These names are or were used by the various indigenous peoples who inhabit North and South America.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ArnatukfGreenlandic, Inuit Mythology The name is from the mythological concept of soul or name wandering: arnattartoq: arnattoq/arnappoq meaning "seeks a mother".
ArpârtemGreenlandic Greenlandic name meaning "messenger". From Greenlandic arpappoq meaning "runs" (arpaartoq meaning "runs from house to house to give a message").
ArrútaĸmGreenlandic From Greenlandic arrusaq meaning "small pelagic marine gastropod" (Latin name: "clione limicina") which is gelatinous and transparent, and shaped like little angels, having flapping "wings", hence their name in English: "sea angels".... [more]
AsdzafNavajo From Navajo asdzą́ą́ "woman" (especially one about 50 years of age or older). This name may be given to a sickly newborn in the hopes of her surviving to become a mature woman.
Atototlm & fNahuatl Means "water bird" in Nahuatl, from atl "water" and tototl "bird". Can refer to several specific kinds of birds, including pelicans, herons, wild geese, and other water-dwelling birds.
AtotoztlifNahuatl, Aztec Means "water parrot", deriving from the Nahuatl elements atl ("water, a body of water") and toztli ("yellow parrot"). Name borne by an Aztec queen that possibly ruled as tlatoani (ruler of a city-state) in her own right.
AtsafGreenlandic From Greenlandic atsa "aunt, father's sister".
AttakullakullamCherokee Means "leaning wood" in Cherokee, from *ada meaning "wood", and *gulkalu, a verb that implies something long, leaning against some other object.
AtzifNahuatl (?), Mexican (Rare) Allegedly derived from a Nahuatl word meaning "rain". This name was used for a character in the 2010 Mexican animated film Guardians of the Lost Code (Spanish: Brijes 3D).
AtzimbafPurépecha Meaning uncertain. It was used for the title character in Ricardo Castro's historical opera Atzimba (1900), about the relationship between a Purépecha princess and the Spanish captain Villadiego.
AviaqfGreenlandic Greenlandic feminine (formerly unisex) name meaning "family member, relative", derived from the stem avik "part (of the family)" which is itself composed of aak "blood" and the suffix vik "real".... [more]
AviomGreenlandic Greenlandic name related to aviorpoq "sound", "ring", "twitter", "buzzing" (in the ears), "whistle". The notion that buzzing in the ears (aviutitsineq or avequllattaaneq) as a plea for food from a deceased is known thoughout most of Greenland... [more]
AwonawilonamMexican, Indigenous American The dual creator deity of the Pueblo Zuni, Awonawilona is said to have existed before all else. From the nebulae of mist, he is full of power and growth. He created the sun, which fecundated the primeval sea, and formed a green scum over it... [more]
AxacayacatlmNahuatl Means "face of water" or "water mask" in Nahuatl, from atl "water" and xayacatl "face, mask". This is also the name of a kind of aquatic beetle, whose eggs are considered a delicacy.
Axicyotlm & fNahuatl Probably from Nahuatl axicyo, "river where the water forms whirlpools".
AxihuitlmNahuatl Refers to a kind of tree, or an herb with medicinal uses. Derived from Nahuatl atl "water" and xihuitl "grass, herbs; greenish things".
Axochiatlm & fNahuatl Means "water flower" in Nahuatl, referring to a plant used medicinally. It may have specifically referred to water lilies, honeysuckle, or the common evening primrose.
AxolinmNahuatl Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl aholin "sesame seed" or axolotl "salamander".
Ayaf & mCherokee Aya in the Cherokee language is a term for one's self. Usually used as "I" or "Me". If a family member uses this for someone it would me that they see a bit of themself in that person and it would be meant as a compliment.It is also a type of fern that is known as a symbol of endurance and resourcefulness... [more]
AyacquicahuamNahuatl Possibly means "nobody leaves him", from Nahuatl ayac "no one, nobody", qui "him, her, they", and cahua "to leave, abandon, relinquish".
AyauhcihuatlfNahuatl, Aztec Etymology uncertain, possibly deriving in part from the Classical Nahuatl elements ayahuitl ("fog") and cihuatl ("woman, wife"). Name borne by an Empress of Tenochtitlan (fl. 1400).
AyaxcanmNahuatl Means "with difficulty, slowly" in Nahuatl.
AycuitonfNahuatl Meaning uncertain, probably a diminutive form of another name, using -ton.
