • Grace Platero
  • Graham Kescoli
  • Greyeyes
  • Gus Tsinnie

H: 27 names

  • Hank Willie
  • Harold Salt
  • Harriet Tsosie
  • Harrison Chee
  • Haseya (she rises)
  • Haseya Bia
  • Haseya Bitsui
  • Haseya Hatathlie
  • Haseya Tsinajinnie
  • Haseya Willie
  • Haseya Zah
  • Hashke (fierce one)
  • Hashke Notah
  • Haskie
  • Hastiin Tsoh (Big Man)
  • Hatathlie
  • Henio
  • Henry Chee Dodge (Hastiin Adiits'a'ii)
  • Herbert Deschene
  • Herrero Delgadito
  • Hoskininni (Hashkeneinii)
  • Hosteen
  • Hosteen Klah
  • Howard Watchman
  • Hozhoni (walks in beauty)
  • Hozhoni Benally
  • Hozhoni Tso

I: 5 names

  • Ida Dodge
  • Irene Etsitty
  • Irene Whiterock
  • Irma Willeto
  • Isaiah Ashike

J: 21 names

  • Jacob C. Morgan
  • Janice Slowman
  • Jarvis Blackgoat
  • Jasmine Slim
  • Javier Wero
  • Jay Bedonie
  • Jefferson Bahe
  • Jeremiah Begody
  • Jerome Yellowhair
  • Jerrold Bitsoi
  • Jessica Bitsoi
  • Jim Yazzie
  • Jishie
  • Joe
  • Joe Begay
  • John Tsosie
  • Johnson Smallcanyon
  • Jolene Tsinnie
  • Jordan Dineyazhe
  • Juanita Nabahe
  • Julius Biakeddy

K: 25 names

  • K'aalogii (butterfly)
  • Kai (willow)
  • Kai Benally
  • Kai Gishie
  • Kai Jumbo
  • Kai Whitehair
  • Kanuho
  • Katherine Whitehorse
  • Kayla Nez
  • Kee Benally
  • Kee Manuelito
  • Keeswood
  • Kellywood
  • Kelsey Tallsalt
  • Kendra Hoskie
  • Kendrick Bluehouse
  • Kenneth Benally
  • Kescoli
  • Keyonnie
  • Kiana Zahne
  • Kiilchii (Red Boy)
  • Kinlicheenie
  • Klah
  • Krista Naswood
  • Kyle Ashike

L: 26 names

  • Lacey Keeswood
  • Lacy Kellywood
  • Lapahie
  • Larry Benallie
  • Laughter
  • Laverne Tohe
  • Leah Bitsinnie
  • Leander Bitsilly
  • Lee Etsitty
  • Lena Chischilly
  • Lenora Benally
  • Leo Yanito
  • Leonard Begay
  • Lester Littleben
  • Lewis Chischillie
  • Lillian Zah
  • Lindsey Bigman
  • Littleben
  • Lloyd Tulley
  • Lorenzo Bitsui
  • Loretta Nakai
  • Lorraine Begaye
  • Louise Bitsoi
  • Lucinda Kinlicheenie
  • Lucy Bahe
  • Lyle Manygoats

M: 26 names

  • Mabel Silversmith
  • Malcolm Tohe
  • Manuelito (Hastiin Ch'il Haajini)
  • Manygoats
  • Marcella Tapaha
  • Marcus Jumbo
  • Mariah Redhouse
  • Mariano
  • Marie Blackhorse
  • Marisa Largo
  • Marjorie Keyonnie
  • Marlena Lapahie
  • Marlene Yazzie
  • Marlon Tsosie
  • Marvin Denetclaw
  • Mary Haskie
  • Maxine Dehiya
  • Melissa Becenti
  • Melvin Hoskie
  • Michaela Chischillie
  • Mikayla Yoe
  • Mike Begaye
  • Mildred Hosteen
  • Minnie Largo
  • Monique Tahe
  • Myron Tso

N: 29 names

  • Naabaahii (warrior)
  • Naabaahii Tapaha
  • Nabahe
  • Nakai
  • Narbona
  • Naswood
  • Natasha Whitehorse
  • Nathan Greyeyes
  • Nathaniel Silversmith
  • Ned Yellowhair
  • Nellie Whitehorse
  • Nelson Yazzie
  • Nez
  • Nez Bitsui
  • Nilch'i (air, spirit)
  • Niltsa (rain)
  • Niyol (wind)
  • Niyol Bitsui
  • Niyol Etsitty
  • Niyol Teller
  • Nizhoni (beautiful)
  • Nizhoni Ashike
  • Nizhoni Begay
  • Nizhoni Bluehouse
  • Nizhoni Whiterock
  • Nofchissey
  • Nolan Billie
  • Norman Goodluck
  • Notah

