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A name that I’ve always liked has been Dakota (mostly on a girl, but nice on boys too). I first heard it from the actress Dakota Fanning, and then on Dakota Johnson. I live in U.K so of course the name isn’t used much at all here, but I always liked it for the sound and meaning. I’d searched the name on another name site and underneath it, it said ‘ Using Native names for non-native people is considered cultural appropriation, and offensive to many’.

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As far as I’m aware Fanning and Johnson don’t have any sort of Native American background, but I’m interested to hear what your opinions that a non-native person using it is cultural appropriation’ are?

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Other names which are of Native American and Polynesian desent (with some being quite popular are):

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Alabama
Apache
Cherokee
Cheyenne
Dakota
Hopi
Lakota
Miami
Mohave
Mohawk
Navajo
Sioux
Shosone
Shawnee
Yuma
Zuni

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Hana
Iolani
Leilani
Lilo
Kai
Kaia
Kalani
Kane
Keanu
Koa
Malia
Naia
Nakoa
Noelani
and yes, even Moana