AzayamankawinfSioux Means "berry picker". Name borne by a Mdewakanton Dakota woman, known for running a ferry service in St Paul Minnesota, and for sitting for many photographic portraits.
Azcacoatlm & fNahuatl Meaning uncertain, possibly a combination of Nahuatl azcatl "ant" and coatl "snake".
AzcaxochitlfNahuatl Means "ant-flower", from Nahuatl azcatl "ant" and xōchitl "flower". This was the name of an Aztec noblewoman.
AztamitlmNahuatl Derived from Nahuatl aztatl "heron, snowy egret" and mitl "arrow".
AztatlmNahuatl Means "heron, snowy egret" in Nahuatl.
AztatzontlimNahuatl A kind of ornament made of feathers, usually a headdress, from Nahuatl aztatl "snowy egret" and tzontli "hair, crest, head; crown, headdress".
Barinm & fShipibo-Conibo From the Shipibo bari meaning "sun" and the genitive suffix -n.
BartirafTupi, Brazilian Possibly an archaic variant of Potira. Bartira was the name of the daughter of the chief Tibiriçá, an indigenous leader of great importance for the formation of the city of São Paulo... [more]
BashukatmAguaruna From the Awajún bashu meaning "wild turkey, curassow".
Bawanm & fShipibo-Conibo From the Shipibo bawa meaning "parrot" and the genitive suffix -n.
BiidaabanfOjibwe Loosely translated from Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language) it is a name meaning "daybreak," "the approach of dawn," "dawn is coming." ... [more]
BittifSwedish (Rare), Greenlandic Variant form of Bitte or from the Swedish word bitti (short form of bittida) meaning "early" and Greenlandic younger spelling of Bíte.
BolattafGreenlandic Greenlandic form of Bolette. A known bearer of this name is Bolatta Silis-Høegh (1981-), a Greenlandic artist who resides in Denmark.
CaamanhafTupi, New World Mythology Derived from caamania meaning “forest mother” in the Classical Tupi and Nheengatu languages.
CacahuehuemNahuatl Possibly means "old frog", from Nahuatl caca "frog, toad" and huehue "elder, old man".
CacamamNahuatl Means "small ear of corn" in Nahuatl.
CacamacihuatlfNahuatl, Aztec Etymology uncertain, possibly from the Classical Nahuatl elements cacamatl "small corncobs, small ears of corn" and cihuatl "woman, wife". Name borne by a queen of Tenochtitlan.
CacamatzinmNahuatl Derived from Nahuatl cacamatl "small ear of corn, offshoot of larger ear of maize" and -tzin, a diminutive or reverential suffix. This was the name of a king of Texcoco.
CaçapavafTupi Derived from Tupi ka'a asapaba meaning "stroll through the forest".
Çacaxochitlm & fNahuatl The name of a medicinal plant with yellow flowers, also called coçatli ("weasel"). Possibly derived from zacatl "grass, hay, straw" and xochitl "flower".
CachuamNahuatl Means "shoe owner, one who wears sandals" in Nahuatl, from cactli "shoe, sandal" and the possessive suffix -hua.
CaguaxmTaíno (Archaic) Name of the cacique of the Turabo region of Puerto Rico at the time of the arrival of Columbus.
CahualmNahuatl From Nahuatl cahualli "one who is left behind; widow, widower".
CahualixfNahuatl Probably derived from cahualli "someone left behind; a widow, widower".
CahualocmNahuatl Means "abandoned one, one who was left behind" in Nahuatl.
CahuanmNahuatl Possibly from Nahuatl cahuani "to catch fire", figuratively "to shine" or "to make a name, leave a memory".
CaianmQuechua Means "Down", "Son of the Sun". It can also have a meaning of "the tomorrow that will always come" - for the ancient Quechua had a circular-time notion.
CanowicaktemSioux Means "good hunter of the forest", from Lakota čhúŋwaŋča "forest", waókA "good hunter", and kté "to kill".
CanzaedafIndigenous American (Rare) Originally spelled "Cansaeda" The meaning of this name is unknown, though thought to mean "huntress." Originally a family name carried down through both Creek and Cherokee Indigiounous American lines throughout North Carolina and Tennessee.
CaonabomTaíno Name of the king, cacique of Maguana a kingdom on the island of Hispaniola. He was married to Anacaona and was resisted Spanish rule.