O: 4 names

  • Ooljee' (moon)
  • Ora Hatathlie
  • Orion Keyonnie
  • Orlando Tsinnijinnie

P: 10 names

  • Patrick Dayish
  • Pauline Tsinnie
  • Pearl Yazzie
  • Peshlakai
  • Pete Todacheene
  • Peterson Zah
  • Phyllis Biakeddy
  • Platero
  • Preston Garnenez
  • Priscilla Redhouse

Q: 1 name

  • Quentin Peshlakai

R: 26 names

  • R. C. Gorman
  • Ramon Etsitty
  • Ramona Tsingine
  • Raquel Tapahonso
  • Ray Chischilly
  • Raylene Begay
  • Raymond Benally
  • Redhouse
  • Rena Greyeyes
  • Renee Benallie
  • Rex Kellywood
  • Rita Laughter
  • Rochelle Goldtooth
  • Roderick Dineyazhe
  • Rodney Yellowman
  • Roland Bedonie
  • Ronald Tsinajinnie
  • Rosalind Wero
  • Roselyn Denetsosie
  • Rosemary Chee
  • Rosita Attakai
  • Roy Manuelito
  • Ruby Shorty
  • Russell Chee
  • Ruth Deschene
  • Ryan Dayish

S: 30 names

  • Sadie Curley
  • Sam Ahkeah
  • Sam Tso
  • Sampson Klah
  • Sani Tsinnie
  • Sarah Becenti
  • Savannah Salt
  • Secody
  • Seth Todacheene
  • Shandiin (sunlight)
  • Shandiin Bahe
  • Shandiin Bitsie
  • Shandiin Manygoats
  • Shandiin Nez
  • Shandiin Yazzie
  • Shane Bitsui
  • Shanice Attakai
  • Shaniece Tsoh
  • Shawna Benally
  • Shayla Tsingine
  • Sheena Etsitty
  • Shelby Claw
  • Shirley Tsinnijinnie
  • Sierra Etcitty
  • Silversmith
  • Slowman
  • Smallcanyon
  • So' (star)
  • Stella Arviso
  • Stephanie Atcitty

T: 36 names

  • Tahe
  • Tamara Tsinnijinnie
  • Tanisha Begay
  • Tanner Dahozy
  • Tapaha
  • Tapahonso
  • Tara Yanito
  • Teresa Yellowman
  • Terrance Bahe
  • Terrell Henio
  • Thelma Chee
  • Tiffany Tso
  • Todacheene
  • Tohe
  • Tom Benally
  • Tony Tapaha
  • Travis Bedonie
  • Trent Laughter
  • Trevor Deschene
  • Tristan Denetclaw
  • Tsidii (bird)
  • Tsidii Begay
  • Tsidii Yellowman
  • Tsinajinnie
  • Tsingine
  • Tsinnie
  • Tso
  • Tso Tsosie
  • Tsoh
  • Tsosie
  • Tulley
  • Tully Yellowman
  • Tyler Bitsie
  • Tyra Nez
  • Tyrell Yazzie
  • Tyson Smallcanyon

V: 9 names

  • Valerie Hosteen
  • Vanessa Nofchissey
  • Vangie Goldtooth
  • Verna Begay
  • Vernon Peshlakai
  • Veronica Kanuho
  • Victor Tallsalt
  • Viola Smallcanyon
  • Virginia Largo

W: 14 names

  • Wallace Etcitty
  • Warren Zonnie
  • Werito
  • Wero
  • Wesley Whiterock
  • Whitehorse
  • Whiterock
  • Whitney Kinlicheenie
  • Wilbert Nez
  • Willeto
  • Willie
  • Willie Cowboy
  • Wilson Nez
  • Woody Bluehouse

Y: 16 names

  • Yabeny
  • Yanaba (she meets the enemy)
  • Yanaba Chee
  • Yanaba Dodge
  • Yanaba Singer
  • Yanito
  • Yazhi (little one)
  • Yazhi Billie
  • Yazhi Chee
  • Yazhi Manuelito
  • Yazzie
  • Yazzie Nakai
  • Yellowhorse
  • Yellowman
  • Yoe
  • Yvonne Dahozy

Z: 5 names

  • Zachary Nabahe
  • Zah
  • Zahne
  • Zarcillos Largos
  • Zonnie