ÇaoyamNahuatl Possibly means "he just left" in Nahuatl.
CapanillimNahuatl, Aztec and Toltec Mythology Means "one who makes noise", from Nahuatl capani "to make a cracking or slapping noise". This was an epithet of Xolotl, possibly associated with sleep or dreams.
CapolihuizmNahuatl Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl capolin "cherry-like tree" and ihuitztli "thorn, spine".
CarabímCharrúa Carabí was a tribe leader from Argentina whom put up resistance against the Spaniards for 15 years both in Santa Fé and Buenos Aires. He was the most respected tribe leader of his time.
Caxochitlm & fNahuatl Possibly a variant of acaxochitl, "reed flower", an aquatic plant with red or white flowers. Alternately, it may mean "he/she is a flower", deriving from Nahuatl ca "is, to be" and xochitl "flower".
Ce AtlmNahuatl Means "one water" in Nahuatl, a calendrical name.
CecetlmNahuatl Meaning uncertain, possibly related to Nahuatl cecen "each one; one out of one" or cetl "ice, frost".
CecihuatlfNahuatl Means "one woman" in Nahuatl, from ce "one" and cihuatl "woman".
CecohuatlmNahuatl Means "one snake" in Nahuatl, a calendrical name.
CecuauhmNahuatl Means "one eagle" in Nahuatl, a calendrical name.
CecuiztlimNahuatl Means "cold, to be cold" or "high mountain place" in Nahuatl.
CelilocmNahuatl Possibly means "communion", derived from Nahuatl celia "to receive, to accept (something)".
CentehuafNahuatl Possibly means "the only one, unique", derived from Nahuatl centetl "one, a single one".
Centeotlf & mAztec and Toltec Mythology, Nahuatl Derived from Nahuatl centli "dried ears of corn, dried maize on the cob" and teotl "deity, god; divine force". This was the name of an Aztec maize deity, depicted as both male and female; they may have been an aspect of Chicomecōātl.
ChahuacuemNahuatl Possibly derived from Nahuatl chahuatl "concubine" and cueitl "skirt".
ChahuatlatoamNahuatl Possibly derived from Nahuatl chahuatl "concubine" or chahuati "to be jealous, envious, suspicious", combined with tlatoa "to speak; to issue commands".
ChakanafAymara Means "Southern cross", an Andean symbol, in Aymara.
ChalchiuhmNahuatl Derived from Nahuatl chalchihuitl "precious green or blue stone", usually referring to jade, turquoise, emerald, or greenstone. This was often used metaphorically to refer to newborns and small children.
ChalchiuhcoatlmNahuatl Means "jade snake" or "precious stone serpent" in Nahuatl, from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and cōātl "snake, serpent".
ChalchiuhcozcatlfNahuatl Means "green stone necklace, jade necklace" in Nahuatl, derived from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and cozcatl "necklace".
ChalchiuhnenetlfNahuatl Derived from Nahuatl chalchihuitl "precious green or blue stone" and nenetl "doll, idol; female genitals".
ChalchiuhtepehuamNahuatl Possibly means "he throws jade down" in Nahuatl, from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and tepehua "to scatter or throw something onto the ground"... [more]
ChalchiuhtlanetzinmNahuatl Means "bright precious stone" in Nahuatl, from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and tlanextli "light, radiance", combined with the diminutive or reverential suffix -tzin... [more]
ChalchiuhtototlmNahuatl Means "jade bird" or "turquoise bird" in Nahuatl, referring to a brightly coloured species of songbird known as the red-legged honeycreeper. Ultimately derived from chālchiuhtli "precious green or blue stone" and tototl "bird".
Chamanim & fNahuatl Means "sapling" or "to sprout" in Nahuatl.
ChamolmNahuatl Means "scarlet parrot feather" in Nahuatl.
ChamolmanimNahuatl Means "to be like a red parrot" or "in the manner of red parrot feathers", from Nahuatl chamolli "red parrot feather" and -mani "for things to be a certain way".
ChampamNahuatl Means "toward home", from Nahuatl chantli "home, residence" and -pa "towards, in, to".
Chanaf & mAymara Means "youngest child" in Aymara.
Chananm & fShipibo-Conibo From the Shipibo chana meaning "paucarcillo bird, yellow-rumped cacique" and the genitive suffix -n.
Chancalm & fNahuatl Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl chanca "lives, is making a home" and the suffix -l.